Weighing minis

[mdegner]

Looking for input regarding weighing horses. I've seen the formula for measuring and determining weight. Anybody have feedback or suggestions regarding scales.

 

[suz]

Looking for input regarding weighing horses. I've seen the formula for measuring and determining weight. Anybody have feedback or suggestions regarding scales.

I've not had any luck with accuracy using tapes and computations, so when I bring him into the vet's, I have him stand on the scale there. To me, that's the most accurate. The tapes/formulas always make him weigh much more than the vet's scales.

However, if anyone has an accurate method/computation that works for them, I'd love to hear it also!

 

[Joanne]

We have a platform scale that weighs up to 1000 pounds and this has proven extremly useful with our miniatures.

Some veterinarians are better than others at guessing their weights and I like knowing before worming as well.

We also weigh the newborns daily during their first 1-2 weeks after birth.

The one I have is made and sold by Arlyn Scales:

Arlyn Scales

 

[ionafarm]

Ohio State University Vet School did a reesearch study some years back and found that the tapes gotten at the tack stores is remarkably accurate. The tape must go around the girth to the withers and be pulled snug. Any horses that I have weighed that way and then took to the vet, we always got the same weight

 

[icspots]

Ohio State University Vet School did a reesearch study some years back and found that the tapes gotten at the tack stores is remarkably accurate. The tape must go around the girth to the withers and be pulled snug. Any horses that I have weighed that way and then took to the vet, we always got the same weightI have not found this to be the case, the tapes are done with full sized horses in mind, and the leg to body proportion is different with the little ones. It has been my experience that they weight significantly less on the vets scale than they do using the tapes.

 

[Mona]

You know, I just read something the other day about this, and it gave the calculations specific to Miniature Horses. I THOUGHT I had kept it, or bookmarked it, but I cannot for the life of me, find it.

I do have this one though....I have printed a copy out, and I also have this one on my hard drive. Hope this helps...

 

[Mona]

AHA!! FOUND IT!! I wrote it out on a piece of paper I have on my bulletin board here above my desk.

Determining the Weight of A Mini:

1. (Girth x 9.36) + (Length x 5.01) - 348.53 = Body Weight (in pounds)

2. (Girth x 11.68)+ (Height x 2.85) - 357.26 = Body Weight (in pounds)

3. (Girth x 13.18) - 326.07 = Body Weight (in pounds)

To measure GIRTH - Place tape just behind front legs, pull snug, but not tight, over the withers.

To measure HEIGHT - Measure from ground to top of withers.

To measure LENGTH - Measure from mid-chest to mid-butt.

LOL...comparing it to what I already posted, I see it's the same thing!

 

[SaddleTrail]

I love this website, I hope it is accurate?

http://www.gaitedhorses.net/Articles/horseweight.html

 

[Versatility Farm & Training]

I use a weight tape. I know I've used it, then we sold some horses to someone who had a scale, measured the horses and was at most 1 lb different than what I gto with the tape. Proper placement and snuggness is key though. Error is human.

 

[MooreAcres]

Mona,

Using the calculation that you found, I measured my horses, then did the math. My numbers vary by about 20lbs. #2 and #3 were the closest to being the same. I know I have a weight tape around here somewhere, so if I can find it, I'll see what that comes up with.

Thanks for posting tho. Anyone else try this?

 

[Echo Acres]

I emailed them this info, but thought I would post it so the rest could see. Around here a lot of the co-ops, elevators or feedmills will let you weight your mini on their truck scales. Our feed mill said their scale is extremely accurate and has said we can use the scale any time we want for free. So that is just an option. If you have to lead your horse on the scale, then take the horse back and go weigh yourself to subtract what it says you weigh.

Of course this requires you to haul them some where, but would be a quick and accurate way of doing it especially if you brought a trailer load!

 

[Bess Kelly]

I have read somewhere from person who used 2 scales, one at back feet & one at front...then added the weights together. OK, I can just imagine the co-ordination required

But if you used a channel to walk them onto, might be less than you think.....Anyone want to try?

MAYBE........Pacific Minis would do this for us as they already have a "real" scale to compare

My feed man allows me to walk mine onto his hay scale, also. But, we never need the info then!

 

[Joanne]

Nice try Bess

But when you have the real thing, the two scale option is not an logical concept.

In this case one great one is better than two.