How Much Does a Horse Weigh? (Average Horse Weight Chart) (2024)

FAQs

How Much Does a Horse Weigh? (Average Horse Weight Chart)? ›

Many factors impact a horse's weight, including breed and health, but the average horse weight is between 900 and 1,200 pounds. Miniature horses and small ponies weigh between 100 pounds and 600 pounds. Draft horses, such as Belgians, Percherons, and Clydesdales, can weigh over 1,800 pounds.

Many factors impact a horse's weight, including breed and health, but the average horse weight is between 900 and 1,200 pounds. Miniature horses and small ponies weigh between 100 pounds and 600 pounds. Draft horses, such as Belgians, Percherons, and Clydesdales, can weigh over 1,800 pounds.

Light riding horses are typically 14–16 hands (1.42–1.63m), larger riding horses are 15.2–17 hands (1.57–1.73m), and heavy or draft horses are usually 16–18 hands (1.63–1.83m).

They monitored horses for heart rate, breathing rate, rectal temperature and loin muscle condition when carrying loads of 15, 20, 25 and 35 percent of their bodyweight. The researchers found that an average adult light riding horse could comfortably carry about 20 percent of their ideal bodyweight.

On average, the lighter breeds tend to weigh between 850 and 1,000 pounds, while the heavier breeds have average weights ranging from 1,500 to 2,200 pounds. This highlights the wide range of weights seen among different horse breeds, with some breeds being considerably lighter or heavier than others.

Adult male Clydesdales measure 17 to 19 hands (1.7-1.9 m or 5.7-6.3 ft.). A male's average weight is between 771 to 998 kg (1,700-2,200 lb.). Adult females measure 16 to 18 hands (1.6-1.7 m or 5.3-5.7 ft.). A female averages 680 to 771 kg (1,500-2,000 lb.).

Since Falabellas are the smallest horses—some only weighing about 40 pounds—those ponies should never be ridden for fear of hurting the pony's back. Children can also ride Shetland ponies, Noma, and Yonaguni breeds, but only if the horse is on the heavier side and in good physical condition.

The height of an average horse is 16 hands.

Smaller riding horses range from 14 – 16 hands. Larger riding horses including Warmbloods, Hanoverians, and Holsteiners between 15 and 18 hands, and larger breeds, such as draught horses, Shires and Clydesdales can reach up to 19 hands.

How much is too much weight? As a general rule a horse on average is able to carry a rider which is the same as or approximately 20% of the horse's weight. For example, if a horse weighs 1000 pounds then this horse can easily carry someone that weighs 200 pounds.

Miniature horses: 100–200 pounds. Ponies of various breeds: 300–800 pounds. Lighter breed horses (i.e., Thoroughbreds): 900–1400 pounds. Larger draft breeds: up to 1800 pounds.

Can a 300lb person ride a horse? ›

If you are under 300 lbs we can take you on any of our rides if: You are able to lift your foot up 20 inches and pull your weight up to that foot. Also step down that amount and hold your weight. If you fit between the horn and the cantle of a 20 inch saddle.

Remember, the whole load cannot be more than 20 percent. Let's run some numbers, just to clarify. An 800-pound Arabian should carry no more than 160 pounds total. A 15.1-hand Quarter Horse that weighs 1,000 pounds should carry no more than 200 pounds.

The horse breed that can carry the most weight is the shire horse. Average shire horses can weigh up to 2,425 pounds, and comfortably carry 20 percent of their body weight. This means the largest of shire horses can carry up to 485 pounds with ease.

Horses can carry 20% of their own body weight. The horse would need to weight 2500 lbs. to comfortably carry the 500 lb. human. Someone who weighed 500 lbs would have trouble walking let alone riding a horse.

Did you know the world's biggest horse lived in the 19th century? Originally named Samson, Mammoth was a Shire horse gelding born in 1846 at Bedfordshire, England. Towering at 21 hands and 2 ½ inches (about 86 1/4inches), the horse was aptly renamed Mammoth, and he weighed a hefty 3,360lbs!

Horses that are built for haulage can pull over 10 times their weight. That means conditioned, strong horses weighing 2,000 pounds (907 kg) can pull a carriage and load weighing an astounding 20,000 pounds (9,070 kg)!

Some horse breeds are naturally larger and heavier than others. Generally, Belgian and Shire horses are the heaviest. Individual horses from these two breeds weigh 1,700 to 2,400 pounds, with a few reaching 3,000 pounds. Clydesdales, Percherons, and Ardennais horses are also pretty heavy.

Slightly smaller than the shire horse, the Clydesdale can be up to 18 hands high and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. They are famous for appearing in a beer ad since the 90s, and are known for their unique colouring; brown with white feathered 'socks'.

As youngsters approach 12 months of age, they should weigh 65 – 70% of their ideal mature weight. If they have the genetics to weigh 1100 lbs at maturity, they should weigh 710 – 770 lbs as yearlings.