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Are you unsure whether your horse is overweight or simply bloated? If you can’t quite answer that question, it might be time to learn more about the signs of overweight in horses. And if you find it challenging, you’re not alone. When horses are grazing or transitioning to pasture while still receiving supplementary forage, it’s not always easy to assess their actual body condition. Most horses will appear noticeably rounder than usual, and many will indeed gain a few kilos over the summer months.
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There’s a big difference between a horse with a rounded belly—commonly referred to as "bloated"—and an overweight horse. When a horse has been grazing all day, its stomach and intestines are naturally full, making its belly appear much larger than usual. This can lead to the assumption that the horse has gained weight, but that’s not necessarily the case.
To accurately assess a horse’s weight, avoid focusing on its belly and instead look at the fat deposits across its body. Pay particular attention to areas such as the neck, back, ribs, hindquarters, and the base of the tail before concluding that the horse is overweight just because its stomach seems bigger.
The term "bloated horse" refers to a horse with a large belly but no significant fat deposits on the rest of its body. This usually happens because excess gas builds up in the horse’s intestines—much like when humans experience bloating. A bloated horse, therefore, is neither fat nor overweight.
The condition is often caused by poor-quality forage, such as straw, seed grass hay, or low-quality hay and silage. Additionally, increased forage intake in the form of grass can lead to more gas production in the horse’s digestive system, further distending the belly.
To help you assess your horse’s body condition, we’ve outlined a scale of different body types. There are nine categories in total, ranging from extremely thin to extremely overweight. Ideally, a horse should fall somewhere in the middle of the scale.
1. EXTREMELY THIN
The horse has no body fat and almost no muscle mass. The bones are very prominent, with the spine, ribs, and hips clearly visible. Such a horse is best described as "skin and bones" and may be in life-threatening condition.
2. THIN
A horse with very minimal fat reserves and prominent bones. The back appears sharp, and the ribs, hips, and shoulders are highly visible. Additionally, the horse has very little muscle mass and appears to be "wasting away" across its entire body.
3. SLIM
A slim horse has a sharp back, but individual vertebrae are not visible due to a thin layer of fat. The ribs and most bones are still prominent, giving the horse a lean and angular appearance. Muscles are visible but not well-developed.
4. MODERATELY THIN
The horse has a sharp back, with most ribs faintly visible. However, a thin layer of fat softens the overall appearance, though the horse still leans toward the slimmer side. Such a horse may be muscular but lacks sufficient body fat.
5. MODERATE
The back appears flat as the spine is surrounded by an appropriate layer of fat and muscle. The last rib may be faintly visible, while the other ribs can be felt but not seen. The horse maintains a balanced appearance, with muscles still visible beneath the moderate fat layer.
6. MODERATELY OVERWEIGHT
A noticeable layer of fat is beginning to form over the horse's ribs and around the base of the tail. A slight fat ridge can be seen along the back and on either side of the hindquarters. Muscles and bones are less defined as they become covered by the increasing fat deposits.
7. OVERWEIGHT
The horse has pronounced fat deposits along the hindquarters and down the back. The ribs are covered by a thick layer of fat but can still be felt with firm pressure. Additionally, a developing fat layer can be seen on the neck, just below the mane.
8. FAT
An obese horse has pronounced fat deposits along the hindquarters and back, with a distinct "fat crest" along the mane. The horse's muscles are almost entirely obscured by the thick fat layer, particularly around the spine, shoulders, and inner thighs.
9. EXTREMELY FAT
An extremely obese horse exhibits deep fat deposits or "patches" along the hindquarters and sides. A pronounced fat crest is visible along the mane and behind the shoulders, with large fat accumulations around the base of the tail and inner thighs.
The feed company Saracen Horse Feeds has created an illustrative video showing where fat typically accumulates on a horse. This can help you determine whether your horse is merely bloated or genuinely overweight. In the picture above, we’ve summarized the key points in our own graphic.
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Brogaarden
Pavo
Nordic Horse
