How Much Does a Horse Weigh?

How Much Does A Horse Weigh social

A horse can weigh 900 to 2,000 pounds, depending on the breed, age, size, and height. If a horse weighs too much or too little it can negatively affect their quality of life in many ways.

Horses with a weight of around 1,400 to 2,700 are draft horses. Their sturdy build comes with a short back and strong hindquarters. Farmers used them to pull wagons and plows before the invention of tractors. Such as clydesdale, belgians, percherons, and shires, etc.

Light saddle horses are generally between 800 and 1,500 pounds. These horses have a lighter stature, making them ideal for riding. They usually have a shorter back, a muscular chest. Such as thoroughbreds, arabian horses, appaloosa, etc.

The weight of a horse is not constant, some factors can change the ideal weight of horses. Read on to understand this matter further, as it’s a crucial part of the equines’ health.

How Much Does a Newborn Horse Weigh?

The weight of a newborn horse is 10% of its mother’s weight. It may not be sensible, but the father’s weight doesn’t affect the foal’s weight. The mother’s weight will always influence the newborn’s weight. This fact applies to all breeds.

Let’s have the calculation to show an example. A mare that is 1,500 pounds will give birth to a foal that weighs 150 pounds. But first-time mothers usually have smaller babies.

a mare and a newborn foal walk in mountain

Do mares give birth to twins? Some of them do but rarely. Newborn twin foals may be below the average weight. Also, premature foals are not in the normal weight range.

If it happens, you have to consult the veterinarian. You must confirm if the newborn has health issues that need immediate attention.

How Much Does a Baby Horse Weigh?

Foals or baby horses grow so quick. The weight of a foal from birth doubles every two or four weeks. Hence, a baby horse born with 150 pounds can weigh 300 pounds in two weeks.

How Much Does a Full-Grown Horse Weigh?

As mentioned, the weight of horses varies due to different breeds. It’s essential to know their weight when they mature so you’re aware that they grow as healthy horses.

Average Miniature Horse Weigh

With a height of not more than 34 inches, a miniature horse can weigh 150 to 350 lbs. They’re shorter than ponies and have a slimmer build. A miniature horse looks like a regular horse but is shorter.

Average Clydesdale Horse Weigh

A Clydesdale horse can grow up to 6 feet with a weight of 1,500 to 2,200 pounds. With this profile information, this horse is tall and heavy, without a doubt. Thus, it’s one of the draft horses.

Average Draft Horse Weigh

Due to the tall frame and muscular body of a draft horse, it can weigh 1,800 to 2,300 pounds. This breed’s height can range from 163 to 193 cm.

Average Thoroughbred Horse Weigh

Thoroughbred horses are racing horses. They have a tall and slim build suitable for an athletic breed. While they can have a height of 157 to 173 cm, they may weigh from 990 to 1,100 pounds.

a horse on a horse scales weigh platform

Average Race Horse Weigh

Thoroughbreds, Quarter horses, Arabians, and Standardbreds are racehorses. Due to various breeds, the average weight has a wide gap. A racehorse can weigh from 900 to 2,000 pounds.

Average Shire Horse Weigh

A shire horse is a British draught horse. Since it’s a large breed, it can weigh from 1,870 to 2,430 pounds.

Average Kentucky Derby Horse Weigh

Kentucky Derby Festival takes place in Louisville, Kentucky, every first Saturday of May. Hence, a Kentucky Derby horse is a racehorse or Thoroughbred that may weigh 900 to 2,000 pounds. Anyway, there’s no strict rule about the weight of participating horses.

Average Belgian Horse Weigh

Considered the largest draft horse, a Belgian horse can weigh 2,100 to 2,300 pounds. In general, a Clydesdale horse may be lighter by only 200 pounds!

Horse Weight Chart Based on Type

The American Museum of Natural History presented three body types of horses. They’re heavy breeds, light breeds, and ponies. One factor that we can tell them apart is weight.

Heavy breeds or draft horses are massive horses weighing 1,400 to 2,700 pounds. Percheron, Belgian, and Suffolk Punch are some of the examples.

Light breeds have long legs. These legs are for speed, racing, jumping, herding, and riding. They weigh 800 to 1,500 pounds. Ponies are the smallest breed, ranging from 200 to 1500 pounds.

