Overall Henneke Body Score:
Condition Neck Withers Shoulder Ribs Back Tailhead
1 Poor (extremely emaciated)
Bone structure easily noticeable
Bone structure easily noticeable
Bone structure easily noticeable
Ribs projecting prominently
Spinous processes projecting prominenetly
Tailhead, pin bones and hook bones projecting prominently
2 Very Thin (emaciated)
No fatty tissue can be felt
Bone structure fairly discernible
Bone structure fairly discernible
Bone structure fairly discernible
Ribs prominent Slight fat covering over
base of spinous processes. Transverse proceses of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded. Spinous processes are prominent.
Tailhead, pin bones and hook bones prominent
3 Thin
Neck accentuated
Withers accentuated
Shoulder accentuated
Slight fat cover over ribs. Ribs easily discernible.
Fat buildup halfway on spinous processes, but easily discernible. Traverse processes cannot be felt.
Tailhead prominent but individual vertebrae cannot be visually identified. Hook bones appear rounded, but are still easily discernible. Pin bones not distinguishable. 4 Moderately Thin
Neck not obviously thin
Withers not obviously thin
Shoulder not obviously thin
Faint outline of ribs discernible
Negative crease (peaked appearance) along back
Prominence depends on conformation. Fat can be felt. Hook bones not discernible. 5 Moderate
Neck blends smoothly into body
Withers rounded over spinous processes
Shoulder blends smoothly into body
Ribs cannot be visually distinguished, but can be easily felt
Back is level Fat around tailhead
beginning to feel spongy
6 Moderately Fleshy
Fat beginning to be deposited
Fat beginning to be deposited
Fat beginning to be deposited
Fat over ribs feels spongy
May have a slight positive crease (a groove) down back
Fat around tailhead feels soft
7 Fleshy
Fat deposited along neck
Fat deposited along withers
Fat deposited behind shoulder
Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable fat filling between ribs
May have a positive crease down the back
Fat around tailhead is soft
8 Fat
Noticeable thickening of neck
Area along withers filled with fat
Area behind shoulder filled with fat
Difficult to feel ribs
Positive crease down the back
Fat around tailhead very soft
9 Extremely Fat
Bulging fat Bulging fat Bulging fat Patchy fat
appearing over ribs
Obvious crease down the back. Flank filled with fat.
Bulging fat around tailhead