Horse Weight Chart — By Height, Breed and Age

Weight by height (light-breed adults)

Height	Inches	Expected weight	Metric
12.2 hh	50 in	550–700 lb	250–320 kg
13.2 hh	54 in	650–800 lb	295–365 kg
14.2 hh	58 in	800–950 lb	365–430 kg
15.0 hh	60 in	850–1,050 lb	385–475 kg
15.2 hh	62 in	950–1,150 lb	430–520 kg
16.0 hh	64 in	1,050–1,250 lb	475–570 kg
16.2 hh	66 in	1,150–1,400 lb	520–635 kg
17.0 hh	68 in	1,250–1,500 lb	570–680 kg

All figures assume BCS 5. Add roughly 8% for a stock or hunter build, 20–25% for a draft or draft cross, and subtract about 12% for a compact pony type. Run your own numbers through the ideal weight by height calculator.

Weight by breed and type

Type	Typical adult weight	Metric
Miniature horse	150–350 lb	70–160 kg
Small pony (Shetland, Welsh A)	400–600 lb	180–270 kg
Large pony	700–900 lb	320–410 kg
Arabian	800–1,000 lb	360–450 kg
Thoroughbred / Quarter Horse	1,000–1,200 lb	450–545 kg
Warmblood	1,200–1,450 lb	545–660 kg
Draft (Clydesdale, Shire, Percheron)	1,800–2,200 lb	820–1,000 kg

Sport-specific condition moves these bands substantially: a fit eventer and an overweight companion of the same height and breed can be 180 lb apart.

Weights through growth

Stage	Approximate weight	Note
Newborn foal	8–12% of the dam’s weight, often 90–150 lb	Stands and nurses within hours
1 month	about 20% of adult weight	Rapid, near-linear gain
Weaning (5–6 months)	about 45–55% of adult weight	Roughly 1.5–2 lb gain per day
12 months	about 60–65% of adult weight	Height largely set
24 months	about 85–90% of adult weight	Filling out, not growing up
4–5 years	adult weight	Later in draft breeds

For a foal under two months old the standard tape formula is replaced by a dedicated young-foal equation — the weight calculator switches to it when you tick the foal box.

Using the chart responsibly

Charts like these are for orientation. The two failure modes are treating a band as a target, and using it instead of measuring the horse in front of you. A horse’s weight is only meaningful alongside its condition score and its own trend.

If a measured weight falls outside the band for that height and build by more than about 10%, check the measurement and the divisor first — then look at condition. Most "impossible" weights are a unit mix-up.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a horse weigh?

A small pony is 400–600 lb, a typical riding horse 950–1,250 lb, and a draft horse 1,800–2,200 lb. Height, build and condition all move the figure.

How much does a foal weigh at birth?

Usually about 8–12% of the dam’s weight — commonly 90–150 lb (40–70 kg) for a light-breed foal.

How much does a 15 hh horse weigh?

Around 850–1,050 lb (385–475 kg) for a light riding build in moderate condition.

Is there a weight chart for ponies?

Yes — a small pony is typically 400–600 lb and a large pony 700–900 lb, but ponies are denser than their measurements suggest, so use the pony divisor of 299 on the weight calculator.

Related tools and guides

Sources and method

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs — Estimating body weight for horses.
NSW Department of Primary Industries — Primefact 928: Estimating a horse’s condition and weight.
Carroll, C.L. & Huntington, P.J. (1988) — the girth-and-length body weight formula used on weight tapes.

Page last reviewed 2026-10-16. Results are estimates from published formulas and are not veterinary advice.