Weight ChartAnother way to find an approximate weight is to measure around the horse as described and take an additional measurement from the point of the horse's shoulder to the 'edge' of the haunch. With this measurement you can then do a bit of math: girth x girth x body length ÷ 300 = Horse's weight.
If your feet are dragging on the floor or hitting poles when you are jumping, you should probably consider a larger horse… It is also true that riding a smaller or narrower horse can be more unbalancing than riding a wider or larger one and the gaits of larger horses differ from those of smaller ones.
Adult male Clydesdales measure 17 to 19 hands (1.7-1.9 m or 5.7-6.3 ft.). A male's average weight is between 771 to 998 kg (1,700-2,200 lb.). Adult females measure 16 to 18 hands (1.6-1.7 m or 5.3-5.7 ft.). A female averages 680 to 771 kg (1,500-2,000 lb.).
A single draft horse can pull a load up to 8,000 pounds. The strength involved in this is hard to imagine. So then we can speculate what would happen if we hooked up two draft horses to a load.
The Shire horse holds the record for the world's biggest horse; Sampson, foaled in 1846 in Bedfordshire, England, stood 21.2 1⁄2 hands (86.5 inches, 220 cm) at his withers, and weighed approx 3,360 lb (1,524 kg).
For horses ≥15 hh weigh tape 1 was most accurate (103.5 [9.1] per cent) and the formula, tape 2 and the visual estimate were 95.5 (13.1) per cent, 91.8 (9.2) per cent, and 89.3 (22.2) per cent accurate respectively. Overall the formula appeared to be the most accurate estimator of a horse's weight.
Weight is a measure of the force of gravity pulling down on an object. It depends on the object's mass and the acceleration due to gravity, which is 9.8 m/s2 on Earth. The formula for calculating weight is F = m × 9.8 m/s2, where F is the object's weight in Newtons (N) and m is the object's mass in kilograms.
So, how much does the average horse weigh? The weight of a horse can average anywhere between 900lb and 2000lbs depending on the breed and the shape of the horse.
A completely matured horse comes in anywhere between 900 and 2,200 pounds. Draft horses easily tip the scale over 2,000 pounds. It's no joke, some literally weigh a ton! Light saddle horses are generally between 900 and 1,300 pounds.
Approximate guide to horse's body weight by height
| Height | Body Weight (Kilos) | Body Weight (Pounds) |
|---|
| 14 hh | 350-420 | 770-924 |
| 15 hh | 420-520 | 924-1114 |
| 16 hh | 500-600 | 1100-1320 |
| 17 hh | 600-725 | 1320-1595 |
A horse trailer designed to transport one or two horses typically weighs between 2,300 and 3,900 pounds. With horses and cargo loaded, this number increases. The average empty weight of a horse trailer is about 2,900 pounds.
If your horse is taller than that in the 15 hands range or 16 hands range you can expect your horse to weigh over 1200 pounds. In this case, it is best to get a weight for your horse and keep track of it so you know if it is over or underweight.
Responses to a horse-ownership survey from the University of Maine found that the average annual cost of horse ownership is $3,876 per horse, while the median cost is $2,419. That puts the average monthly expense anywhere from $200 to $325 – on par with a car payment.
Many thoroughbreds will look very thin when they are actually in good body condition, while they lack topline and general muscle. So be sure to read our post on Body Condition Scoring to help you determine if your horse needs more condition or needs to build muscle. The former can be done with feed alone.
Treat your horse like the horse s/he is: base its diet on a high quality forage first and add any energy concentrate/grain mix to meet an increased need for calories; offer them plenty of turn-out – Thoroughbreds can and do thrive on 24/7 pasture time. Treat ulcers if necessary. Finally, ENJOY your new partner!
Similarly, a Shire at the bottom end of the height scale (17 hands) is considered underweight if it weighs less than 770kg, but a 17 hand thoroughbred is overweight at 590kg.
Shire stallions average slightly more than 17 hands (68 inches, or 173 centimetres) in height and weigh as much as 2,000 pounds (about 900 kilograms).
A horse can lose up to 5% of his body weight in a one-mile race; for an average-sized Thoroughbred, this calculates to more than 50 lbs.
The average pony is anywhere from 9 - 14 hands and weighs 400n-800 pounds. So including tack ponies can carry riders who weigh between 80 - 160 pounds maximum including tack.
Equine Size-Chart
| DESCRIPTION | HANDS | INCHES |
|---|
| HORSE | 17 H | 68-70 inches |
| 17.2 H | 70-72 inches |
| 18 H | 72-74 inches |
| 18.2 H | 74-76 inches |
On average, a Quarter horse will cost from $2,500 to $10,000. However, elite show horses and stallions will cost from $25,000 to $100,000, and more. The Price of a Quarter horse depends on many factors such as age, bloodlines, training, and gender.
Weight Assessment
| Under 12hh Shetland, Dartmoor, Welsh A | 200kg – 320kg |
|---|
| 13hh to 14hh Connemara, Dales, New Forest, Welsh C | 290kg – 390kg |
| 14hh to 15hh Arab, Dales, Welsh D | 360kg – 550kg |
| 15hh to 16hh Arab, TB, ID, Welsh X | 400kg – 550kg |
| 16hh to 17hh TB, Warmblood | 470kg – 650kg |
