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Muscle Scoring

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Keep Aging Horses Strong: Understanding Muscle Mass and Protein
September 18, 2026
⎯ Kristine Urschel, PhD
Horses often lose muscle mass as they age, which can lead to reduced strength, decreased mobility, and a general decline in health.
A mature chestnut Thoroughbred gelding grazing on green grass next to a white board fence
Equine Muscle Mass: Detecting and Monitoring Changes
July 24, 2026
⎯ Alisa Herbst, PhD
The muscle atrophy scoring system (MASS) was developed to help horse owners quickly and reliably detect reductions in muscle mass.
Senior pinto gelding with brown and white coat standing outdoors in soft autumn light
Research on Senior Horse Health Offers Insights Into Best Management Practices
February 27, 2026
⎯ Sarah Nelson
Discover what the latest science reveals about providing appropriate care for senior horses.
Belgian-horses-in-field-iStock-Redheadedhornet-475240395-1000
Body Condition Scoring: Body Condition Index and Other Techniques
January 6, 2026
⎯ Sarah Nelson
Different ways of monitoring body weight as well as condition are described in this article. For example the new body condition index (BCI) might provide a better way to judge your horse’s fat for some...
frau + pferd
Understanding Aging Equines 
November 18, 2025
⎯ Kimberly S. Brown
There are many things horse owners can learn that will help them keep their aging equines healthy and happy. 
horse muscles diagram
Horse Superficial Muscles Diagram
July 25, 2025
⎯ My Senior Horse Editors
This horse muscles diagram can help owners better understand horse movements or injuries and visualize what's under the skin.
weight senior horses drafts pulling wagon
My Senior Horse Podcast: Weight Loss Part 1
May 17, 2025
⎯ Kimberly S. Brown
Monitoring senior horse weight and muscle mass is important. There are many reasons a senior equid might lose weight.
old thin horse muscle atrophy
Muscle Atrophy Research in Horses and Ponies
March 8, 2025
⎯ Kimberly S. Brown
The MASS system showed that horses and ponies with PPID typically had more muscle atrophy than similarly aged animals without PPID.
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