On Jan 27, 2008, at 1:14 PM, Judy Ryder wrote: > Found this formula on a horse site: > > "Measuring a horses cannon bone is used by some in determining the > approximate weight a horse can carry. A measurement is taken around the > circumference of the foreleg, just below the knee. Add together the > weight > of the horse plus the rider and tack, and divide this sum by the > cannon bone > circumference measurement. Then divide that result by two. A number > between > 75 and 85 is good. If the number is over 85, you probably need a larger > horse. Using this method, I measure the circumference of the horses > cannon > bone and get 7.5 inches. The body weight of the horse is 1,150 pounds > and > the rider and gear weigh 235 pounds for a total combined weight of > 1,350 > pounds. Divide 1,350 (total combined weight) by 7.5 (cannon bone) and > I get > roughly 185. Divide 185 in half and my final resulting number is 93. > Using > this calculating method, I either need to lighten my gear or get a > larger > horse to get the number down to around 85."
Or take some weight off the horse. Or get one with better bone (The cannon bone measurement is based on 8 inches per 1000 lbs of lean horse weight.) Larger is not necessarily better. I just did it for my 14 hh Peruvian mare that I rode. She weighed 750 when in condition (body condition score 5); the tack and I weighed between 230 and 250 (at my max weight). And her cannon circumference (mid-bone) was 6.25 inches. Even at me and the tack weighing 250 it calculated out to 80. It got to 76 if I assume my weight and tack was 200 (what it was, same saddle, when *I* was body condition 5, and first started competing.). But the numbers with me and saddle at 200, and the mare gaining 150 lbs (to 900 -- like she did at Body Condition score 7 when pregnant) the number came out to 88. Body condition scoring: (http://shady-acres.com/susan/conditionscore.shtml) Lynn Kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/
