how much do horses weigh

Understanding average horse weight and why it matters

Did you know that there’s a strong link between how much a horse weighs and its overall health? Horses that are overweight or underweight run the danger of developing major medical problems.

But how do you weigh a horse? And how can you tell whether your horse is at a healthy weight or if weight-related issues are a possibility?

The appropriate weight of a horse depends on a number of variables, but an adult horse typically weighs between 900 and 1,200 pounds. Miniatures and little ponies weigh much less than draft breeds, which may reach weights of up to 1,800 pounds. Continue reading if you’re interested in learning how weight affects health or how to determine your horse’s weight. We’ve got all the details!

Want to estimate your adult horse’s weight in a few minutes? Move on to our free horse weight calculator .

Concerned about horse health? Learn about In our A to Zzzz Guide to Equine Rest, we discuss how horses sleep. .

What factors affect a horse’s weight?

Source: Canva

Numerous elements, including as heredity, environment, age, and general physical condition, affect a horse’s weight.

Dietary intake has a big influence on weight in horses, particularly when combined with exercise.

And with so many high-quality feed alternatives on the market right now, it’s possible to overfeed a horse and end up with an overweight animal.

Check read our earlier post on to learn more about the science of feeding your horse. equine nutrition .

In addition, certain illnesses, such Cushing’s disease, may cause weight increase or decrease. Even the regular changes associated with aging can cause gradual weight loss and changes in body condition.

Some horses are inherently bigger or smaller than others depending on the breed. You may have heard the terms “heavy” and “light” in reference to horses before but maybe didn’t fully understand the terms.

Heavy vs. light horses

A horse breed often belongs to one of two groups: heavy or light.

Draft horse breeds include the Clydesdale, Percheron, Belgian, and Shire kinds of horses.

These heavy horses are the ones that pulled the plows and wagons for farmers before the advent of the tractor. Draft horses have short backs and muscular hindquarters because they are designed for labor. these breeds tend to run between 1,700 to 2,000+ lbs.

If you want more details about, see our in-depth article. optimizing nutrition for draft horses .

However, depending on the breed and size, light horses may weigh anywhere between 900 and 1,500 pounds.

These are the bigger horses that are most often employed for riding, racing, driving, and other tasks like herding cattle. On the lighter end of this group are the Arabians who range from 900 to 1,100 pounds, while the average warmblood will weigh in the neighborhood of 1,200 to 1,300 pounds.

Horse Weight World Records Infographic

This infographic may be used on your own website. as long as you link back to horse-rookie.local.* By clicking the Pinterest symbol while it is highlighted, feel free to share it on Pinterest. #knowledgeishorsepower

How much does a horse weigh at birth?

Unbelievably, all newborn foals weigh around 10% of their mothers’ weight, regardless of breed.

Therefore, a mare weighing 2,000 pounds will give birth to a foal that weighs around 200 pounds. A small horse or pony weighing more than 900 pounds will have a baby weighing about 90 pounds.

Horses develop swiftly and, by the time they are two years old, are typically around 90% of their entire adult height.

The last 10% moves rather more slowly. A horse will continue to grow and fill out throughout the next two years of its life, growing to full height at the age of four.

A newborn horse weighs around 10% of its mother’s weight.

It’s crucial to modify the food regimen while rearing foals to the breed.

Feeding too much or too rapidly may put the horse at risk for a variety of developmental orthopedic problems, while feeding too slowly or insufficiently might cause stunted growth (DOD).

Read our advice to start your foal out correctly. guide to foal nutrition .

Doing the math is also a big part of calculating Horse Trailer Weight and your rig equation.

How are horses weighed?

There are four ways to weigh a horse:

1) A livestock scale provides you the most accurate and impartial measurement. You may have seen something similar in your small animal vet’s office; this is the same idea, only larger.

2) Weight tapes are comparable to those a tailor might use. To acquire a rough measurement, the horse weight tape is wrapped around the barrel. Their weight is determined by the barrel size, or girth area.

- Weight cassettes may not be as precise for horses who weigh smaller, bigger, or growing; they work best for horses that are “normal” size.
- You can grab inexpensive weight tape on Amazon here .

Horse weight estimates are often made using weight tape.

3) Online Calculators use a formula to estimate your horse’s body weight. Just keep in mind that the findings are an estimate of weight rather than a precise reading from a scale.

Try our horse weight calculator below!

Horse Weight Calculator

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4) Eyeballing is the most random way to weigh horses. Even the most experienced owners and veterinarians can be off by as much as 200 pounds.

Why should we know a horse’s weight?

There are a few strong reasons to be aware of your horse’s weight in addition to basic curiosity.

You can determine how much food your horse needs to consume by knowing how much he weighs.

Prior to developing feeding plans, it is important to comprehend horse weight.

Since every horse is unique, figuring out how much food they should consume might be aided by understanding their weight and way of life. (See Purina’s horse feeding calculator .)

The daily hay requirement for an adult horse is between 15 and 20 pounds.
Approximately 2.5% of a horse’s body weight is consumed each day.
Don’t forget to hydrate! Depending on the climate and degree of exercise, a horse requires at least 5 to 15 gallons of clean water each day.

You can keep track of and comprehend seasonal fluctuations if you are aware of and understand your horse’s weight.

Horses tend to lose weight in the winter as fodder is harder to come by and when their caloric requirements increase.
Some horses need additional calories to remain warm during the chilly winter months, and the best source of these calories is high-quality hay.
It’s also crucial to keep an eye on your horse’s diet throughout the summer, since access to grass increases the likelihood that they’ll gain weight.
For up to 18 hours a day, horses will forage or chew on grass and hay.

Knowing your horse’s weight might help you spot any health issues and decide how much medicine to provide.

