Horses are large animals that can weigh well over one thousand pounds! But on average, how much do different breeds weigh? What’s the lightest and heaviest breed in the world? After doing some research, I found my answers.
How Much Does A Horse Weigh?
On average, your typical warm-blooded or hotblooded horse will weigh between 900 to 1,100 pounds (408 to 544 kilograms) depending on the breed and physical condition of the horse. Coldblooded horses will usually weigh in at much heavier than that. An example would be the Clydesdale which can weigh up to 2,300 pounds (1,023 kilograms)!
Heaviest and Lightest Horses in the World
The heaviest horse ever to live was a horse named Sampson (his name was later changed to Mammoth). Sampson was born in the mid-1800s in the United Kingdom. It is said that this horse weighed around 3,360 pounds (1,524 kilograms)! He was a Shire gelding that stood just over 21.2 hands high. This horse was absolutely gigantic!
The lightest horse ever to live is a miniature horse named Einstein. When he was born, Einstein weighed only 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms)! He now weighs only 47 pounds (21.3 kilograms) as he is now fully grown, but still, this is incredibly small even for a miniature horse!
Average Weights For Hotblooded Breeds Around the World
Arabian
The Arabian horse is of the most famous hotblooded breeds in the world. This horse is known to be on the smaller side as compared to other breeds of horses. The Arabian, on average, weighs between 800 and 1,000 pounds (363 to 454 kilograms).
My Arabians fall into this weight bracket with Cross Fiire weighing around 900 pounds, and Bronze weighing around 1,000 pounds.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is one of the most famous breeds in the world as it is used in virtually every discipline out there (except for a few western disciplines). This breed weighs about 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms), which is average for most horses.
Fun Fact: Though the Thoroughbred stands taller than the Quarter Horse, the Quarter Horse actually outweighs this breed. This is because Thoroughbreds are narrow, lanky horses and Quarter Horses are stocky, heavier-built horses.
Akhal-Teke
This breed, known as the supermodel of the horse world, is known for having a metallic sheen to its coat and a very narrow and delicate build. This horse, like the Thoroughbred, weighs in at around 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms).
Barb
Barb horses are like the stocky versions of the Arabian breed. This horse, like the Arabian, is an old breed that founded many of the modern breeds we see today.
This horse is small and stocky and only stands between 13.3 and 15.2 hands high. They, like many other breeds, are weighing in at around 900 to 1,000 pounds (408 to 454 kilograms).
Average Weight For Warmblooded Horses Around the World
Quarter Horse
This breed is actually one of the most popular breeds of horse in the world. The Quarter Horse competes in a variety of disciplines in both English and Western riding, though it is more popularly seen in Western disciplines.
The Quarter Horse weighs in at around 1,000 to 1,200 pounds (454 to 544 kilograms). The breed weighs heavier than some that are taller because of their stocky build.
Appaloosa
This breed is known as the Dalmatian of the horse world. Appaloosas were a breed prized by the Nez Perce Native Americans and were the tribe’s chosen mount for decades.
The Appaloosa weighs in at about 1,000 to 1,100 pounds (454 to 500 kilograms) making it an average-sized breed.
Oldenburg
The Oldenburg is a German Warm-blood with the reputation of being exceptional at showjumping and dressage.
This breed weighs around 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms) making it heavy for the warmblooded horse. This breed stands at 17 hands high and has great muscle definition which explains its heavy weight.
Mustang
Mustangs are the wild horses that roam across America. This breed is found in any shape size and color as they are descended from many random breeds.
The average mustang though is a small stocky horse with great stamina and endurance. They usually weigh in at around 800 to 900 pounds (363 to 408 kilograms).
Hanoverian
The Hanoverian is a horse that makes a great showjumping horse, dressage horse, and pleasure horse. This breed is really only known to be used in English riding disciplines. It has won the Olympic Showjumping competitions as well.
The Hanoverian weighs around 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms) making it larger and heavier than average when it comes to the weight of horses.
Paint Horse
The American Paint horse is a very popular breed, especially in western riding in the United States. This breed is known for its beautiful coat colors and patterns that consist of white and colored patches.
This breed weighs between 950 and 1,200 pounds (430 to 544 kilograms) making it a little heavier than average.
Average Weights For Coldblooded Horses Around The World
Shire
Shire horses are big beautiful horses that are classified as cold-blooded or as a draft breed. These horses originated in England as farm and carriage horses.
This huge breed weighs in at around one ton which is 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms)!
Clydesdale
This breed is known as the tallest and heaviest horse breed in the world. Originated in Scotland, this breed uses its incredible strength and power to work on farms and pull carriages.
This horse breed weighs between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds (820 to 1050 kilograms) which means that they can reach a weight of over one ton. This breed is truly massive not only in weight but also in height. They stand around 17 to 19 hands high.
Percheron
The Percheron is a breed that is found mainly in France which is where they originated. Percheron’s are beautiful big horses that are mainly found dapple gray in color.
The Percheron weighs around 1,900 to 2,100 pounds (860 to 950 kilograms) which makes it one of the larger breeds in the worse world. They usually stand at around 16 to 17 hands high. These horses are mainly used as workhorses which means their primary use is pulling carts and carriages, but they are now becoming more and more popular as riding horses.
Noriker
The Noriker is a breed that originated in Austria, but they are most popular in Southern Germany.
This breed weighs around 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms). This breed is smaller in weight and height for a draft breed of horse.