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- Bugatti Hilltop scores 5 to ?6.5, the ideal condition ?for a dressage horse.
Individual Condition Scores
1. Poor: animal extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae (hip joints) and ischia (lower pelvic bones) projecting prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt.
2. Very Thin: animal emaciated; slight fat covering over base of spinous processes; transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae (hip joints) and ischia (lower pelvic bones) prominent; withers, shoulders and neck structure faintly discernible.
3. Thin: fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over ribs; spinous processes and ribs easily discernible; tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be identified visually; tuber coxae (hip joints) appear rounded but easily discernible; tuber ischia (lower pelvic bones) not distinguishable; withers, shoulders and neck accentuated.
4. Moderately Thin: slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it; tuber coxae (hips joints) not discernible; withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.
5. Moderate: flat back (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt; fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy; withers appear rounded over spinous processes; shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.
6. Moderately Fleshy: may have slight crease down back; fat over ribs spongy; fat around tailhead soft; fat beginning to be deposited along the side of withers, behind shoulders and along sides of neck.
7. Fleshy: may have crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat; fat around tailhead soft; fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders and along neck.
8. Fat: crease down back; difficult to feel ribs; fat around tailhead very soft; area along withers and behind shoulder filled with fat; noticeable thickening of neck; fat on inner thighs.
9. Extremely Fat: obvious crease down back; patchy fat over ribs; bulging fat around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders and along neck; fat along inner thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat.
Understanding Hay
The best way to determine hay quality is to have it analyzed by your local agricultural extension office, but that's not always practical. Educate yourself so you can identify quality hay. Before your next purchase, understand:
- Types: Alfalfa, clover and lespedeza hays are "legume" hays and higher in calories. Grass hays include Bermuda grass, timothy, bromegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, prairie grass, fescue, orchardgrass and cereal grasses.
- Quality: Good quality hay should have lots of leaves on narrow stems with few seed heads or blooms. The hay should smell and look fresh and be free of debris, weeds and dust.
- Maturity: Hay cut earlier in the summer is more likely to be higher in quality. But, if it is cut very early in the growth stage, it may be too rich in calories for easy keepers. If cut too late, the hay will probably be stalky, less palatable and lower in nutrition.
- . Storage: Make sure your is kept dry and indoors. Rain and sunlight deplete vitamin content. For example, hay that has been stored for over six months will have a lower vitamin content than when it was baled. You can still feed it, but balance it with a fortified feed served at a recommended rate.
Mary Beth Gordon, PhD, is director of research and new product development for Purina Mills' horse feed division, where she works with her project team. She also monitors operations at Purina Mills' equine research unit at LongView Animal Nutrition Center and visits research facilities where her division has trials underway. She has published papers in scientific journals, including The Veterinary Journal, the Journal of Animal Science, and Equine Comparative Exercise Physiology. She has five horses on her farm in Dutchess County, New York, including three warmblood dressage prospects.
This article originally appeared in the May 2009 issue of Dressage Today magazine.
