How to calculate a horse's weight
Weighing the horse is the safest way
Weighing the horse on a scale is the surest way to get an accurate result. If you visit an equine clinic with scales with your horse, it may therefore be a good idea to take the opportunity to weigh the horse during the visit. There are also mobile scales that can check the weight of your horse. Search the internet where you can most easily get access to one.
Calculating the horse's weight
If you don't have access to a scale, there are two formulas that you can use to calculate the horse's weight. The formulas are not as accurate as the scales but are a good way to find out your horse's weight as they take into account several measurements and provide a good weight estimate regardless of the horse's exterior, conformation and breed.
There are also special measuring tapes, but these are inferior as they only take into account one measurement and thus do not correct for exterior, conformation or collapse. Therefore, we recommend using the formulas.
Calculate the horses weight like this:
- 1
Place the horse on a flat surface.
- 2
Make sure that the horse stands with its weight evenly distributed on all four legs.
- 3
Take the measurements according to the formula you want to use, feel free to take the same measurement three times and calculate the average of these. Since the measurement can change a little if the horse moves or shifts over the weight, you get a more reliable result if you measure more than once.
- 4
Insert the measurements into the formula and calculate the horse's weight.
Formula 1
Weight = (4.3 x lance mark circumference in cm) + (3.0 x height at withers in cm) - 785
- The lance mark circumference is measured from the pit (the mark after the knight's lance) in front of the withers and around the torso.
- The height at the withers is measured perpendicular to the ground to the highest height at the withers.
Photographer: Roland Thunholm.
Formula 2
Weight = chest circumference in cm x chest circumference in cm x length measurement in cm. The sum is then divided by 8900 to get the estimated weight.
- Chest circumference is the measurement behind the withers and elbow around the torso.
- The length is measured from the elbow to the collarbone.
How much does a horse weigh?
Guidelines for body weight in different horse breeds:
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