Healthy Horse

Name: Healthy Horse
Author: University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota

DOCUMENTED

Published in academic literature

For:General Public & EnthusiastsIndustry Professionals

1.99 USD

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App Summary

Healthy Horse allows horse owners and professionals to estimate the actual and ideal body weight of various horse breeds by applying novel, research-based equations that use height, body length, neck, and girth measurements. The associated research highlights that owners frequently misjudge their horse's weight, a critical issue for proper feeding and medication dosing, and developed these novel, breed-specific equations to provide a more accurate estimation method. The authors present the app as a practical tool to help owners and professionals easily apply these formulas, supporting better nutritional management and health monitoring for individual horses.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

The Healthy Horse app, developed by the University of Minnesota, estimates actual and ideal equine body weight using novel, breed-specific equations. The interface captures four morphometric measurements: height, body length, and neck and girth circumference. The system processes these inputs to calculate weight for Arabians, Draft horses, Miniature horses, Thoroughbreds, and other common breeds. The platform accommodates both imperial and metric units and provides outputs in either pounds or kilograms.

Evidence & Research Context

The app integrates breed-specific body weight estimation equations developed through research conducted at the University of Minnesota.
The associated research identifies that horse owners often misjudge equine body weight, particularly underestimating the weight of Draft and Warmblood breeds.
The underlying formulas were designed to offer a more accurate alternative to traditional weight estimation methods, addressing the health risks of equine obesity like laminitis and insulin resistance.

Intended Use & Scope

This tool is designed for horse owners and equine professionals for use in nutritional management, weight monitoring, and as a reference for medication dosing. The system provides an estimation of actual and ideal body weight and is not intended to substitute for a comprehensive clinical examination or direct measurement using a calibrated livestock scale.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Development/Design Paper

Estimating actual and ideal bodyweight of adult horses

Martinson et al. (2012) · University of Minnesota Extension

Describes the research-driven development of this app

This publication addresses the critical need for accurate horse bodyweight estimation to manage nutrition, medication dosing, and overall health, particularly given the prevalence of equine obesity and associated conditions like insulin resistance and laminitis. Citing research conducted between 2011 and 2017, the authors reveal that horse owners frequently misjudge their animals' weight, with Draft and Warmblood owners often underestimating by significant margins. To overcome the limitations of traditional estimation methods and the scarcity of livestock scales, the University of Minnesota developed new, breed-specific equations that utilize measurements of height, body length, neck circumference, and girth circumference. These formulas cover a wide range of breeds, including Arabians, Draft horses, Miniature horses, Thoroughbreds, and Saddle-type horses. The guide also presents the Healthy Horse app, a digital tool designed to help owners and professionals easily apply these equations to calculate both actual and ideal bodyweights for individual horses

In the Media

Updated App Helps Horse Owners Calculate Equine Weight

The University of Minnesota developed Healthy Horse to help horse owners calculate equine weight using new equations developed through university research and licensed through UMN Technology Commercialization. The app calculates weight by measuring the horse's height, body length, neck, and girth circumference across nine breed types including adult Arabians, draft horses, miniature horses, stock horses, ponies, warmbloods, and thoroughbreds. Along with estimated body weight, the app also provides ideal body weight and body weight score calculations.

UmnRead article

Healthy Horse App Features More Horse Types, Uses

Researchers from the University of Minnesota and the University of Kentucky collaborated to develop the Healthy Horse smartphone app to help owners better manage their horses' weights, using detailed diagrams and mathematical calculations. "The app started as part of a larger equine metabolic study," said Bob Coleman, PhD, noting they sought "a way to help horse owners gauge their horse's current body weight but also to give some guidance on ideal body weight." Two years after release, the app has been downloaded 1,800 times and includes seven horse types ranging from Arabians to Warmbloods.

ThehorseRead article