Estimation of Actual and Ideal Bodyweight Using Morphometric Measurements of Miniature, Saddle-Type, and Thoroughbred Horses.
Abstract: Adding breed type, height, and neck circumference to body length and girth circumference improves bodyweight (BW) estimation in different breeds of horses; however, equations have not been developed for all breed types. The objectives were to develop BW estimation equations for Miniature, saddle-type, and Thoroughbred horses using morphometric measurements. Measurements were collected on adult (≥3 years, nonpregnant) saddle-type (n = 209), adult (n = 249) and juvenile (<3 years, n = 61) Miniatures, and adult Thoroughbreds (n = 100). Personnel determined body condition score (BCS), measured withers height and girth circumference at the third thoracic vertebra, body length from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock and to a line perpendicular to the point of the buttock, and neck circumference at the midway point between the poll and withers. Each horse was weighed using a livestock scale. Bodyweight estimations equations were developed using linear regression modeling and log transformation. Mean (±standard deviation) BCS was 6.1 (±0.8), 5.4 (±0.6), 6.0 (±1.0), and 5.0 (±0.6) for adult and juvenile Miniatures, saddle-type, and Thoroughbreds, respectively. Bodyweight estimation equations developed through the current research were within 4% of the scale BW and offered improvements over previous BW estimation equations and weight tapes, which were off by 5%-25%. Owner-estimated BW was within 8%-15% of scale BW. Morphometric measurements were successfully used to develop BW equations for Miniature, saddle-type, and Thoroughbred horses. The equations will assist owners and professionals with managing horse BW and will be added to the Healthy Horse application.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-05-13 PubMed ID: 31203974DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.04.008Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The study developed new equations for estimating the body weight of miniature, saddle-type, and thoroughbred horses by incorporating accurate morphometric measurements including breed type, height, and neck circumference. The new equations significantly enhanced the accuracy of weight estimation in these horse breeds compared to traditionally used methods.
Objective and Methodology of the Study
- Estimation of actual and ideal bodyweight in horses is crucial for their proper management and care. Despite the previous attempts to create equations for bodyweight (BW) estimation, no universal solution has been found as those equations were not covering all horse breeds.
- The research aimed to create more reliable and standard BW estimation equations for three specific breeds of horses – Miniature, saddle-type, and Thoroughbred horses – based on their morphometric measurements.
- Measurements were taken from adult and juvenile Miniatures, saddle-type, and adult Thoroughbreds. The data collected included body condition score (BCS), withers height, girth circumference at the third thoracic vertebra, body length, and neck circumference.
- Each horse’s actual bodyweight was measured using a livestock scale for comparison purposes and the linear regression modeling and log transformation were used to develop the estimation equations.
Main Findings and Implications
- The equations developed through the research were effective in improving bodyweight estimations of the tested horse breeds, offering an accuracy within 4% of the scale bodyweight.
- This proved to be a considerable improvement over the previous bodyweight estimation methods, such as weight tapes or owner estimations, which could differ from the actual weight by 5%-25% and 8%-15% respectively.
- This study is important as these new equations will assist horse owners and professionals in more accurately managing horse bodyweight.
- In practical terms, the equations will be added to the Healthy Horse application, a software helping horse owners and professionals manage equine health and nutrition.
Cite This Article
APA
Catalano DN, Coleman RJ, Hathaway MR, Neu AE, Wagner EL, Tyler PJ, McCue ME, Martinson KL.
(2019).
Estimation of Actual and Ideal Bodyweight Using Morphometric Measurements of Miniature, Saddle-Type, and Thoroughbred Horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 78, 117-122.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.04.008 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
- Wagner Equine Consulting, Corpus Christi, TX.
- Department of Animal Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. Electronic address: krishona@umn.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Composition
- Body Height
- Body Weight
- Horses
- Humans
- Linear Models
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Grimwood K, Lancaster B, Handel I. Factors Affecting Weigh Tape Reading in the Measurement of Equine Body Weight. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 13;13(8).
- Satoła A, Łuszczyński J, Petrych W, Satoła K. Body Weight Prediction from Linear Measurements of Icelandic Foals: A Machine Learning Approach. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 11;12(10).
- Górniak W, Wieliczko M, Soroko M, Korczyński M. Evaluation of the Accuracy of Horse Body Weight Estimation Methods. Animals (Basel) 2020 Sep 26;10(10).
- Webster AP, Wright RK, Hammond JB, Kotey NA, Gleason CB, White RR. Assessment of thermal imaging to objectively body condition score mature horses and multiparous gestating beef cows. Transl Anim Sci 2025;9:txaf121.
- Aboelmaaty AM, Ahdy AM, El-Khodery S, Elgioushy M. Investigations on metabolic diseases of horses in Egypt. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1591090.
- Matsuura A, Torii S, Ojima Y, Kiku Y. 3D imaging and body measurement of riding horses using four scanners simultaneously. J Equine Sci 2024 Mar;35(1):1-7.
- Urbanek N, Zebeli Q. Morphometric Measurements and Muscle Atrophy Scoring as a Tool to Predict Body Weight and Condition of Horses. Vet Sci 2023 Aug 9;10(8).
- Hausberger M, Lerch N, Guilbaud E, Stomp M, Grandgeorge M, Henry S, Lesimple C. On-Farm Welfare Assessment of Horses: The Risks of Putting the Cart before the Horse. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 25;10(3).
- Lesimple C. Indicators of Horse Welfare: State-of-the-Art. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 13;10(2).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