Horse TypeAverage Weight (lb)Average Weight (kg)
Heavy Breeds1,400-2,700 lb635-1,225 kg
Light Breeds800-1,500 lb363-680 kg
Ponies200-1,500 lb91-680 kg

Horse Weight Chart Based on Breed

Different horse breeds tend to gain various weight. On average, a fully grown adult horse weighs around 1100 pounds.

Here’s a chart that shows the weight differentiation of various breeds. So, you can identify them with ease.

Horse BreedAverage Weight (lb)Average Weight (kg)
Andalusian1,200-1,300 lb540-590 kg
American Warmblood1,210–1,320 lb550-600 kg
American Saddlebred1,000-1,200 lb450-540 kg
American Quarter950-1,200 lb430-540 kg
Arabian790–990 lb350-450 kg
Ardennes1,540–2,210 lb700-1000 kg
Belgian1,750-2,200 lb800-1,000 kg
Cleveland Bay1,210–1,540 lb550-700 kg
Clydesdale1,540–2,210 lb700-1,000 kg
Cob Horses990-1,200 lb450-540 kg
Connemara Pony640–860 lb290-390 kg
Dales Pony880–1,100 lb400-500 kg
Danish Warmblood1,200-1,400 lb540-640 kg
Dartmoor Pony440–710 lb200-320 kg
Dutch Warmblood1,210–1,320 lb550-600 kg
Draft1,540-1,870 lb700-850 kg
Eriskay Pony660–880 lb300-400 kg
Exmoor Pony660–880 lb300-400 kg
Fell Pony770–990 lb350-450 kg
Fjord880-1,100 lb400-500 kg
Friesian1,300-1,500 lb590-680 kg
Gypsy Vanner1,300-1,600 lb590-730 kg
Hackney880–1,210 lb400-550 kg
Hackney Pony550–770 lb250-350 kg
Haflinger770–1,320 lb350-600 kg
Hanoverian1,210–1,430 lb550-650 kg
Heavyweight Hunter1,300-1,540 lb590-700 kg
Highland Pony1,100–1,320 lb 500-600 kg
Holsteiner990–1,760 lb450-800 kg
Irish Draught1,320–1,760 lb600-800 kg
Lipizzaner905-1,200 lb410-540 kg
Lusitano900-1,100 lb410-500 kg
Missouri Fox Trotter900-1,200 lb410-540 kg
Morgan900-1,100 lb410-500 kg
Nakota900-1,500 lb410-680 kg
New Forest Pony510–730 lb230-30 kg
Oldenburg1,200-1,500 lb540-680 kg
Paint950-1,200 lb430-540 kg
Paso Fino1,200-1,300 lb540-590 kg
Percheron1,870–2,090 lb850-950 kg
Polish Warmblood
(Welskpoloski)
1,100-1,400 lb500-640 kg
Polo Pony900-1,100 lb410-500 kg
Ridden Hunter990-1,400 lb450-640 kg
Shetland Pony400–440 lb180-200 kg
Shire1,870–2,430 lb850-1100 kg
Spotted Pony440–880 lb200-400 kg
Standardbred1,000-1,320 lb450-600 kg
Suffolk Punch1,650–1,980 lb750-900 kg
Swedish Warmblood880–1,210 lb400-550 kg
Tennessee Walker900-1,200 lb410-540 kg
Thoroughbred990–1,100 lb450-500 kg
Trakehner1,100-1,500 lb500-680 kg
Welara660–880 lb300-400 kg
Westphalian990–1,320 lb 550-600 kg

How Are Horses Weighed?

You can weigh horses in four ways.

Livestock Scale

Use a livestock scale if you want precision when determining your horse’s weight. The weighing scale you see in a veterinary clinic is smaller than the livestock scale. But they have the same function.

Weight Tape

The weight tape is like tailor tape. This tape be used to obtain an approximate weight of your horse by measuring the heart girth (barrel).

I must say that weight tape is ideal for weighing average-sized horses. You’d rather use other options for larger, growing, and smaller equines.

