Weigh tape v weigh bridge & wormer

Redequus

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 January 2013
Messages
91
Visit site
If anyone's estimated with a tape, then had their horse on a weigh bridge - what was the difference?
Is there always a significant difference?

I'm happy using a tape for comparison, but wondered if I'm actually getting enough wormer in if the difference might be more than the extra I allow for.
 
I have used the Dodson and Horrell tape for years and used weighbridge twice. Tape weighed about 10kg less which is accurate enough for me. The weighbridge figures I use for worming or medication. The weightape I use regularly to check for weight gain or loss as well as my own eye.
 
found them pretty accurate! on tape horse was 700kg, on bridge 725kg, but wearing heavey rug!...so 10kg out?
i always go slight more wormer than nessesary - never gona hurt them - , just to be safe for that possible extra weight!
 
Weigh tapes are never accurate, but how inaccurate can depend on the make of tape and how the person uses it. If possible, I would always suggest using a weighbridge. Tapes are good for guesstimates and usually good enough for administering a wormer dose.
 
Wow there's alot of discrepancy with some then, I wonder what make of tape you accurate people are using?
I always worm for 550 instead of 500, I hope that's enough. How much does a weighbridge call out cost on average please?
 
Wow there's alot of discrepancy with some then, I wonder what make of tape you accurate people are using?
I always worm for 550 instead of 500, I hope that's enough. How much does a weighbridge call out cost on average please?

Are you close to any Equestrian colleges or large yards? Most of them have a weighbridge and may be happy for you to box to them for a small charge:)
 
The difference can also vary between horse types, I've a friend 2 horses same tape, one is a med weight irish mutt - weighbridge was pretty close, her other lad was a smaller, shorter coupled very heavy weight/ bone - weighbridge said considerably more (can't recall numbers now but more than 10%) than tape.
I would have thought the tolerance on wormers was pretty high (ie you'd have to give 2/3 times more than they needed to cause any trouble) so aim at a little more than the weight tape says?
Of if you're on a yard a visit from a feed company could be well worth it.
 
Sadly not, I'm on private land in the midst of nowhere... maybe I should check out other weigh tapes for the time being and see what the differences are, until I can sort a mobile weigh bridge visit.
 
Top