HorseBCS

Name: HorseBCS
Author: University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky

DOCUMENTED

Published in academic literature

For:General Public & EnthusiastsIndustry Professionals

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App Summary

HorseBCS is an assessment tool for horse owners, business operators, and law enforcement professionals to help manage equine health by estimating body weight and body condition score (BCS). The app's methodology is based on research (N=629) that developed and validated novel equations using morphometric measurements (such as girth, length, and height) to estimate a horse's actual and ideal body weight. The associated research concludes that these equations provide a successful method for developing body weight scores, which can help assess the likelihood of a horse being overweight.

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Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed by eXtension HorseQuest, the HorseBCS system facilitates objective body condition scoring in adult equids. The interface guides the capture of key morphometric measurements, including wither height, body length, and neck and girth circumference. Leveraging breed-specific algorithms for Arabian, pony, and stock horses, the application processes these inputs to generate an estimated body weight and a standardized body weight score, providing a quantitative assessment of the animal's likelihood of being underweight or overweight.

Evidence & Research Context

The app's algorithms are derived from a development study (N=629 adult horses and ponies) that established and validated breed-specific equations for estimating body weight.
The primary body weight estimation model, which incorporates height, length, neck, and girth measurements, demonstrated high predictive accuracy (R² = 0.92).
A separate model was developed to calculate an ideal body weight based on measurements unaffected by adiposity, such as skeletal height and body length.
The research established a body weight score to assess overweight risk, finding that a body condition score of 7 or greater correlated with a higher likelihood of being overweight.

Intended Use & Scope

This application is intended for horse owners, equine professionals, and animal welfare personnel as a tool for routine body condition assessment and management. It provides a quantitative screening for weight status but does not substitute for a comprehensive veterinary evaluation for diagnosis or treatment. The integrated equations are specific to adult Arabian, pony, and stock horse breeds.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Development/Design Paper

Estimation of body weight and development of a body weight score for adult equids using morphometric measurements

Martinson et al. (2014) · Journal of Animal Science

Describes the research-driven development of this app

Excessive BW has become a major health issue in the equine (Equus caballus) industry. The objectives were to determine if the addition of neck circumference and height improved existing BW estimation equations, to develop an equation for estimation of ideal BW, and to develop a method for assessing the likelihood of being overweight in adult equids. Six hundred and twenty-nine adult horses and ponies who met the following criteria were measured and weighed at 2 horse shows in September 2011 in Minnesota: age ? 3 yr, height ? 112 cm, and nonpregnant. Personnel assessed BCS on a scale of 1 to 9 and measured wither height at the third thoracic vertebra, body length from the point of shoulder to the point of the buttock, neck and girth circumference, and weight using a portable livestock scale. Individuals were grouped into breed types on the basis of existing knowledge and were confirmed with multivariate ANOVA analysis of morphometric measurements. Equations for estimated and ideal BW were developed using linear regression modeling. For estimated BW, the model was fit using all individuals and all morphometric measurements. For ideal BW, the model was fit using individuals with a BCS of 5; breed type, height, and body length were considered as these measurements are not affected by adiposity. A BW score to assess the likelihood of being overweight was developed by fitting a proportional odds logistic regression model on BCS using the difference between ideal and estimated BW, the neck to height ratio, and the girth to height ratio as predictors; this score was then standardized using the data from individuals with a BCS of 5. Breed types included Arabian, stock, and pony. Mean (±SD) BCS was 5.6 ± 0.9. BW (kg) was estimated by taking [girth (cm)1.486 × length (cm)0.554 × height (cm)0.599 × neck (cm)0.173]/3,596, 3,606, and 3,441 for Arabians, ponies, and stock horses, respectively (R2 = 0.92; mean-squared error (MSE) = 22 kg). Ideal BW (kg) was estimated by taking [length (cm) × 2.8] + [height (cm) × 4.2] – 611, 606, and 577 for Arabians, ponies, and stock horses, respectively (R2 = 0.86; MSE = 24). Equids with a BCS of ?7 had a greater likelihood of being overweight, and the model suggested cutoffs at the 48th and 83rd percentiles for underweight and overweight individuals, respectively. Morphometric measurements were successfully used to develop equid BW-related equations.

In the Media

Horse body condition scoring app

Extension horse specialists in eXtension HorseQuest developed HorseBCS to help equine caretakers evaluate horse body condition scores, using technology that covers various body locations including ribs, loin, tailhead, withers, neck and shoulder. The app allows users to take pictures of horses and add condition scores for each location directly on the photo, creating time and date stamped documentation for future management decisions. Michigan State University Extension recommends body condition scoring horses at least monthly for healthy horses and more frequently for those with weight maintenance difficulties.

MsuRead article

Extension app records horse body condition score

Extension horse specialists from Purdue University and the University of Nebraska developed HorseBCS to help smartphone users calculate a horse's body condition score and record it with photos, using a numerical system based on physical parameters. "Body condition scoring is a vital part of monitoring your horse's health and assessing your feeding program," said Purdue Extension's Colleen Brady. The app is available on iTunes and Google Play for $1.99 and includes a desktop application that syncs with mobile devices.

PurdueRead article