Horse Weight Estimates

It’s important to know a horse’s weight when formulating a diet or medication dosage for the animal. Keeping track of fluctuations in weight can also help managers to identify early changes in condition.

Surveys have shown that even experienced horsemen routinely underestimate horses’ weights, and common methods of assessing a horse’s weight may yield an estimate, but not a true weight.

There are a number of equations used to estimate a horse’s body weight, such as the common [(heart girth2 x length)/300] + 50.

Weight tapes use only girth circumference, which is why they often give a different number than an equation. Depending on the conformation of the horse, the difference can be negligible for some horses and significant for others.

While neither will give a truly accurate weight, both weight tapes and equations are useful tools for monitoring changes in weight, especially if the same person, using the same tape and method, measures the horse each time.

To get a truly accurate weight, use a scale to weigh the horse. Digital scales now come in relatively lightweight forms, which can easily be transported by two people. The process takes only minutes per horse and yields a great amount of information, particularly when consistent records are kept and monitored.