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Table 1 The different body measurements of horses and formulas used to estimate body weight (BW) of horses

From: Weight estimation and hormone concentrations related to body condition in Icelandic and Warmblood horses: a field study

Reference

Measurementsc

BW formula (kg)

Marcenac and Aublet [10]

G2

Girth (m)3 × 80

Staun [11]

G2

6.25 × Girth (cm) – 625

Willoughby [12]a

G2

(0.14475 × Girth (cm) / 2.54)3 × 0.4536 (Males)

(0.14341 × Girth (cm) / 2.54)3 × 0.4536 (Females)

Ensminger [13]

G1 + L1

((Girth2 (cm) × Length (cm))/2.543/660 + 22.7

Jansson [14]

G2 + L2

Girth2 (cm) × Length (cm)/8900

Carroll and Huntington [7]b

G2 + L1

(Girth2 (cm) × Length (cm))/11,877

Jones et al. [15]

U + L1

(Girth (cm)1.78 × Length (cm)0.97)/3011

Martin-Rosset [16]

H + G2

4.3 × Girth (cm) + 3.0 × Height (cm) – 785 (Horse)

3.56 × Girth + 3.65 × Height – 714.77 (Pony)

Martinson [17]

H + NC + G1 + L1

(Girth (cm)1.486 × Length (cm)0.554 × Height (cm)0.599 × Neck (cm)0.173)/3606

Catalano [18]

H + NC + G1 + L1

(Girth (cm)1.528 × Length (cm)0.574 × Height (cm)0.246 × Neck (cm)0.261)/1209

  1. G1: heart girth from top of the withers; G2: heart girth from slope of the withers; L1: length from point of shoulder to point of buttock; L2: length from point of elbow to point of buttock; U: umbilical girth, H: height at withers; NC: neck circumference
  2. aIn the original reference units are in inches (in) and pounds (lb)
  3. bIf BCS < 2.5 out of 5 use Y derivative 12265, if BCS ≥ 3 out of 5 then use Y derivative 11706
  4. cMeasurements are illustrated in Fig. 1