Horse breeds · from TrotleyAndalusian weight and height: a compact baroque horse and how to judge its crest
Andalusians usually stand about 15.2 hands, and no source opened for this page gives a weight, so the numbers below use the closest sourced figure and say so.
Short answer
Andalusians usually stand about 15.2 hands, and a fair weight estimate is 1,000 to 1,300 pounds.
Oklahoma State University says the Andalusian usually stands at 15.2 hands (62 inches), and the International Museum of the Horse gives 15.2 to 16.2 hands. Neither gives a weight, so the best available estimate is The Livestock Conservancy’s 1,000 to 1,300 pounds (454 to 590 kg) for the similar sized, compact Lipizzan.
Oklahoma State University, International Museum of the Horse and The Livestock Conservancy (the weight is the Lipizzan figure)
| Source | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State University | Usually 15.2 hands | Not given |
| International Museum of the Horse (archived 2020) | 15.2 to 16.2 hands | Not given |
| Spanish studbook standard (Orden APA/3319/2002) | Below 1.50 m (mares) or 1.52 m (males) disqualifies | Not given |
| The Livestock Conservancy, Lipizzan for comparison | 15.1 to 15.2 hands | 1,000 to 1,300 lb |
The Spanish standard measures withers height with a stick and is written in metres, about 59 and 60 inches. The Lipizzan is a different breed.
What the Spanish standard sets
The Spanish government’s 2002 order sets the standard for the Pura Raza Española, the Spanish name for the Andalusian. It treats a withers height below 1.50 metres for mares and 1.52 metres for stallions as a disqualifying fault, and sets higher minimums in its breeding-stock approval rules. That is a floor, so the usual height in the other sources is higher.
Daily hay for a 1,150 pound Andalusian
With no Andalusian weight to use, the arithmetic uses 1,150 pounds, the middle of the Lipizzan range from The Livestock Conservancy. That compact baroque horse stands at a similar height, but your own horse may differ, so replace it with a real weight.
Merck gives 2 to 2.5% of body weight in feed dry matter as the usual starting range for a healthy adult, with at least half from forage, 1.5 to 2% as the goal for a horse that needs to lose weight when laminitis is not a worry, and 1.25% as the floor. The figures below are our arithmetic from 1,150 lb, counting hay as 90% dry matter, which is our assumption.
- 1.5% of body weight: 17 lb (8 kg) of dry matter, about 19 lb (9 kg) of hay
- 2% of body weight: 23 lb (10 kg) of dry matter, about 26 lb (12 kg) of hay
- 2.5% of body weight: 29 lb (13 kg) of dry matter, about 32 lb (14 kg) of hay
A weight tape example for an Andalusian
The horse weight calculator runs the adult equation from the Merck Veterinary Manual: measure heart girth and body length in inches, square the girth, multiply by the length and divide by 330 to get pounds. A heart girth of 75 inches and a body length of 67 inches gives 75 x 75 = 5,625, times 67 = 376,875, divided by 330 = about 1,142 lb (518 kg). Those measurements are our illustration of the formula, not a real horse.
Merck says the equation and tapes tend to underestimate weight and that a calibrated scale is ideal, so a tape number is best used as a trend. Measure the same way each time.
The crest and fat deposits
The Spanish standard lists a fatty crest that has fallen to one side, called the “gatillo”, among its disqualifying faults. Merck says horses with equine metabolic syndrome are typically overconditioned, with a cresty neck and fat behind the shoulder or at the tailhead, and that the condition leads to laminitis. Merck lists ponies, Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walking Horses, Paso Finos, Morgans and Mustangs as most often affected and does not name the Andalusian, so a firm crest on your horse is a reason to ask your vet, not a verdict.
Hooves
The Spanish standard also names small or poorly formed hooves among the faults. Merck sets trimming at 4 to 8 weeks to keep the hoof and leg balanced, and says severe lameness with bounding digital pulses is the hallmark of laminitis, a case for your vet.
Body condition
Merck advises a score of 4 to 6 on the 9 point Henneke scale, and the University of Georgia describes a 5 as ribs that cannot be seen but are easily felt. Feel the crest, ribs and tailhead monthly and log the score with each weight.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Andalusian weigh?
No source opened for this page gives an Andalusian weight. The Livestock Conservancy gives 1,000 to 1,300 pounds (454 to 590 kg) for the similar sized Lipizzan, which is the best available estimate.
How tall is an Andalusian?
Oklahoma State says usually 15.2 hands, which is 62 inches, and the International Museum of the Horse gives 15.2 to 16.2 hands.
How much does an Andalusian eat a day?
For a 1,150 pound horse, 2% of body weight is 23 pounds of dry matter, about 26 pounds of hay, and 1.5% is about 19 pounds. These figures are our arithmetic and a starting point.
Can an Andalusian carry a 180 pound rider?
The University of Minnesota reports that an average adult light riding horse can comfortably carry about 20% of its ideal bodyweight, rider and tack included. For 1,150 pounds that is about 230 pounds, so a 180 pound rider with 25 pounds of tack is inside it. Fitness and conformation change the answer.
Sources
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Andalusian Horses
- International Museum of the Horse, Andalusian (archived copy)
- Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Orden APA/3319/2002, Boletín Oficial del Estado no. 313
- The Livestock Conservancy, Lipizzan
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Equine Metabolic Syndrome
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Nutritional Requirements of Horses and Other Equids
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Foot Care of Horses
- University of Minnesota Extension, Guidelines for weight-carrying capacity of horses
- University of Georgia Extension, Feeding strategies for peak performance in horses (B 1365)
Checked on October 2, 2026.
For the rest, there is Trotley
Trotley keeps every horse’s records in one place.
Vaccinations, farrier and dental visits, medication, weight and documents for each horse, with reminders for what is due next.
- Vaccination, vet, dental, farrier and medication history
- Weight history charts for each horse
- All horses in one stable calendar
Noted. Every tap tells us how many people want Trotley on Android.
See TrotleyMore in Horse breeds
- FriesianA Friesian averages 15.2 to 16 hands and weighs 1,300 pounds or more.
- MorganA Morgan weighs 900 to 1,100 pounds and stands 14.2 to 15.2 hands.
- American Paint HorseA Paint Horse stands 14.2 to 15.2 hands and weighs about what a Quarter Horse does, 1,000 to 1,300 pounds.
- American Quarter HorseMost Quarter Horses weigh 1,000 to 1,300 pounds and stand 14.2 to 15.2 hands.
- American SaddlebredAn American Saddlebred weighs 1,000 to 1,200 pounds and stands about 15 to 16.3 hands.
- AppaloosaMost Appaloosas weigh 950 to 1,250 pounds and stand 14 to 16 hands.
- Horse weight calculatorFree tool: Estimate a horse’s weight from heart girth and body length with the formulas in the Merck Veterinary Manual, for adults, yearlings and weanlings.
