Ideal/Healthy weight for horse

[GrumpyHero]

I'm slightly confused .. I used a weigh tape on my boy last night and it says that he is ~ 580kg
He still has some weight to lose IMO he's got a bit of a belly on him, currently muzzled in the field and when in stable on soaked double netted hay.
He's a 16.3hh TB gelding but he's a bit chunkier than an ordinary TB.

So i've got his weigh tape weight, but I don't have a clue of the ideal weight for a horse of his height/build?

Any help for this numpty is appreciated!

 

[horsefeed]

My 15.2hh mid weight TB weights in between 520-532 on weight tape her prefect weight is 500-500 according to blue cross's website.

 

[Polos Mum]

Weight tapes aren't that accurate - but very useful for regular monitoring as you can see whether weight is going up or down.

I'm not sure there is an ideal weight as horses are as different in build as people, but have a go with condition scoring which will give you a much more accurate assessment of his body condition

http://www.bhs.org.uk/~/media/BHS/Files/PDF Documents/Condition Scoring Leaflet.ashx

 

[celia]

TBH weight tapes are not usually very good for giving an accurate measure of your horse's weight. You'd be much better just condition scoring him, which will tell you better whether he's carrying too much weight or not. If it's not something you'd done before I'd try sticking it in google as I'm sure you'll find plenty of guides with pictures to help you.

 

[criso]

For comparison by 16.2 tb, again a chunky boy weights about 580 when in good muscled condition.

However he measures a lot less than that the weight tape, maybe 540. He also came out at a totally different weight on a different brand of tape. About 50kg difference!

Weight tapes are useful to monitor if they are losing or gaining weight but not for the initial assessment.

 

[Proud Wexford Hero]

I have a 16.1 ISH, and on my tape his weight was 470kg, and on the dengie weigh bridge that came to our yard, he was actually 544kg!! His weight looked perfect. So now I know that if he remains at 470 on my tape everything is ok.
I think if you can use a weigh bridge it's far more accurate.

 

[Goldenstar]

I don't bother with tapes they are so inaccurate I take the horses to thevets to be weighed .
My 17hh national hunt type TB in good condition in work but not racing fit weighted 544 kilos .

 

[whizzer]

My 16.2hh TB weighs around 500-520 on a weigh bridge. He's very finely built though. I prefer him at 520kg but that's about the heaviest I can ever get him to as he's a very poor doer. He's ok at 500kg,once went down to about 480kg & looked awful(but he did have ulcers) I haven't use a weigh tape for years as had multiple vets visits over a period of 2 years & was weighed on weigh bridge everytime. As his weight fluctuates a lot & I now know what he looks like at various weights & do it by eye now!