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What has weighing your horse got to do with horses in drought
effected areas? Well it is a simple tool to assist you in cases
of emergency where medication needs to be measured according to
the weight of your horse. It also aids in determining dosage
amounts when administering worming or drenching remedies.
It is important that internal parasites (worms) are kept at bay
(and even more so in times of drought). Inaccurate dosages can
cause more problems in the long run, and under dosing can cause
some parasites to develop a resistance to the active ingredients
in the wormer.
Assessing your horses weight is also a good way to assist in
preparation of developing a feeding regime for your horse. A
large number of processed and performance feeds are fed on a kg
: weight ratio.
To estimate your horses weight, use the following
calculation/method:
Weight (kg) = (girth (cm²) x length (cm)) ÷ 11,000
To measure the girth, you should place a tape measure flush with
the horse.
To measure the length of your horse, you should measure with
your tape flush against the horses body starting at the point of
shoulder, and going to the point of buttock.
You should note that this method will only provide you with an
estimate. Some horses weight can differ by up to 50kg either
way, especially as weights fluctuate consistently during drought
periods.
If you are unsure about how to weigh your horse, please contact
your local vet.
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