How can this be...weigh tape issues...

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Sarah1

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Hi Guys

I'm confused & gutted!

A while back I braved it & got the weight tape on my big lad - he was 650kg (he's ID x WB & quite a substantial MW) which I wasn't overly concerned about (altho did watch what he ate all winter to make sure he didn't get any bigger!) cos on a condition score he'd have been just a 4 but it was winter & his workload had dropped right off.
I knew come summer the weight would come off & I thought it had, on a condition score I'd give him a good 3, no gutter on bum, can easily feel ribs but can't see them etc & his muscle tone is improving, however, if he lost a few more lbs he wouldn't look poor! His front end is still rather large but I think that's more to do with how he's built than fat!
Anyway, popped weigh tape on agian last night & he's still 650kg! He hasn't lost any inches according to the damn thing but his girth is going up an extra hole, sometimes even 2!

I'm totally disappointed cos I thought he was looking really well! And I've worked hard with him - he's gone from just being kept ticking over thro winter to being ridden about 5-6 times per week, at least 3 fast hacks per week and a decent schooling session - 2 some weeks! Plus he's not getting anything but grass and even then he was strip grazed until I was able to remove it once they'd eaten it down!

Don't really know what I expect anyone to say as I don't have any pics but will take some as soon as I can & post them on here!

Just thought I'd have a moan!

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I know they're not the most accurate but thought it would show me if he'd lost inches even if the weight wasn't correct?! I thought I had it in same place but perhaps not - I'll have another go with it later!
I knew there was a reason I usually go on how they look & feel rather than those silly tapes - they're the devils work!
 
they can be helpful indicators of things, but are not set in stone results!

and as you say its often more to do with condition and appearance than actual weight!

its the same in all species, muscle weight more than fat, and ok he prob has lost some fat but has gained muslce, which would allow his girth to go up.......... but the weight tape is not a sensitive enough measurer to identify any subtle changes!

however your eyes and assessment of your horse can! (not accuratly but overall!)
 
weigh tapes are rubbish and don't work - a before and after photo would be more use - or - if you have access to one - a horse weight bridge/platform
 
there are uselees, my weightape says my 16.1 tb gelding is 550Kg but my friends say he is 450kg. he is more likely to be the 550kg as he is over weight not under. but with out a weightbrdge we will never know.
 
Weighing horses is about as useful as weighing people- it is good as a monitoring device and gives an indication of condition but it should only be taking in the context of other condition markers, like cardio fitness, condition scoring for fat, muscle tone etc. If you think he looks and feels better than he did in the winter then you should be happy with that and just ignore the weight tape
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Thanks guys - I think it might be going in the bin & I'll work off my own eyes in future as I always have done! Damn weigh tape!
 
I'm never sure where exactly the tape should be so I take measurements in three different places -right on wither, about 2" back and about another 2" back. I then work out an average weight from that. It's not scientific but I figure it gives a better idea than just measuring in one place!
 
Weigh tapes are a guide and nothing more. It is surprisingly easy to place it slightly differently to how you did last time. As you condition score, that is much better and I would use that as a reassurance that he has indeed lost weight.
 
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