Weigh tapes

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amzy

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I decided to use my tape to get some idea of what my cob weighs as I fear he is rapidly putting it on since moving fields. On the tape it states that you should pull it tight but how tight is tight? He ranged from 411Kg to 475Kg depending on how tight I pulled it. So, still none the wiser really.
What ideal weight would you expect a 14hh Irish Cob to weigh?
 
the general assumed weight for an average 14hh horse would be 400kg, considering your dealing with a cob then over that isnt a problem at all. Weight tapes are a great way of checking on your horses weight maintenance in the long run, but because they only measure the girth they have a huge unreliability factor. there are other ways which can be more reliable which contain an equation of various measurements such as length etc that can give a slightly more accurate weight. I can dig figures out if you like. However I reckon the best way of determining weight as far as the way your looking at it would be purely by eye... if you feel hes put on weight, carry out a weight score test, see what number he comes up at
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Tell you how "out" weight tapes can be .... my mare, on a weight tape "weighs" 550Kg ..... when I recently had her on the scales at an equine hospital ...... it said ........ 625KG !!!! I was horrified !! I thought I was still standing on the scales with her ... but I wasnt !!

I can only assume that the hospital scales were correct - but couldnt believe that the difference could be that much !

(and personally - I thought she was slimmer than she had been in quite a while .... hate to think what she was when she was bigger !!!)

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The tape needs to go round the lowest point of the withers, and just behind the elbow. You need to pull it tight so it's against the skin, but not so tight it leaves an indent.

While they're not 100% accurate, they're valuable for showing change over time.

Dodson & Horrell's website has a useful article on condition scoring.
 
My old horse must be the perfect shape for a weight tape because when I weighed him at the weighbridge and then used the tape it was only 2 kg out!
Even if it doesn't give the accurate weight it's a good guide to see if your horse is gaining/losing weight if you use it regularly.
 
You think that's bad??? I went to buy wormer the other day and the woman there asked how much they weighed. I didn't know so I asked about buying a weigh tape. She sold me one saying it was the best they had found but warned me to be careful as one they tested showed a 500kg horse, per weighbridge, as 800kg on the tape!!!!

She also said my Irish/WB cross would be lighter than I think and my young TB will be heavier as they have quite dense bone. Not sure if that's true but I guess in that case the only real option is a weighbridge!
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I have recently completed a nutrition report on horses weights using the tapes and a weigh bride and it is suprising how off they can be! Several tapes were going on 100 or more under their actual weight!
If it is possible to have the horse weighed correctly then you can match that to the weigh tape then get an idea how tight to have it next time (if at all possible).
 
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