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[Joan Deutsch]

Weight tapes seem to often calculate about 100 pounds less than the size of an average horse. The New South Wales Department of Agriculture came up with a formula but I need to convert to U.S. calculations later. Let me know if anyone tries this:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/01/18/working-out-horse-weight/#.UPsP8KXZXdk

[hihosilver]

We tried this formula, using inches, on Cody and it seems to work well:

The link above shows exactly where to take the measurements on the horse:

1. Measure the girth around the horse; when the tape comes around the back, it should be below the withers.
2. Measure the length of the horse from point of shoulder to the end of the hind leg.

Multiply the girth in inches X the girth in inches (which is the same as "squared")
Multiply that number X the horse's length in inches
Divide that number by 304 -- and you'll have the horse's weight in pounds!

The formula gives 1,248 pounds for Cody.
The weight tape says 1,158. The vet says to add about 100 pounds on to the weight tape for an average size horse, so that ends up being close to the formula. Years ago, Cody weighed 1,340 on a scale. He's a bit thinner now so this number seems pretty accurate. Anyone else tried it?

[Rngovvet]

I need to try that. Mateja is 14.2 hh and tapes at 888#, and she's thin. Diamond tapes at 850#, she's about 15.2, and she's a good body condition, and definitely looks bigger/heavier than Mateja.

[Joan Deutsch]

Let us know what the formula says. How much does Gerdi weigh? My weight tape says to put it behind their front legs so it ends up going over the top of their withers. Is that how you measure?

[Rngovvet]

Let us know what the formula says. How much does Gerdi weigh? My weight tape says to put it behind their front legs so it ends up going over the top of their withers. Is that how you measure?

Gerdi's off the tape that I use - it goes up to 1320#. I'll see if my other tape goes higher. It's different - you have to extrapolate from the overlap of weight ranges.

That's where I measure - over the withers. I've measured forward of and behind that, but the 'sweet spot' seems to be most consistent. I measure 3-5x and take the most consistent result.

Brøkk taped at 230# today. He got his teeth done today. Vet said he's got really good alignment, especially for a for a mini.

[Rngovvet]

Let us know what the formula says. How much does Gerdi weigh? My weight tape says to put it behind their front legs so it ends up going over the top of their withers. Is that how you measure?

Gerdi's off the tape that I use - it goes up to 1320#. I'll see if my other tape goes higher. It's different - you have to extrapolate from the overlap of weight ranges.

That's where I measure - over the withers. I've measured forward of and behind that, but the 'sweet spot' seems to be most consistent. I measure 3-5x and take the most consistent result.

Brøkk taped at 230# today. He got his teeth done today. Vet said he's got really good alignment, especially for a for a mini.

[horsepeople2001]

my mini calculates out to around 250 ish not using the tape but by a formula the vet used taking length x girth and some thing he said it was more accurate than the tapes.

[Rngovvet]

I finally got the measurements:

Mateja tapes at 888#, and the formula above has her at 967#.

Diamond tapes at about 850#, and doing math got her at 971#.

Gerdi is just outside the max on the tape (1320?), and she works out at 1381#.

Brokk tapes about 224#, and works out to 242#.