For some humans it's a daily occurrence, stepping onto the scale to check your weight. That, and the fit of your pants, seem to be the most popular way humans keep track of their weight loss or gain. It's just as equally important for horse owners to keep records of their horse's weight, to track down any concerns, should there be any, before it's too late.
Of course, the most accurate way to weigh your horse is to use a scale, but that's not feasible for most horse owners on a regular basis. So, if you don't have access to a scale, there are ways that you can estimate your horse's weight to keep records.
The most common method for horse owners is using a weight tape, which can be easily purchased from your favorite Tough1 dealer. A weight tape is a flexible tape that you can use to measure a horse's heart girth. To measure the heart girth, you measure around where you would put your girth or cinch on your horse: Place the tape across the highest part of the withers, then go around the horse's sides to meet back up at the top. Keep the tape as close as possible to the horse's elbow and be sure it is smooth/flat.
Once you have the number from measuring the heart girth, you want to measure the length of your horse’s body. Much like how you would measure your horse for a blanket, you will hold the start of the measuring tape at the point of the horse’s shoulder, then pull snugly straight back along the horse’s side to the point of the buttocks, just before the tail.
Cargill shares three equations you can use with these two measurements to find an estimation of your horse’s weight:
Adult Horse: (Heart Girth x Heart Girth x Body Length) / 330 = Bodyweight (pounds)
Yearling: (Heart Girth x Heart Girth x Body Length) / 301 = Bodyweight (lbs)
Weanling: (Heart Girth x Heart Girth x Body Length) / 280 = Bodyweight (lbs)
Not the best with math? (It’s okay to admit it!)
TheHorse.com has a free Adult Horse Weight Calculator that can take the measurements from your horse's heart girth and his body length to give you an estimate. The website does share a note of caution: "The Adult Horse Weight Calculator is intended for use only as a weight estimation tool. It does not consider physical differences between individual horses."
Another handy tool comes from Spillers Feed. Their website offers a body condition score calculating tool. A body condition score is a method that assesses the horse's body fat, much like the human body mass index (BMI). The website touts a "mathematical equation using five body measurements used to calculate the horse’s final BCI score."
Some notes about using a measuring tape to estimate your horse's weight:
- Measure your horse while he’s standing square on a firm, level surface.
- It is important to note that your horse’s body type can affect the accuracy of any weight estimation (is your horse more of a heavy, stocky build, or is he extremely tall or a Miniature Horse).
- Use the same weight tape each time to help improve accuracy when you compare measurements.
- If you’re concerned about your horse's weight, monitor your horse’s weight weekly. This should, ideally, be done at the same time of day.
- Work with your veterinarian, and/or equine nutritionist, if you have some concerns about your horse’s body condition and health.
Looking for ways to control your horse's weight without restricting too much turnout time? Utilizing a grazing muzzle is the best way to allow your horse to continue his natural all-day grazing time, while limiting how much sugary grass he eats. While inside the barn, hanging a slow feed hay net will allow for slower eating, thus providing the needed activity and constant food without the mess and overabundance of hay.
