Have you ever wondered how heavy a horse is? It’s going to be fun if you are interested in learning about how much does a horse weighs. Here, we will discuss all about horse weight, from baby horses to old-age horses. Let’s begin with today’s article:
First of all, we will discuss the baby horse’s weight using different parameters:
How much does a baby horse weigh?
When a baby horse is born, it’s expected to weigh about one-tenth of its mother’s weight. The mother horse, called a mare, has a bigger impact on the baby’s weight than the father, called a stallion. So, if a mare weighs 1102 lbs (500kg), her baby horse should weigh about 110 lbs (50kg). But sometimes, there are exceptions. First-time moms usually have smaller babies. Also, if a mare has twins, if the baby horse is born too early, or if the birth is difficult, the baby might weigh less.
How much does an adult horse weigh?
Answering the question “How much does a grown-up horse weigh?” isn’t simple. Their weight depends on a few things: how old they are, what kind of horse they are, and if they’re healthy. Light horses, like quarter horses, weigh less than big draft horses. On average, a horse that’s 160–170 centimeters tall weighs about 1102–1323 lbs (500–600 kg). Draft horses can be even heavier, over 1763 lbs (800 kg), while ponies are smaller, usually weighing between 771 and 992 lbs (350 and 450 kg). The weight can also change depending on how the horse lives and what they do. A horse that spends most of its time in a field and doesn’t get ridden much will be heavier than a horse of the same kind that’s worked hard and has strong muscles.
| Horse Type | Average Weight Range |
|---|---|
| Light Horse | 1102-1323 lbs (500-600 kg) |
| Draft Horse | Over 1763 lbs (Over 800 kg) |
| Pony | 771-992 lbs (350-450 kg) |
Horse’s weight depends on the type
The horse’s weight depends on the breed’s type. In general, we can distinguish the division presented as follows:
- Miniature horses: 88 – 198 lbs (40 – 90 kg)
- Ponies: 287 – 771 lbs (130 – 350 kg)
- Warmbloods: 882 – 1543 lbs (400 – 700 kg)
- Draft horses: 1763 –2204 lbs (800 – 1000 kg)
Horse’s weight depends on the breed
A horse’s weight can also be estimated based on its breed.
| Horse Breed | Average Body Weight (kg) | Average Body Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Percheron | 850.5 – 950 | 1876 – 2094 |
| Belgian Draft Horse | 816.5 – 998 | 1799 – 2199 |
| Suffolk Punch | 751 – 900 | 1653 – 1984 |
| Shire | 701 – 1,200 | 1545 – 2645 |
| Ardennais | 701 – 1,000 | 1545 – 2204 |
| Clydesdale | 701 – 800.5 | 1545 – 1773 |
| Irish Draught | 599 – 800.5 | 1318 – 1773 |
| Gypsy | 590 – 726 | 1298 – 1600 |
| Heavyweight Hunter | 590 – 698.5 | 1298 – 1538 |
| Cleveland Bay | 549 – 701 | 1209 – 1545 |
| Hanoverian | 549 – 651 | 1209 – 1434 |
| American Warmblood | 549 – 599 | 1209 – 1318 |
| Dutch Warmblood | 549 – 599 | 1209 – 1318 |
| Oldenburger | 544 – 680.5 | 1199 – 1499 |
| Friesian | 544 – 635 | 1199 – 1400 |
| Danish Warmblood | 544 – 635 | 1199 – 1400 |
| Andalusian | 544 – 590 | 1199 – 1300 |
| Paso Fino | 544 – 590 | 1199 – 1300 |
| Trakehner | 499 – 680.5 | 1199 – 1500 |
| Middleweight Ridden Hunter | 499 – 635 | 1099 – 1399 |
| Highland Pony | 499 – 599 | 1099 – 1318 |
| American Saddlebred | 453.5 – 544.5 | 998 – 1200 |
| Holsteiner | 449 – 800.5 | 989 – 1764 |
| Westphalian | 449 – 599 | 989 – 1318 |
| Lightweight Ridden Hunter | 449 – 590 | 989 – 1300 |
| Thoroughbred Horse | 449 – 499 | 989 – 1099 |
| Paint | 431 – 544.5 | 949 – 1199 |
| American Quarter Horse | 431 – 544 | 949 – 1199 |
| Hackney Horse | 410.5 – 544 | 903 – 1199 |
| Lipizzaner | 410.5 – 544 | 903 – 1199 |
| Nokota | 408 – 680 | 898 – 1499 |
| Missouri Fox Trotter | 408 – 544 | 898 – 1199 |
| Tennessee Walker | 408 – 544 | 898 – 1199 |
| Lusitano | 408 – 499 | 898 – 1199 |
| Morgan | 408 – 499 | 898 – 1199 |
| Polo Pony | 408 – 499 | 879 – 1199 |
| Swedish Warmblood | 399 – 549 | 879 – 1209 |
| Hackney Pony | 399 – 549 | 879 – 1209 |
| Dales Pony | 399 – 499 | 879 – 1099 |
| Fjord | 399 – 499 | 879 – 1099 |
| Arabian Horse | 360.5 – 449 | 794 – 990 |
| Haflinger | 349 – 599 | 769 – 1318 |
| Fell Pony | 349 – 449 | 769 – 990 |
| Welara | 299 – 399 | 658 – 878 |
| Eriskay | 299 – 399 | 658 – 878 |
| Exmoor Pony | 299 – 399 | 658 – 878 |
| Connemara | 290 – 390 | 639 – 859 |
| Hackney Pony | 249.5 – 349 | 550 – 769 |
| New Forest | 231 – 331 | 509 – 729 |
| British Spotted Pony | 199.5 – 399 | 439 – 879 |
| Dartmoor | 199.5 – 320 | 439 – 705 |
| Shetland Pony | 181.5 – 199.5 | 400 – 439 |
Horse weight and height
Figuring out how heavy a horse is can give you a rough idea by following a common pattern. But remember, these numbers are just general estimates. They’re meant to give you a rough guess about how much a horse might weigh based on how tall it is.
| Height to Withers | Weight Range (Kilograms) | Weight Range (Pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| 91 cm | 190 to 240 | 418 to 529 |
| 101 cm | 240 to 280 | 529 to 617 |
| 111 cm | 240 to 318 | 529 to 700 |
| 121 cm | 240 to 370 | 529 to 837 |
| 131 cm | 280 to 399 | 617 to 879 |
| 141 cm | 360 to 449 | 794 to 990 |
| 151 cm | 399 to 550 | 879 to 1212 |
| 161 cm | 469 to 701 | 1034 to 1545 |
| 171 cm | 551 to 800 | 1215 to 1763 |
| 181 cm | 700 to 1040 | 1543 to 2293 |
Horse weight: body length and girth
To figure out how much a horse weighs, you can measure around its chest and its body length. The formula changes based on how old the horse is and what kind of horse it is:
- For a grown-up horse: Multiply the chest measurement by itself, then by the body length, and divide by 330 to get the weight in pounds.
- For a one-year-old horse: Multiply the chest measurement by itself, then by the body length, and divide by 301 to get the weight in pounds.
- For a baby horse (called a weanling): Multiply the chest measurement by itself, then by the body length, and divide by 280 to get the weight in pounds.
- For a pony: Multiply the chest measurement by itself, then by the body length, and divide by 299 to get the weight in pounds.
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