Miniature's weight

[LB27]

For feeding grain the recommendations go by the weight of the horse. Wormer goes off of weight as well. How do you all determine what your mini weighs?? I feel like I'm just guessing. I do have a tape that is for measuring the height of horses and you can also wrap it around their girth area to measure their weight but I don't know if that's accurate. Just wondering how everyone else does this.

 

[chandab]

The weight tapes aren't overly accurate for any horse and even less so for minis. A scale is your best bet, but since not many people have access to a scale, the formula in the LB info pages is a pretty good second. http://www.lilbeginnings.com/info/misc/ The formula is just below the chart.

[edited post, it should have read aren't overly accurate, not are.]

 

[rubyviewminis]

Those are not so accurate. I have a formula that is easy and always within 20# if the measurements are done right.

(9.36 X heartgirth in inches) + (5.01 X length in inches) - 348.53. One of the three calculations the Kentucky Equine Research team came up with.

Example: 9.36 X 42 =?

5.01 X 43 =?

Add the two results ? together then subtract 348.53 from the sum and you get your weight.

 

[candycar]

I took all the ways I have found to determine weight and made a spreadsheet with the calculations on it, then average them to get weight.

All I have to do is input the heartgirth, length and height in one spot and it does the math for me!

If you post or pm me your minis heartgirth, length and height, I'll do it for you.

 

[wingnut]

I am so lucky because our feed mill has a portable scale. Once a year I have their equine specialist come out with the scale to get accurate weights on my horses. I would see if anyone in your area has something like this available. Or ask your vet if they know of anyone you could transport your horses to get to non-portable scales.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

If your Vet has a surgery he will have a scale. If you speak nicely to him he will let you take your little one in and weigh him- that is the best way (pun intended

)

 

[Jean_B]

It took me a bit, but I figured out your pun Rabbitsfizz. Boy, I'm getting SLOW.

 

[AngC]

I had very poor luck with any of the formulas. My accuracy rate was in the range of plus/minus 50-75 lbs. I’d been dubious about my results and this was confirmed when I had to take one in to the vet hospital. Unless you have a scale, I agree that the vet is your best option. However, for us that means a commute in the horse trailer. ...not too practical.

My best weight estimator is our farrier. He never says anything, he just runs a hand here and there, grabs the neck and then either cocks an eyebrow at me and starts in on a lecture about laminitis (that means too fat) or gives a nod (that means diet is working.)

Since then, I’ve been using the confirmed weight and eyeballing the others for worming doses (in conjunction with fecal tests for worms and vet recommendations on worming.)

We did weigh Baby for a while until she grew too large by placing a digital platform scale on a chunk of particle board (solid surface) upon which we placed a large rubber water dish (empty obviously.) Then we just picked her up and set her in the rubber dish. She’s since grown a little large for that method.

 

[Barnmother]

I use the formula described along with a critical eyeball, if they look to fat then take what the formula says and start a diet, watch for changes in what the formula is telling you.

I have found the formula in post #3 to be pretty accurate. I work at a mill with a 70' platform scale and took a couple after I used the formula and trailered them to work, then unloaded them and stood them on the weigh bridge +/- 20# so feel it is pretty safe for measuring for dosages of drugs etc.

Certainly lets me know if they are gaining or loosing weight. I write down the measurements in a notebook for comparison along with what I see and what I can feel.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I use my trusty weight tape- I can get within 6-7lbs of the actual weight now, and that is good enough for worming...