Assessing and Measuring Horse Weight

One of the most important aspects of horse keeping is maintaining your horse at a healthy weight. Whether you own a good doer or a horse prone to loosing weight Forageplus can use nutritional analysis results to make sure your horse is receiving the amount of food to maintain a healthy weight. Our feed plans, to determine dietary needs are also based on the weight of your horse.

Weighing your horseWe will need you to weigh your horse so that we can create an accurate feed plan for you. You can use a weigh tape to record your horse’s weight. If you fi nd it diffi cult to maintain your horse’s weight at the correct level then we recommend you weigh your horse once a week. This allows you to monitor your horses weight and quickly keep in control of gains or losses. A horse that starts to lose weight in the winter can then be fed more calories. A horse which starts to gain weight can then be fed less calories, have grazing restricted or be exercised more. Keep a strict eye on weight by knowing the numbers can mean the difference between a horse staying laminitis free or entering into an episode of severe pain and crisis. Taking a photograph each week can also be a useful strategy.

Decide on a set time (both time of day and in relation to exercise & feeding) – ideally when your horse/pony is relaxed and comfortable – and make each subsequent recording at approximately the same time. Their weight can fl uctuate signifi cantly over a 24 hour period and ensuring you take the measurements/score at a similar time will mean you are comparing like for like.

Observing the neck is another useful way of checking your horse or pony’s risk of laminitis. The cresty neck score system has been developed by researchers to complement the standard body fat scoring system. The research has shown that a cresty neck score of greater than three are at risk of insulin resistance, EMS and laminitis.

How to cresty neck score

Weigh your horse on a weekly basis or take a photo on a monthly basis; you may not notice weight changes when you see your horse everyday and it can be a useful

way of helping you see the di� erence, as you compare the shots.

CRESTY NECK SCORE - 0

No visual appearance of a crest. No palpable crest.

CRESTY NECK SCORE 1

No visual appearance of a crest, but slight fi lling felt with palpation.

CRESTY NECK SCORE 2

Noticeable appearance of a crest, but fat deposited fairly evenly from poll to withers. Crest easily cupped in one hand and bent from side to side.

CRESTY NECK SCORE 3

Crest enlarged and thickened, so fat is deposited more heavily in middle of neck than toward poll and withers, giving a mounded appearance. Crest fi lls cupped hand begins losing side to side fl exibility.

CRESTY NECK SCORE 4

Crest grossly enlarged and thickened, can can no longer be cupped in one hand or easily bent from side to side. Crest may have wrinkles creases perpendicular to top line.

CRESTY NECK SCORE 5

Crest is so large it permanently droops to one side.

perpendicular to top line.

Run your hand along your horse’s neck, down towards

the shoulder blade and feel around his shoulder.

Pinch the fl esh behind his shoulder blade.

Check above his eyes (supra orbital fossa).

Fat scoring

0 = VERY POOR

Neck – marked ‘ewe’ neck, narrow and slack at base. Back and ribs – skin tight over the ribs, ribs very visible. Spinous processes sharp edge and easily seen. Pelvis – angular pelvis, skin tight, very sunken rump. Deep cavity under tail and either side of croup.

1 = POOR

Neck – ‘ewe’ neck, narrow and slack at base. Back and ribs – ribs easily visible, skin sunken either side of backbone. Spinous processes well defi ned. Pelvis – rump sunken but skin supple, pelvis and croup well defi ned, cavity under tail.

2 = MODERATE

A fi t racehorse should be carrying this amount of fat. Neck – narrow but fi rm Back and ribs – ribs just visible, backbone well covered. Spinous processes felt. Pelvis – rump fl at either side of backbone, croup well defi ned, some fat, slight cavity under tail.

3 = GOOD

Most leisure horses will carry this level of fat. Neck – no crest (except stallions), fi rm neck. Back and ribs – ribs just covered, easily felt. No gutter along back. Spinous processes felt. Pelvis – covered by fat and rounded, no gutter, pelvis easily felt.

4 = FAT

Neck – slight crest, wide and fi rm. Back and ribs – ribs well covered. Gutter along back bone. Pelvis – gutter to root of tail. Pelvis covered but soft, felt only with fi rm pressure.

5 = VERY FAT

Neck – marked crest, very wide and fi rm, folds of fat. Back and ribs – ribs buried, cannot feel. Deep gutter, back broad and fl at. Pelvis – deep gutter to root of tail, skin distended, pelvis buried, cannot feel.

Which one best describes your horse?

You should always take these steps when preparing to measure/score:

Step 1: Find a level, fi rm surface for your horse / pony to stand on. Concrete is preferable, but

level dirt or short grass would be fi ne if concrete is not at hand.

Step 2: Position your horse/pony so that they are standing square (with their front and hind feet.

together) and in a straight line. Also ensure they are bearing weight on all four feet.

Follow these basic rules:

• Same person taking measurements/doing scoring

• Same method of measuring/scoring used

• Same place

• Same time

Consistency in measurements/scoring will ensure the accuracy of weight monitoring:

• Hold the blue block in one hand and pass the rest of the tape over the lowest point of your horse’s withers.

• Bring the tape up under the horse’s stomach as close as possible to the elbow.

• The tape should be in a diagonal position from the lowest point of the withers towards the elbow; it will not be in a straight line.

• Read the number opposite the white line at the end of the blue block. This is your horse’s weight in kilos.

T: 01352 700841 / 01352 757777 Unit 10, Broncoed Business Park, Ffordd Nercwys, Flintshire, CH7 1HP

enquiries@forageplus.com www.forageplus.com

How to use a weigh-tape Height (hh) Breed / typeAverage

weight (kg)Weight

range (kg)

9-9.3 Shetland 220 200-240

10-10.3 Shetland 260 240-28011-11.3 Dartmoor 310 300-320

Welsh A 240 200-270

12-12.3 Exmoor 340 320-370

New Forest 300 n/a

Welsh B 280 230-31013-13.3 Connemara 380 370-390

Dales 450 n/aDartmoor 350 n/aHighland 490 n/a

New Forest 360 320-370Welsh C 300 290-380

14-14.3 Arab 430 420-450Dales 510 450-550

Hafl inger 470 n/aTB 370 360-380

Welsh 460 360-55015-15.1 Arab 460 450-470

TB 450 400-500Welsh Cob 535 510-550

15.2-15.3 Arab 460 450-470Connemara 500 n/a

ID 480 460-500TB 500 480-550

16-16.1 TB 525 470-55016.2-16.3 TB 540 490-590

Warmblood 620 600-65017-17.1 Shire 840 750-900

Warmblood 650 640-660

17.2-17.3 Shire 900 850-950