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Horse Weight Calculator

Estimate body weight with just a soft tape measure — then get the right daily hay range for your horse.

Wrap the tape around the barrel just behind the elbow and withers, snug after the horse exhales.

Point of shoulder to point of buttock, in a straight line.

Estimated body weight

1,108 lbs

Daily forage guide

Maintenance (1.5–2%)

16.6–22.2 lbs / day

In work (2–2.5%)

22.2–27.7 lbs / day

How it works

This calculator uses the standard tape formula for adult horses: heart girth × heart girth × body length ÷ 330 (inches to pounds), or ÷ 11,877 for centimeters to kilograms. It is accurate to within about 5–10% for typical adult body types — better than visual guessing and most weight tapes.

Measure on level ground with the horse standing square. The heart girth wraps just behind the elbow and over the lowest point of the withers; body length runs from the point of the shoulder straight back to the point of the buttock. Measure twice and average.

Knowing real weight matters for more than curiosity: hay rations (1.5–2.5% of body weight daily), dewormer doses, and medications are all body-weight based. Underdosing dewormer breeds resistant parasites; overdosing some drugs is dangerous.

Frequently asked questions

Keep exploring

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These tools provide general educational estimates only and are not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your horse’s health, nutrition, and breeding care.