Importance of body weight in horses

Health and management

A horse's weight can be an important health indicator. Knowing how much a horse weighs and whether it is currently gaining or l osing weight, can help identify health issues. A horse may be under or over its optimal weight for a variety of reasons.

Low body weight in a horse can be caused by:

  • health problems (disease or hormone imbalance)
  • old age
  • parasites
  • dental disease or discomfort
  • overwork
  • unbalanced diet
  • insufficient feed (sometimes caused by low pecking order in the herd)
  • genetics

Excess body weight in a horse can be caused by:

  • health problems (disease or hormone imbalance)
  • insufficient exercise
  • unbalanced diet
  • over-feeding
  • genetics

Calculating dosages

Dosages for de-wormers and antibiotics are calculated using the horse's weight. Incorrect weight estimation may result in over-dosing or under-dosing the animal.

Over-dosing medicinal products may cause toxicity and colic or other serious complications, including death. Under-dosing will not produce the desired effects and, in the case of antibiotics, may lead to antibiotic resistance.

Determining a horse's weight

Weigh scale

Using a weigh scale is the most accurate way to determine a horse's weight. Always weigh the horse under the same conditions - for example, 2 hours after it's been fed and watered - to reduce misleading fluctuations in the readings.

Horses can also be weighed at weigh stations such as at grain elevators and landfill sites, but this is often not practical. The other methods outlined below provide a body weight estimation that will be accurate and safe enough for determining feed quantities and dosages of medicines or de-wormers.

Weight tape

A weight tape is a simple and effective way to estimate a horse's weight at a fraction of the cost of a weigh scale and with minimal effort (Figure 1). Weight tapes are readily available in most tack and feed shops.

A drawing of a horse showing the placement of a weight tape.
Figure 1. Using a weight tape.

Wrap the tape around the girth of the horse, directly behind the elbow, overlapping the ends of the tape and read the resultant weight. Take the reading with the tape snugly in place, when the horse has exhaled.

Tape accuracy is dependent on the user, size of the withers, breed and age. Tapes are not effective on miniature horses and foals.

Girth measurements

Use Table 1 (taken from Lon Lewis's Feeding and Care of the Horse) to help estimate the weight of a horse by its girth measurement when a weight tape is not available.

Girth and body length measurements

Using the girth measurement together with the body length measurement in the following calculation may produce a slightly more accurate measurement than using a weight tape.

Adult horses:

Weight (kg) = [(girth measurement in cm)2 x (length measurement in cm)] ÷ 11,900

Foals 0-60 days:

Weight (kg) = [girth measurement in inches - 25] ÷ 0.07

Table 1. Estimating a Horse's Weight without Weight Tape
Girth Length (inches) Girth length (cm) Weight (lbs) Weight (kg)
30.0 76 100 45.5
40.0 102 200 91.0
45.5 116 300 136.5
50.5 128 400 182.0
55.0 140 500 227.0
58.5 148 600 273.0
61.5 156 700 318.0
64.5 164 800 364.0
67.5 171 900 409.0
70.5 178 1000 455.0
 73.0 185 1100 500.0
75.5 192 1200 545.0
77.5 197 1300 591.0

Nomograms

Nomograms are available for estimating a horse's body weight. The two shown here were developed by C.L. Carroll and P.J. Huntington.

The nomogram in Figure 2 relies on the assessment of body condition score and height at the withers. It gives good results for all but horses in racing condition. The more accurately height and condition score are established, the better the weight assessment will be. Ensure that the horse is standing squarely on level ground, is relaxed and has the head in the normal position before measuring its height.

Nomogram for estimating body weight from body condition score and height measurement
Figure 2. Nomogram for estimating bodyweight from body condition score and height measurement.

Make allowance for the thickness of the shoes. To calculate, run a straight line on the chart between the horse's known body condition score and height, then read its weight on the centre axis. In the example, a 14-hand pony, scoring 3 points on the condition scoring chart, shows an estimated body weight of 375 kg.

Nomogram for estimating body weight from girth and length measurements
Figure 3. Nomogram for estimating bodyweight from girth and length measurements.

The nomogram in Figure 3 relates measurement around the girth to length, is slightly more accurate and is the method to be used for racehorses in full work. The girth measurement is taken immediately behind the elbow after the horse has exhaled. Length is taken from the point of the shoulder to the point of buttocks (Figure 4). To calculate, run the straight line on the chart between the known girth and length. In the example, a horse with a girth of 180 cm and a length of 175 cm shows an estimated body weight of 475 kg.

The approaches in this Factsheet provide several options for measuring and estimating the weight of horses, which is a fundamental aspect of equine husbandry and health management.

Taking girth and body length (point of shoulder to point of buttock) measurements.
Figure 4. Taking girth and body length (point of shoulder to point of buttock) measurements.

References

Carroll, C.L., and P.J. Huntington (1988). Body Condition Scoring and Weight Estimation of Horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 20 (1), 41-45.

Henneke, D.R., G.D. Potter, J.L. Kreider, and B.F. Yeates (1983). Relationship Between Condition Score, Physical Measurement and Body Fat Percentage in Mares. Equine Veterinary Journal 15, 371-372.