Accuracy of weight estimate formulas, weight tapes in comparison to actual weight

[Business]

Just thought others might be interested in some excellent research evaluating weight prediction formula and weight tape accuracy in comparison to actual weight:

http://oas.uco.edu/02/papers/hapgood02.htm

Two of the methods came out as most accurate:

If anyone wants the most accurate formulas ready for an excel spreadsheet then paste this

=((Heart girth inches ^1.64*Height inches ^0.95*Length inches ^0.4)/278)/2.20462262

into an excel cell and substitute your horses actual heart girth, height, and length measurements in inches into the formula in place of the corresponding words and hey presto- an accurate estimate. You could also enter those measurements in other cells and substitute the cell ref. instead. I have modified the formula to provide the result in kilos.


A second very accurate method was:

=(((Heart Girth*0.53+ Height*0.34+Length*0.13)^2.99)/280)/2.20462262



Again all measurements must be in inches and the result is in Kilos

Based on this my weight tape is underestimating my mares weight by c. 60kg!

Bit of a worry for worming dose and towing weights let alone monitoring weight!

 

[PapaFrita]

This is very interesting. I shall have to give those methods a go, because my weigh tapes are definitely underestimating PF's weight.

 

[itsonlyme]

Thank u for this. I only weight-taped one of mine last night & am convinced it's way out (underestimating). Will re-measure her later & try these formulas

 

[shadowboy]

Oh poo well that would mean my fatty at 405kg is actually closer to half a tonne!

 

[tinap]

Mine actually over estimated although tbf not by much - tape said 390kg, he was really 379kg

 

[Business]

Mine actually over estimated although tbf not by much - tape said 390kg, he was really 379kg

I went to a lecture on condition and they said weight tapes tend to overestimate ponies and underestimate horses so I guess that is why the formulas take account of height which the original paper shows correlates highly with actual weight.

Guessing yours is around the 14.2 mark where the tape would be most accurate based on that info.

 

[Business]

bumping this as I posted it at about 1am so not many have seen it and I know I would want to- rush hours here now.

 

[thatsmygirl]

Iv actually got a weight bridge at the yard and it's surprising how heavy some horses are. It's great for keeping track off weights and my 16.2hh tb weighs the same as my 14.1hh cob more or less.