How to Calculate the Growth Capacity of a Foal by Measurements of Length, Girth and Width Chart

Foals can be measured to determine how large they will grow to be, a measurement called their "growth capacity." This growth capacity can help determine whether an animal should be kept or sold and what it's possible market value could be. A foal's height and weight can be calculated using measurements taken while it is still young, ideally one month after it is born.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft tape measure (at least 7 feet in length)
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Instructions

  1. Calculating Full-Growth Height

    • 1

      Measure the foal's current height by securing it and measuring from its flank to the top of its hoof, perpendicular to the ground.

    • 2

      Using online resources, look up the horse's age to determine how much the foal has grown as a percentage of its mature weight.

    • 3

      Divide the height you measured in Step 1 by the percentage of total growth you looked up in Step 2 and multiply that figure by 100 to estimate the full-growth height.

    Calculating Weight

    • 4

      Position the soft tape measure between the foal's shoulder blades and gently wrap it around behind the front legs, back up to the shoulder blades. This is the measurement of the foal's girth.

    • 5

      Measure the foal's length by holding one end of the soft tape measure on one of the foal's front shoulders and extending along the horse's side to the buttock.

    • 6

      Calculate the foal's current weight using the formula:

      [Girth (in) --- Girth (in) --- Length (in)] / 330 = Weight (lb).

    • 7

      Using online resources, look up the horse's age to determine how much the foal has grown as a percentage of its mature weight.

    • 8

      Divide the weight you measured in Step 1 by the percentage of total growth you looked up in Step 2 and multiply that figure by 100 to estimate the full-growth height.