A GREEN HORSE is a NATURAL, ECONOMICAL and ECO-FRIENDLY WAY to a HEALTHY HORSE: Horse Weight How To

How to Weigh a Horse

There are many benefits in knowing and monitoring the weight of your horse. Just to name a few, the horse's weight will determine maximum limits for safe trailer hauling, feed rations, and necessary dosage amounts for administering medicine (including worming applications). In addition, regular checking will allow you to screen for continuous gains or rapid drops in weight which could indicate serious health issues. Although calibrated livestock scales are the most accurate way to measure the weight of a horse, their size and cost makes them a unrealistic option for the average horse owner. However, with some simple devices there are relatively straightforward methods in which anyone can perform the task attaining an estimated weight. Weight figures calculated periodically can assist in various ways in making decisions.

Method #1

Height / Weight Tape Measure:

This is probably the most common technique used today to estimate a horse’s weight. These tape measures have been available on the market for a number of years and most find them reasonably close to an accurate weight.

The horse should stand square on level ground with head upright
Drop the weight tape over the horses back from the base of its withers draping one end of the tape over each side of the horse
Adjust the tape end (opposite your standing side) making its length hang beyond the horse’s belly
Bring the tape underneath the horse just behind its elbow and foreleg (horse’s circumference)
Join the two ends of the tape together and pull it tight enough to depress the flesh slightly
Take the reading where the tip of the tape meets the figures (horse’s girth or “heart girth” measurement)

Note: The tape is too far back if when the tape ends meet it forms a vertical line. This will produce an inaccurate reading. Aim for a slightly back slash angled line ( / ) (Figure 1). It is hard to make an equine measure up the same every time. Take a few measurements and average the readings

Figure 1

Notice the tape measure runs at an angle

Method #2

Standard Cloth Tape Measure in Inches and a Formula:

Using this method requires a few steps and a formula applied to the values collected

Step #1

The horse should stand square on level ground with head upright
Drop the weight tape over the horses back from the base of its withers draping one end of the tape over each side of the horse
Adjust the tape end (opposite your standing side) making its length hang beyond the horse’s belly
Bring the tape underneath the horse just behind its elbow and foreleg (horse’s circumference)
Join the two ends of the tape together and pull it tight enough to depress the flesh slightly. Take the reading where the tip of the tape meets the figures (horse’s girth or “heart girth” measurement) (Figure 2, distance C)

Note: The tape is too far back if when the tape ends meet it forms a vertical line. This will produce an inaccurate reading. Aim for a slightly back slash angled line ( / ) (Figure 2, line C). It is hard to make an equine measure up the same every time. Take a few measurements and average the readings

Step #2

Measure the length of the horse by placing the tape at the point of the shoulder and run it along his body to the point of the croup (hip) (Figure 2, distance A to B)
The tape should either follow the contours of the horse's body for this measurement or simply be held taut and in place from one point to the next. Notice the tape measure does not run straight from end to end, but in an upward angle (Figure 2, distance A to B)

Step #3

Using the values obtained in steps 1 and 2, calculate the weight by applying the following formula:

Heart girth x Heart girth x length
divide this number by 300
then add 50

This method will give results of plus or minus 3%

Figure 2

Notice the angles in the placement of the measuring tape

Example:
If the Heart Girth is 72” and the Length is 66” the following example shows the process of calculating a result.

72” x 72” x 66” = 342,144

Divide 342,144 by 300 = 1140.48

Then 1140.48 + 50 = 1190.48 lbs

Method #3

Standard Cloth Tape Measure in Inches:

The horse should stand square on level ground with head upright
Drop the weight tape over the horses back from the base of its withers draping one end of the tape over each side of the horse
Adjust the tape end (opposite your standing side) making its length hang beyond the horse’s belly
Bring the tape underneath the horse just behind its elbow and foreleg (horse’s circumference)
Join the two ends of the tape together and pull it tight enough to depress the flesh slightly. Take the reading where the tip of the tape meets the figures (horse’s girth or “heart girth” measurement)

The following chart has already calculated the weight. This method is probably the least accurate of the three, while understanding this, it can be a quick guide used for comparing results from the other two methods. This chart copied or printed can be kept in your barn, grooming kit or any other convenient location.

All these methods will give a good practical estimation of the “average” horse’s weight through practice and observation. Only a calibrated livestock scale will give you accuracy. However, if the methods mentioned herein are used in a consistent manner they can produce records for monitoring the weight of a horse. Weight tapes tend to be more accurate when used on an average horse of ideal/ good body condition score.

Estimating the weight of "nonstandard" horses using tape measures may be difficult and the accuracy of the results become less reliable if the horse's relative body proportions vary too much from the "average". The above mentioned methods fall within the average guidelines, but as we know, all horses are individuals, and factors must be considered where circumstances will likely reflect a deceptive weight measurement. Foals or young growing horses change regularly with time. Also, a horse that is very fit or unfit, has an unusual conformation, or whose body condition score is higher or lower than ideal are situations where inconsistent qualities can arise.

Whichever method you choose (after possibly trying all three), remain regular and consistent each time you measure. Always follow a set procedure to perform your readings and computations, and keep such parameters as time of day, weather, exercise and feeding sequences as consistent as you can. Overtime, the data collected on estimated weight will be a constructive indicator of occurrences and an effective record for monitoring purposes.