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Horse Weight & How to Estimate It

Horse Weight and How to Estimate It

Updated on February 03, 2023
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

What is a healthy weight? | Significance of weight | Influences on weight | Estimating weight

Horses in a Field

As equestrians, we have a lot of responsibilities, from finding the right boarding facility to picking out quality hay, grain and supplies. But it’s also important that we keep track of our horse’s weight because it affects everything from their overall health to their endurance and even life span.

When you know your horse’s weight, you'll be able to determine the right amount of hay, gain (if needed) and horse treats to feed daily. Remember, while exercise is extremely important, workload should never exceed your horse’s capabilities. If you are starting a new activity or exercise regimen with your horse, start slowly and gradually build to longer sessions as they build stamina. Weighing a horse is challenging if you don’t own or have easy access to a floor or livestock scale, but we can make estimates using their body condition score and a weight tape.

What is a healthy weight for a horse? 

Horses can weigh as little as 150 pounds (for a Miniature Horse) or as much as 2,400 pounds for a heavy draft. Your horse’s ideal weight will depend on a variety of factors, including their breed, age, body composition and body type. Your veterinarian can help you establish a healthy goal weight or weight range for your horse.

Significance of equine body weight

Weighing a horse is important for a few reasons, including:

Proper dosing of medication

Whether you are administering a dewormer or portioning out supplements, your horse’s weight must be factored in. Remember to always consult your veterinarian and follow their instructions explicitly with any prescription product. Overestimating the weight of your horse could lead to an overdose.

Identifying health problems

If your horse is underweight or overweight, it may indicate an underlying health problem. For instance, a skinny horse may have dental or digestive issues while an obese horse may be experiencing a health problem like equine metabolic syndrome (also known as EMS or insulin dysregulation) or Cushing’s Disease (PPID or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction).

Overheating

Knowing your horse’s weight can also help you better predict their vulnerability to overheating. An obese horse may not be able to regulate their inner temperature as easily and may become dehydrated or underperform.

Understanding load limits

Your horse’s weight will determine how much they can carry if you intend to ride and/or have them carry a pack. Horses can typically carry a maximum of 20% of their body weight. Anything more could lead to serious injury. If you have a driving horse, talk with your vet about how to calculate a safe weight load for your intended terrain, duration and resistance.

Influences on horse weight 

What kinds of things affect your horse’s weight? A few of the biggest include:

Breed

Some larger breeds can weigh up to 2,400 pounds and still be within a healthy weight range, while Miniature Horses tend to top out at about 350 pounds. For more information about your breed, take a look at our guide Common Horse Breeds.

Age

Muscle mass can deteriorate as a horse ages and their activity slows down. Both can cause weight loss and make it difficult to put healthy weight and muscle back on a senior horse.

Activity level

If your horse starts getting more or less exercise, they may experience a weight change. A hardworking horse may become too thin if their diet isn’t adequately supplemented with additional hay and grain, while a sedentary horse who eats too much may gain weight.

Diet

Horses should eat about 1.5 to 3% of their body weight in roughage/hay every day. If grain is fed, it should be offered as outlined on the label or as discussed with your veterinarian after their exercise regimen has been factored in. Horses may gain or lose weight if the amount of food they receive changes.

Seasonal changes

It is not uncommon for horses to lose weight in winter and gain some weight in summer.

How do you estimate a horse’s weight? 

Estimating horse weight is easiest, of course, if you have access to a livestock scale. Some veterinary clinics have them on-site, and large animal vets may even offer a mobile livestock scale for your use.

Without a scale, a horse-specific weight tape is the next best thing and can give you a pretty good idea of how much your horse weighs. You’ll find specialized tape at tack and feed stores. Remember, a weight tape can’t differentiate between muscle and fat so you will also need to consider their body condition score. Be sure to take your girth measurement across the exact area each time to more accurately identify weight loss or gain.

Weight chart and equations 

Weight estimations require careful measurements. The most common equation is:

Girth x girth x body length ÷ 300 = horse weight

To determine your horse’s body length, most experts recommend measuring from the point of shoulder to the rump, keeping the tape parallel to the ground. Next, keeping your tape perpendicular to the ground, measure from just behind the front legs to the withers. This is your heart girth number. Some equations also factor in breed, which may yield a more accurate horse weight.

After estimating your horse’s weight, take a look at their body condition so you can more accurately determine if they are at their ideal weight or need to scale up or down. This visual and physical assessment will give you an idea about how much body reserve or fat is on the neck, withers, shoulders, ribs, loins and tailhead. On a scale of 1 to 9, 1 is an emaciated horse while 9 is obese. Most equine parents aim for a score of 4 to 6.

Here is a horse weight chart showing typical weight ranges based on breed.  

Horse Breed Average Weight
Arabian 795 to 990 lbs.
Westphalian 990 to 1,320 lbs. 
Highland Pony  1,100 to 1,320 lbs. 
Friesian 1,300 to 1,500 lbs. 
Clydesdale 1,545 to 1,765 lbs. 
Belgian 1,800 to 2,200 lbs. 
Percheron 1,900 to 2,100 lbs.
Fell Pony 770 to 990 lbs. 

 

In addition to having the right hay, grain (if applicable) and horse grooming supplies on hand, knowing how to measure a horse’s weight is one more important component of responsible horse care.

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