Hi Cherry,

My name is Johanei and im from South Africa. The horse im leasing is a saddlebred and her weight doesnt look to good for me!!

She's 15.3 hands and weighs 385kg.

I realy hope you can get back to me couse some of the ponies are starting to weigh more than she is. She also has leg problems and the owner says she won't be able to carry the weight which I don't agree with. Please please please reply Enjoy you day and thanks for everything you do for horses.

Johanei

Dear Johanei,

Did you read this article on our website? It gives you complete guidelines to evaluate a horse's condition: Correct Horse Weight

Hi Cherry

Yes I did read the articale and I still think her weight isn't right. She had Colic a while ago and the lady didnt even let the vet come and she stopped giving her the food she use to get and she only fed her hay.

Even if shes a saddle bred, I asked one of my older friends that knows a lot about horses and she told me she's too bony.

Please reply. Johanei

Dear Johanei,

For other readers, 385 kg is about 850 pounds. You say the horse is 15-3 hands tall. It would be hard to imagine that a horse that tall could possibly weigh that little and NOT be underweight.

So if using the guidelines in the article indicate that the horse is underweight and your knowledgeable older friend agrees that she is underweight, I'm not sure what further you are asking me. Without seeing the horse in person, I can't say for sure, but I've never known a horse that tall to weigh so little. So if your figures are correct, if the horse is indeed 15-3 tall and weighs 385 kg (850 pounds) she is likely underweight, but how much underweight, I could not say via email without seeing the horse in person.

Since you are leasing the horse, you have certain legal rights, I would presume, as outlined in the lease and one of them might be your right to have a veterinarian look at the horse. In that way you can have an unbiased third party determine if the horse is underweight, how severely, and what should be done about it.

Best of luck,