Equine Body Muscle Scoring is a practical system used to evaluate visible and palpable muscle over key regions of the horse. The goal is not simply to decide whether a horse “looks fit,” but to identify whether muscle is normal, reduced, uneven, or progressively wasting. Learn how it works, and how it differs from Body Condition Scoring, in this article.

Horses require consistent daily care, proper nutrition, safe handling, regular hoof care, routine health monitoring, appropriate living conditions, emergency planning, and a long-term commitment of time, money, education, and effort. For first-time horse owners, the amount of information can feel overwhelming at first. This article covers all the basic topics you need to be aware of, and introduces you to the FREE online certification course "Horse Ownership Foundations.