![]() ![]() Since the 1980s, veterinarians and horse owners alike have been using the Henneke Body Condition Scoring (BCS) system to estimate fat coverage of horses. Other more quantitative means include those derived from direct measurement of the animal. One way is through physical examination of the horse and assigning it a subjective score of adiposity. There are a few ways to estimate condition or overall adiposity (amount of fat cover) in horses. While important in determining your horse’s overall nutrient requirements, knowing how much your horse weighs still doesn’t tell you if it is too fat, too thin, or in good overall condition with respect to fat coverage. Rapidly growing foals can be prone to developmental problems and orthopedic diseases such as epiphysitis or osteochondritis dissecans. Weight determination in growing horses is more important for ensuring smooth, consistent growth patterns than for ideal “body weight” with respect to fat coverage. For example, the weight of a horse with a long body would be underestimated if determined by heart girth alone.Ĭalculations specific for estimating the weight of growing horses are more complicated, and a scale is recommended to monitor growth rates in these horses. The calculation of body weight (from both body length and heart girth) tends to be a little more accurate than using the heart girth alone (from a weigh tape), simply because differences in body length can greatly affect weight. ![]() ONLINE TOOL: Adult Horse Weight Calculator ![]() Incremental weights have been printed directly on the tape to give a rapid estimate. It is also possible to get a reasonable estimate of body weight from heart girth alone, which has given rise to the popularity of “weigh tapes.” Readily available for purchase at most tack and feed stores, these tapes are placed around the heart girth area. Where heart girth and body length are measured in inches. Where heart girth and body length are measured in centimeters Heart girth is taken around the midsection, behind the elbow, and beyond the highest part of the withers. An equine scale can be purchased for approximately $3,000.īecause of the need for some kind of weight estimate in horses (for determining the amount of feed, de-wormer medication, etc.), several research groups have identified equations to estimate body weight using body measurements such as heart girth and body length.īody length is measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock. If you run a relatively large boarding facility or have mares and foals whose weights you’d like to keep track of (because growth of foals should be monitored closely), a scale is a wise investment. Also, many feed companies own portable scales and can bring them to your facility to accurately assess your horse’s weight and to find out how much of their product you need. Although most horse owners do not have access to scales, they are fairly common at equine veterinary clinics and research facilities. Scales clearly give the most accurate reading and can detect minor changes in body weight (though it should be pointed out that weighing a horse daily will likely reveal fluctuations due to fecal loss rather than true weight). ![]() The most accurate way to determine a horse’s weight is by weighing the horse. Most horses should have a body condition score between 4 and 6. Quantitative measures of adiposity include girth-to-height ratios and the overall percentage of fat (determined by a rump fat thickness ultrasound).Body condition scores and cresty neck scores give a subjective indication of the amount of condition (fat coverage) on a horse.A scale best determines body weight, but calculations and weigh tapes can also be helpful. ![]()
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