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How To Feed An Easy Keeper

For horses and ponies that hold weight easily or are prone to laminitis.

Easy keepers need fewer calories but still require the full range of vitamins, minerals, and protein to stay healthy. The challenge is providing the nutrition they need  -  without the extra energy they don’t.

Feeding Tips:

  • Limit sugary grass, especially spring/early summer pasture

  • Provide low-sugar hay or soaked hay when grass is rich

  • Use a low-GI feed to supply essential nutrients without weight gain

  • Avoid high-starch grains or molasses mixes

  • Offer a vitamin and mineral supplement daily

  • Monitor body condition regularly. Aim for a score of 4–5/9

Recommended Feed - Fiskens Ultra Low GI

A low-GI, high-fibre feed with grains. Ideal for:

  • Easy keepers

  • Ponies

  • Horses prone to laminitis or metabolic issues. Provides essential nutrients without unnecessary energy

What is the 9-Point BCS Scale?

The Body Condition Score (BCS) system is used to assess how much body fat a horse has - essentially, how thin or overweight they are. It's a simple but effective tool for managing equine nutrition and preventing health issues.

The Henneke Body Condition Scoring system is a standardised 9-point scale, widely used in veterinary and equine circles. It assesses fat coverage over key areas of the horse’s body.

The scale:

  • 1 = Emaciated (no fat cover, visible ribs, very poor condition)

  • 4-5 = Ideal condition (ribs not visible but easily felt, good muscling)

  • 9 = Obese (fat deposits along neck, back, tailhead and ribs difficult to feel)

Why aim for 4–5?

A BCS of 4 to 5 is considered:

  • Healthy for most horses

  • Balanced in terms of energy reserves without excess fat

  • Ideal for maintaining joint health, metabolic function and overall wellbeing

Horses in regular work, breeding, or older age may have slightly different ideal scores, but 4–5 is generally optimal for pasture and pleasure horses.

How to Check BCS?

Feel (don’t just look at) these areas:

  • Along the ribs

  • Behind the shoulder

  • Crest of the neck

  • Topline/spine

  • Tailhead

To assist you in monitoring your horse's health, here are some resources offering printable Body Condition Score (BCS) charts:

  1. Association for Pet Obesity Prevention: Provides a detailed chart with illustrations and descriptions for each score on the 9-point scale.

  2. Texas A&M University: Offers a comprehensive PDF guide on equine body condition scoring, including visual aids and assessment techniques. (vetmed.tamu.edu)

  3. Kentucky Equine Research: Features downloadable charts with pictures and directions to guide horse owners through determining their horse's body condition. (Kentucky Equine Research)

These charts are valuable tools for assessing and maintaining your horse's optimal body condition. If you need assistance in customizing these resources for your specific needs or integrating them into your horse care routine, feel free to ask!

Fiskens Nutritional Science

Fiskens feeds are formulated in collaboration with qualified equine nutritionists for optimal performance and balance. With over 60 years of expertise in equine nutrition, Fiskens is a trusted leader in developing scientifically-backed feed solutions that support horse health and performance across all disciplines.

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