To estimate your horse’s weight, measure its girth and length as show in the illustration, then plug the numbers into the appropriate formula:

Adult Horse: Heart Girth x Heart Girth x Body Length ÷ 300 = Bodyweight in pounds
Yearling: Heart Girth x Heart Girth x Body Length ÷ 301 = Bodyweight in pounds
Weanling: Heart Girth x Heart Girth x Body Length ÷ 280 = Bodyweight in pounds
Pony: Heart Girth x Heart Girth x Body Length ÷ 299 = Bodyweight in pounds

Estimate Your Horses Weight

Eyeballing

Although this is not an ideal way of weighing a horse, you may use it for estimation. But there can be a disparity of 200 pounds. No one can get a specific measurement through eyeballing. Even veterinarians or expert breeders can’t do it.

Why Should We Know a Horse’s Weight?

We should know a horse’s weight to feed it with the right food quantity. Every horse needs to eat an amount of feed that is 2.5% of its body. Apart from this, there are other reasons.

Effects of Seasonal Change

It will also help you understand the effects of seasonal change. In winter, the availability of forage is low. But you must ensure that your horses get extra calories for the much-needed warmth in the cold season. Good quality hay can provide this.

There’s a high supply of hay or forage in summer. You have to prevent your horses from overeating and gaining extra fat.

For Medicine Dose

When your horse is sick, it’s under medication. Right dosing is essential; you can figure it out through your horse’s weight.

Knowing the Weight a Horse Can Carry

Note that a horse can carry 15% to 20% of its body weight. If you let it bear too much weight, the animal is at risk of lameness and soreness.

What Factors Impact a Horse’s Weight?

Kris Hiney enumerated four factors that impact a horse’s weight. This person is an equine specialist from Oklahoma State University. Here are the factors and their explanations

Genetics

The potential growth of every horse depends on its genetics. Smaller breeds may have growth limitations. But nutrition and exercise can reverse them.

Skeletal disorders can get in the way of genetics’ potential. An example is a foal with bone alignment issues. It may not achieve the growth rate normal for its genetics.

Nutrition

It’s easy to understand why nutrition affects the weight of a horse. You can feed your horses processed feeds and supplements to gain weight. Also, you may control their weight by controlling their diet.

girl riding on horse

Exercise

As a responsible owner, you must be particular with your horses’ exercises. It should be on the level that promotes muscle and skeletal development.

If your horse gets into stressful exercises, there will be a delay or restriction on its growth. Also, it may make the animal underweight.

Environmental Conditions

Some may think that stalled horses are fit and in the ideal weight. It’s a set-up where horses get the right amount of nutrition. But, they may not have the chance to exercise.

It’s possible to raise healthy horses in a pasture. They have the opportunity to exercise for ideal weight. You have to oversee that they get the necessary nutrients from their forage.

Heaviest and Lightest Horse Ever

The heaviest horse that ever lived was from the 1850s. It was a Shire horse gelding called Sampson that weighed 3,360 pounds. He has a height of 7 feet and 2 inches, so he had another name, Mammoth.

Thumbelina is the lightest miniature horse that only weighs 57 pounds. When it comes to the lightest foal ever born, a miniature horse called Einstein took the title. He weighed less than 7 pounds at the time of birth.

Related Information

How Much Does a Horses Saddle Weigh?

Horse saddles weigh around 10 to 60 pounds. While Western saddles weigh 25 to 60 pounds, English saddles are lighter at 10 to 25 pounds.

How Much Does a Horse Trailer Weigh?

Since there are various horse trailers, they can weigh from 2,400 to 8,400 pounds.

How Much Does a Horse Jockey Weigh?

A horse jockey must not be too heavy. The acceptable weight for horse jockeys is from 100 to 120 pounds.

How Much Does a Horse Heart Weigh?

Horses are in different forms, sizes, and weights. So, their hearts are not the same size, but it’s around 1% of their weight. The average weight of a horse’s heart is 8 to 9 pounds.

Conclusion

The largest horses can weigh 1,400 to 2,700 pounds, while the lighter breeds weigh 800 to 1,500 pounds. Ponies or miniature horses can weigh from 200 to 1,500 pounds. Some factors can change the common characteristics based on genetics and breed.

Nutrition, exercise, and environmental conditions can affect the weight of a horse. Disorders and illnesses have an effect too.

Do you know now why it’s important to know your horse’s weight? It’s because of seasonal change, the right dosing of medication, and the load they can carry.

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