Medication dosage errors may have disastrous results. It is important to know your horse’s weight before administering potent medications.
Keep in mind that even the most accurate “guessers” might be 200 pounds off.

The amount of weight your horse can safely draw or carry may be determined by knowing his weight.

A typical horse can carry comfortably between 15 and 20 percent of its body weight (e.g., a 1,000-pound horse can carry about a 200-pound rider).
A horse is more likely to have pain and lameness problems if it is asked to carry too much weight for its size.

Keep in mind that a horse’s condition and health are not only determined by its weight.

Body Condition Score

Source: Canva

A Body Condition Score (BCS) is a tool that veterinarians and other equine experts often use to determine if a horse has an appropriate amount of body fat.

The scale goes from 1 (very thin) to 9 (very thick) (highly over-conditioned).

A horse’s BCS should take into account the following 6 bodily systems:

Spine: You should not see his spine. A horse’s back will have a ridge if he is excessively thin.
Ribs: A horse’s ribs need to be palpable yet hidden from view.
Tailhead/Croup: The tailhead should not be visible. If so, the horse could be underweight.
Withers: A horse that is overly skinny will have obvious withers.
Neck: The horse’s neck bone structure should not be visible. If so, the horse could be underweight.
Shoulder: A horse that has been over-conditioned may develop an excessive amount of density behind its shoulder.

Despite being arbitrary, the BCS may be used to determine if a horse is:

Underweight: < 3
Moderate or ideal weight: 4-6
Overweight: > 7
Obeses: > 8

For more on body condition score, check out our article about helping horses in need .

Weight and conformation

When it comes to an equine athlete’s ability to fulfill his or her duties successfully, both conformation and fitness are crucial.

For long-term health, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight.

Conformation describes how nicely the horse is put together in comparison to the breed’s ideal models (e.g. slope of shoulder, shape of leg, and length of back).

Horses with structural issues will find it more difficult to perform their duties.

Similarly, horses that are under or overweight will also face challenges. It is important to keep them healthy and pay attention to their weight and condition.

Did you know:

On average, a horse bears around 64% of its weight on its front legs, and the rest on its rear legs. Doing the math, a 1,000 horse carries about 600 pounds on his front legs alone.
Horse legs are marvels made up of bones, muscles, tendons, joints, and ligaments that support the horse in a multitude of athletic activities. Since their legs are among their most vital body components, maintaining their safety and wellness is crucial to their overall wellbeing.
Even a little wound to a horse’s leg may sometimes be quite dangerous, if not death.

Horse Weight Infographic

This infographic may be used on your own website. as long as you link back to horse-rookie.local.*

By clicking the Pinterest symbol while it is highlighted, feel free to share it on Pinterest. #knowledgeishorsepower

How to estimate horse weight without a scale

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does an average horse weigh?

An average horse weighs 900-2,000 pounds.

Q: How much should my horse weigh?

Because each horse is unique, start by speaking with your veterinarian.

He or she can assist you in identifying the appropriate weight range for your horse and creating a strategy to get there.

Q: How much does a quarter horse weigh?

1,000 – 1,300 pounds

In this page on the American Quarter Horse, you may learn more best horse breeds for beginners .

Q: How much does a racehorse weigh?

900 to 1,100 pounds

Q: How much does a pony weigh?

200 to 1,400 pounds

Q: How much does a horse’s head weigh?

10% of the total horse’s body weight

Q: How much does a baby horse weigh?

Depending on the breed, 90 to 200 pounds or more.

Q: How much does a Shetland pony weigh?

298 to 595 pounds

Q: How much does a miniature horse weigh?

150 to 300 pounds

Q: How much does a thoroughbred horse weigh?

1,003 to 1,301 pounds

Q: How much does an Arabian horse weigh?

800 to 1,000 pounds

Q: How much does a horse weigh in pounds?

An average horse weighs 900-2,000 pounds

Q: How much does a horse weigh in tons?

between somewhat less than half a ton to a ton or more, depending on the breed

Q: How much does a Clydesdale horse weigh?

1,598 to 1,797 pounds

Q: Where can I find a horse weight calculator?

Click here to use a horse weight calculator.

Q: What should I feed my horse?

That is a challenging question! Check out our blog called Food or Foe: What Do Horses Eat?

Q: How much does a horse trailer weigh?

Horse trailers generally weigh between 2,400 pounds and 8,400 pounds, depending on their size and kind. We have an entire blog about horse trailer weight here , so trot on over.

Q: How to make a horse gain weight and muscle?

Putting on (and maintaining) weight might be difficult if your horse is a rescue or a hard keeper.

First, make sure your feed is rich in protein and fat. Then, think about giving your animals some alfalfa for a bit. The diet for your horse might also include additives like canola oil. Another excellent way to aid in a horse’s gain in size is to feed it beet pulp.

The sessions should be mild while your horse is gaining weight. I like to do a lot of walking on the lunge line to help them build muscle without burning too many calories.

Q: What’s the best oil to feed horses for weight gain?

Oil may be a simple option if your horse isn’t gaining weight after all other medical problems have been cleared out.

You may purchase vegetable oil from your neighborhood grocery shop, which is the easiest (and least expensive) oil to add. Most horses love corn oil, but peanut or canola oils work fine, too.

Oil introduction should be gradual to prevent dietary disturbances (like diarrhea). Start with a quarter cup per day, increasing the amount every few days.

Dac oil and DuMOR Rice Bran oil are further possibilities for oil.

Reaching That Goal Weight

Horses don’t always make it simple for us to contribute to their well-being. If they could, some people wouldn’t stop eating. Others are finicky, difficult keepers that leave you perplexed with every shift in the weather.

But one thing is same across all horses: keeping a healthy girth It requires effort, pun intended. As their caretakers, it’s our duty to be “weight watchers!”

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