How much should my pony weigh?
All equestrians should ask themselves ‘how much should my pony weigh?’ as soon as a new horse or pony is in their care. The weight of our horses/ponies is important for a number of reasons, from quantity of food given to medication. Until Fatty was diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) I’d mainly just eyeballed my ponies weights. Now I appreciate how important and useful it is to use all weighing methods.
The ideal weight of your horse or pony will depend upon it’s height and build; very similar to humans. Just as with ourselves, your horse will have ‘normal’ range for weight. A weight tape is often used to give a rough idea of weight, and is a useful tool as long as it’s used correctly. A weighbridge is more precise, but less common.
This article should give you an understanding of why knowing your pony’s weight is important, and how you can achieve this measure accurately.
Why weigh my pony?
Knowing how much your pony should weigh is not just about how much excess (or not) weight they are carrying. Whilst this will have an obvious impact on their comfort levels, ability to perform, and potential damage to joints, and laminitis, it is also important for giving appropriate day to day care. Without knowing their weight, how do you choose how much to feed? How do you ensure that they are receiving the right amount of wormer or other medication? For example, if you under worm, the resistance of the worms will build and medication may not be as effective over time. Over medicating has its own clear perils. This is why asking ‘How much should my pony weigh’ is such an important question right from day 1.
What weight is your 13.2hh pony?
People often ask others about the weights of their ponies so that they can compare. This is not always helpful. Unless the two ponies are similar in build, height, and fitness, then whilst each pony’s weight could be correct for each, the two figures could be quite different! For example, you may have 2 ponies that are of a similar height. You may expect their weights to be fairly similar. Not necessarily. One pony may be a thinner build, think British Sports Pony versus a Traditional Cob, whilst the other is heavier. Bone structure will play an important part in the measurement. Even at the same height it would be likely that the traditional cob would weigh quite a reasonable amount more. Even if the ponies are similar heights and builds, they could vary weight-wise through fitness levels. One pony may be fitter and more muscled; with muscle weighing proportionally more than fat, the fitter pony would be heavier, even if it were also possibly healthier.
However, that said, just for interest, Fatty and SFB are similar heights, and have a similar level of fitness. Fatty currently weighs 390kg, and SFB weighs just under 370kg. The difference is due to her stockier build, and her ability to put on weight simply looking at grass. Whilst Fatty could stand to lose a few fat pounds, SFB needs to muscle up. She will always be heavier simply down to her bone structure.
What should my pony weigh by breed?
There are millions of horse weight charts all over the internet telling you how much your breed of horse ‘should’ weigh. These may be a useful piece of knowledge to have, but each pony is an individual and there’s no ‘one weight fits all’ answer. Regular monthly weighing, be that by using a weigh tape or a weighbridge, is important so that you know what weight is ‘right’ for your pony.
Especially if you have a pony cob these charts are quite unhelpful as they often start at 14hh, and suggest that a 13.2hh pony’s maximum weight should be 380. Going by these charts my ponies would both be on a continuous diet. It’s far more important to know how to weigh your horse accurately than be able to reel off horse breed weight ‘ideals.’
How to use a weigh tape
The good thing about using a weigh tape is that it’s simple and quick. Most equine weigh tapes have a height measure too, so you can check this too, especially if you have a young pony that is still growing.
To use a weigh tape place it over the withers of your pony and bring it up under their girth to meet the tape between the withers and shoulder. Read the weight indicated by the arrow, and there you have your pony’s weight.
Use this method once per month to keep on top of your pony’s weight. You may choose to start weekly measurements if you have concerns about their weight. Fatty had weekly weigh-ins so I could check that she was loosing weight when she was diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS).
Weight tape vs Weighbridge
A weigh tape is a convenient method allowing you to quickly and easily check your horses weight. However, it does have some drawbacks. To be effective the tape must be placed in the same place each and every time – this is easier said than done. For horses with pronounced withers it may give an inaccurate reading. However, the result will still be indicative of a weight gain/loss if used regularly in the same place. Horse weight tape accuracy therefore cannot be totally relied upon.
A weighbridge is far more accurate, and ideally would be the normal method to weigh our equine friends. Unfortunately, they are expensive to buy and need correct maintenance and calibrating. Whilst Public weighbridges exist, they can be awkward to take a pony to, and are more often used for vehicles and so are near busy roads and car parks full of HGV’s. This means it can be quite an unsettling experience for your horse and the likelihood of them staying still long enough for an accurate weight measurement could be slim.
Some feed and mobile worm count professionals have portable devices; if you can arrange this service (which is often free if you’re on a yard) then this would be the ideal way to ensure that you are using your weigh tape correctly.
How do I know if my horse is overweight?
If your pony is very overweight it is probably quite obvious to you. They will have large fat deposits, a cresty neck, and generally look like something from a Thelwell cartoon.
Many ponies though are slightly overweight and overweight ponies seem to have become the norm in the show ring, although this is starting to be addressed.
Being overweight is unhealthy for your horse, so it is important to know how to work out your pony’s weight. In addition to using your weigh tape, you can try the following calculation and see if the two figures are the same. This method is said to be more accurate than the tape, so this should be borne in mind.
1/. Record the following measurements: Heart-girth (H) and length in inches (L)
The heart-girth measurement is measuring around the body where the girth would usually sit. The length measurement is from the chest to the rear of the pony
2/. H x H = ?
3/. ? X L = ??
4/. ?? / 330 = Weight
This weight is in lbs, so if you want it in kg, multiply the result by 0.453.
Source: 1
Eyeballing your horse can be prone to miscalculation, so in addition to using a weigh tape, body scoring can be used to look at the horse more as an individual.
How to body score your horse
Unlike weighing, body scoring is quite subjective. However, any tool that helps keep our ponies healthy and happy should be well received.
Condition scoring is where you look and feel your horse to see where fat deposits are laying and give the horse a condition between 1 & 5. 1 being emaciated, and 5 being very obese.
A score of 3 would give you a perfectly conditioned pony. To aid accuracy, the pony is often split into 3 sections; neck, body, rump, and the three scores averaged to give the result. This is because horses carry fat in pockets rather than all over in a nice regulated way.
If your horse starts developing a cresty neck, fat deposits behind their shoulders, and/or and apple bum with guttering, it’s time to take a closer look at exercise levels and feed quantities. Remember that the best way to help your pony to lose weight is to increase the amount of exercise. Reducing the energy in the feed can also work, but reducing food should be done slowly and after consultation with a professional.
However……there’s always a however, isn’t there…. with SFB I prefer to keep him nearer a 4 than the perfect 3 as he has an odd movement behind. He always seems happier and moves more freely when he’s very slightly overweight.
Source: 2
Conclusion
If you use any of these you’re off to a good start. Knowing how much should my pony weigh by tape or weighbridge will allow you to keep your horse healthy and sound. Knowing the actual weight in kg’s will ensure you feed and medicate correctly. Using body scoring to know what’s right for your pony will help reduce the risks of laminitis and other health complaints. If at any time you are concerned by your pony’s weight, speak to a vet as soon as possible.
