While no animal benefits from an unhealthy weight, horses in particular need to be a healthy size
This makes it important to know how much your horse should be doing and how much he is doing
Horses typically weigh between 900 and 2,000 pounds, but your horse’s average weight will depend on its breed, age, and several other factors
To learn more about the average weight of a horse, as well as how to weigh a horse, keep reading
Since there are many breeds and shapes of horses, the average weight has a wide range
An average-sized horse weighs between 900 and 2,000 pounds
As you might assume, larger horse breeds weigh more than smaller horse breeds
For example, large horse breeds most likely weigh between 1,700 and 2,000 pounds
Large horse breeds include draft horses such as Belgians or Percherons
Conversely, light horses such as Arabians typically weigh 900–1,500 pounds
Ponies will weigh even less
Image credit: jean-pierre duretz, Pixabay
What factors affect a horse’s weight?
The factors that affect a horse’s weight are similar to the factors that affect a person’s weight
How much food a horse eats will largely affect its body weight and body fat
In addition, horses need a lot of exercise
If your horse is not exercising enough but still eating the recommended amount, he will quickly become overweight, leading to health and joint problems
One of the surprising factors affecting a horse’s weight is the condition of its mouth
If your horse is losing weight quickly, his teeth may be to blame
When a horse has a sharp or decayed tooth, it is unlikely to eat
Check your horse’s teeth if you notice a change in eating habits
In addition, the season can affect your horse’s weight
Like many other animals, horses tend to lose weight in the winter and gain it in the summer
This is because horses eat more in the summer because resources are more available
Whenever the feed goes down in winter, they eat less and their caloric needs increase, leading to less weight
Horse breed weight chart
Horse breed
Average weight (kg)
Average weight (kg)
American Hotblood
Connemara Pony
Dales pony
Dartmoor pony
Dutch Hotblood
Eriskay pony
Exmoor pony
Fallen Pony
Hackney pony
Mountain pony
The new forest pony
shetland pony
Spotted pony
Swedish Hotblood
How can I find out how much my horse weighs?
How can I find out how much my horse weighs?
If you are concerned about your horse’s weight, you need to find out exactly how much he weighs
As with humans, the most accurate way to determine a horse’s weight is by using a riding scale
If you know a vet with an equestrian scale, call them to see if you can use a scale to weigh your horse
If you are one of these people, there are other ways to estimate a horse’s weight
These techniques won’t be as accurate as a scale, but they will be close enough to judge if your horse is at a healthy weight
A weighbridge is a giant set of scales that is mainly used to weigh large shipments such as tractor units and rail cars
Taking your horse on one of these scales is the easiest and most accurate way to calculate its weight, although not everyone will be able to access a weighbridge
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Weight tape
A tape measure is a special measuring tape whose units are in pounds, not inches or feet
For this method, you will need to wrap a weight band around the horse around the circumference of the heart
This will give you a rough estimate of your horse’s weight
The main disadvantage of this option is that weight bands are primarily useful only for horses that have a typical physique for their breed
If your horse is significantly smaller or larger than other horses in its breed, the results may not be as accurate
Weight calculations
Another way to estimate a horse’s weight is to do the calculations yourself
For this technique, you will need a calculator and a tape measure
To measure an adult horse, simply measure the heart circumference and body length
For body length, place a measuring tape between the back thigh and the center of the chest
The result will be your horse’s weight in pounds
For calculation purposes, this formula is based on inches and is only suitable for adult horses
Similarly, replace 330 with 280 for cubs and 299 for ponies
Why do I need to know how much my horse weighs?
Knowing your horse’s weight is important for several reasons
Most importantly, it can tell you if your horse is at a healthy weight
It is imperative that horses are neither overweight nor underweight
Even for horses of the correct weight, keeping track of their weight tells you how much you should be feeding them
Once again, horses need to eat between 15% and 3% of their bodyweight per day
Once again, horses need to eat between 15% and 3% of their bodyweight per day
You can’t give them the right amount of food if you don’t know how much they weigh
Moreover, it is important to know how much your horse weighs if you want to ride it
Horses can lift around 15% to 20% of their body weight
For example, a 1,000-pound horse should only carry a 200-pound rider
Knowing the horse’s weight, you don’t put too much weight on his back
Image credit: _Alice_, Pixabay
The best way to determine if your horse is at the correct weight is to use a Body Condition Score (BCS)
1 means the horse is underweight and 9 means the horse is extremely overweight or obese
Ideally, your horse should be in the 4 to 6 range
What to do if your horse is at an unhealthy weight?
If you calculate your horse’s size and it turns out to be an unhealthy weight, it’s important to discuss this with your veterinarian
Your veterinarian will be able to weigh your horse more accurately to make sure all calculations are done correctly
For overweight horses, you will need to limit their food and exercise more
Your veterinarian should be able to give you additional tips and advice on how to help your horse lose weight
Horses can also be underweight
If your horse is only slightly underweight, it may be because he is not getting enough calories
Other factors can also affect an underweight horse
Age, climate, health and environment can lead to a horse losing weight
Talk to your veterinarian about any possible health issues leading to your horse being underweight
How to care for an overweight horse
If you find your horse is overweight, you will need to provide him with special care to help control his weight and bring it back to a healthy level
Remove high-calorie foods and supplements from the diet as the horse does not need extra energy
Reduce the time your horse has access to pasture; Four hours a day is a good start
If your horse is eating legumes, switch to grass feeds as they have a greatly reduced caloric impact
Image credit: Qwas, Pixabay
How to care for an underweight horse
Fortunately, it’s usually not too difficult to help an underweight horse gain a few pounds
If you are caring for an underweight horse, try the following:
Provide constant access to hay or pasture for grazing so your horse can eat at any time of the day or night
Add grain to your horse’s diet if he is not already eating it
Try using a grain designed for sport horses or working horses, as it contains more calories, which will help your horse gain weight faster
If you are already feeding your horse grain, try switching to one that is designed for performance
You want something that is high in fat; 10%-12% is a good place to start
Add a high-fat supplement such as flaxseed, vegetable oil or rice bran to your horse’s daily diet
Once again, the average horse weighs between 900 and 2,000 pounds
Knowing your horse’s weight can help identify any health issues to ensure your horse is living his best life
Pay the greatest attention to your body condition assessment and talk to your veterinarian if you are concerned about your horse’s weight