Groundwork Equine
Rooted in science. Grounded by connection.
Monthly Body Condition Photo Guide
Clear, consistent photos let us track your horse's Body Condition Score (BCS) over time on the Henneke 1–9 scale. Please take this set each month and send it with your intake form.
The five photos we need
1 · Front
Chest, shoulders & frame, head-on.
2 · Left Side
Full profile — topline, barrel & ribs (near side).
3 · Right Side
Full profile — off side.
4 · Rear, tail down
Hindquarter symmetry & cover over the pelvis.
5 · Rear, tail lifted
Tailhead & gluteal cover, tail held aside.
Example set: Percy, photographed in his indoor arena. Aim to match this framing every month. Even better to have overhead lights on to minimize shadowing!
How to take them
- Distance & framing. Stand about 10–15 ft (3–4.5 m) back and fit the whole horse in the frame with a little room around him. Zoom rather than stepping in close — getting too close distorts his proportions.
- Camera height. Hold the phone level at the horse's mid-barrel height — don't shoot down from above. Keep the lens square to the horse, not angled.
- Stance. Horse standing square on level ground, weight even on all four legs, head up and relaxed. Handler steps out of frame or off to the side.
- Lighting. Bright, even, indirect light. An indoor arena or barn aisle with the doors open is ideal. Avoid harsh midday sun, deep shadow, and shooting into a bright window or doorway.
- Keep it consistent. Same spot, same distance, same angle, same time of day each month, against a clean, uncluttered background. Consistency is what makes the month-to-month comparison meaningful.
Dates & monthly reminders
- Once a month. Take a full set around the same week every month so changes show up clearly.
- Name your files. Use the horse's name and date, e.g. "Percy_2026-06", and keep every set together in one folder.
- Set a recurring reminder. Add a repeating monthly event to your phone or calendar so a session is never missed.
- Note anything relevant. Jot down feed changes, workload, or season — it helps explain what the photos show.
- Send them in. Email the new set with your intake form each month, using the button below.
Quick check before you send
- All five angles taken
- Whole horse fits in the frame
- Standing square on level ground
- Phone held at mid-barrel height
- Even, indirect light — no backlighting
- Same spot & time as last month
- Files named with horse name + date
- Sent with this month's intake form
When in doubt, match Perfect Percy's example photos above. It's the consistency from month to month — not a perfect single photo — that lets us read the trend.
Send your photos
Send your set to jillian@groundworkequine.ca with your intake form.
Prepared by Jillian Nielsen, Certified Equine Nutrition Advisor · groundworkequine.ca