1. Weight Calculator
Step 1 of 2Heart Girth: Measure directly behind the elbow, over the highest point of the withers.
Body Length: Measure from point of shoulder to point of buttock (tuber ischii).
in
in
Calculated Output
Estimated Horse Weight
-- lbs
-- kg
Recommended Daily Forage Target
Standard adult horses require 1.5% to 2.0% of their body weight daily in dry forage (hay/pasture).
1.5% Weight (Maintenance) -- lbs/day
2.0% Weight (Active/Gain) -- lbs/day
Formula: (Girth² × Length) / 330
2. Henneke Body Condition Score (BCS)
Assess visual fat cover across 6 key anatomical points (1 = Poor, 9 = Extremely Fat)
BCS Score: -
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Select a Henneke rating card above to inspect fat deposition details.
Neck & Withers
--
Loin / Back
--
Ribs
--
Tailhead
--
Shoulder Region
--
Management Action
--
3. Generate Summary & Export
Create a clean record for barn logs, vet files, or owner tracking
Horse: Not Specified
Date: -- | Breed/Age: --
Heart Girth --
Body Length --
Estimated Weight --
Selected BCS Score --
Daily Recommended Forage Target: --
Ensure fresh water and mineral access at all times. Weight estimates provided via heart girth / length calculations should be paired with regular weigh-tape and scale verification when available.
Measurement Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- Position the Horse: Stand your horse square on a hard, level surface with all four legs evenly weighted.
- Heart Girth: Wrap a flexible measuring tape directly behind the elbow, angled slightly back over the highest point of the withers. Ensure the tape is snug but not tight enough to indent skin. Measure right after the horse exhales.
- Body Length: Requires two people for best accuracy. Hold one end of the tape at the point of the shoulder (where the neck joins the chest) and extend horizontally along the body to the point of the buttock (tuber ischii).
Body proportion and muscular density vary significantly between breeds and age groups. For instance:
- Standard Horses (330): Calibrated for light riding breeds and warmbloods.
- Draft Horses (310): Accounts for higher bone density and muscle mass.
- Yearlings & Weanlings (301 & 280): Young growing horses have narrower chests relative to length.
Developed by Dr. Don Henneke at Texas A&M University, this standardized 1–9 scoring system evaluates fat cover across 6 specific body regions: neck, withers, loin, tailhead, ribs, and shoulders. Visual inspection is combined with hands-on palpation to determine true fat coverage regardless of gut fill or pregnancy.