Horse Size Calculator
Measure round your horse's heart girth and along its body with a soft tape. The calculator estimates its weight and gives the rug size, the hay it needs a day and the dose weight for wormers.
- Weight from a tape
- Rug size
- Hay and water
Measure heart girth just behind the elbows after the horse breathes out. Body length runs from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock.
You can weigh a horse without a weighbridge. Heart girth squared, times body length, divided by 330 gives the weight in pounds when both are in inches. It is usually within about 10% of a weighbridge.
Horse weight chart
From heart girth. Search for a girth.
| Girth (in) | Length (in) | Weight (lb) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 51 | 467 | 212 |
| 60 | 56 | 611 | 277 |
| 65 | 60 | 768 | 348 |
| 70 | 65 | 965 | 438 |
| 75 | 70 | 1193 | 541 |
| 80 | 74 | 1435 | 651 |
Body length taken as about 0.93 times the girth.
Girth and weight
Typical build. Slide the heart girth.
The ring round the barrel is the heart girth. The line along the top is the body length.
How to weigh a horse with a tape
Girth and length. Step through it.
Stand square
On level ground.
Measure at the same time of day each time, and keep a record. Changes matter more than the exact figure.
Formula, weight tape or weighbridge
Ways to weigh. Compare them.
Girth and length.
Girth only.
Scales.
Weight tapes sold for horses only use the girth, so they are less accurate for long or short horses.
Before measuring
Tape checks. Tick each item.
Tick each item as you go.
For foals, ponies and very heavy draught horses the formula is less accurate.
What you get
Weight and care. Each tile explains one result.
kg and lb.
Inches and feet.
Each day.
Each day.
By weight.
Most horses eat about 2% of their body weight a day in forage.
Frequently Asked Questions
No question matches that search.
How do I work out my horse's weight with a tape?
Square the heart girth in inches, multiply by the body length in inches, and divide by 330 for pounds.
How accurate is a horse weight formula?
Usually within about 10% of a weighbridge for adult riding horses.
Where do I measure heart girth?
Round the barrel just behind the elbows and over the withers.
How much hay does a horse need a day?
About 2% of its body weight, so about 10 kg for a 500 kg horse.
What size rug does my horse need?
About its body length plus 6 inches, measured from the centre of the chest to the tail.
How much water does a horse drink?
About 25 to 55 litres a day, more in hot weather or work.
Why does my horse's weight matter?
For feeding, wormer doses and spotting weight loss early.
Know your horse's weight
A tape and a simple formula give a weight you can track every month. Use it for feeding, dosing and choosing the right rug.
More size calculators
Each one has its own calculator, worked examples and answers to common questions.