Anyone purchase/install their own scale?

[Texarkana]

It’s become a new obsession of mine over the past few months that I’d really like to purchase my own equine scale sometime in the (probably distant) future.

I know quite a few major breeding/training farms have them. I always assumed it was cost prohibitive for the average person, but once I started pricing them, I found that they are not that expensive. I was surprised at how many options there are and how many models are under $1000. Walmart.com even advertises a livestock scale for less than $800 (although the s&h is hefty).

Their relatively reasonable cost has me wondering if there are hidden installation/maintenance costs. Anyone know? When I worked at a vet hospital with multiple scales on site, I know we had a monthly scale maintenance man who came out and calibrated/adjusted them as needed. But that may only because they were so heavily used and used for “official” purposes?

I’m also dreaming of a portable model. I like the idea of being able to move it or take it off site.

Anyone have a scale?

[flashwhitelock]

[QUOTE=Texarkana;8830730]
It’s become a new obsession of mine over the past few months that I’d really like to purchase my own equine scale sometime in the (probably distant) future.

I know quite a few major breeding/training farms have them. I always assumed it was cost prohibitive for the average person, but once I started pricing them, I found that they are not that expensive. I was surprised at how many options there are and how many models are under $1000. Walmart.com even advertises a livestock scale for less than $800 (although the s&h is hefty).

Their relatively reasonable cost has me wondering if there are hidden installation/maintenance costs. Anyone know? When I worked at a vet hospital with multiple scales on site, I know we had a monthly scale maintenance man who came out and calibrated/adjusted them as needed. But that may only because they were so heavily used and used for “official” purposes?

I’m also dreaming of a portable model. I like the idea of being able to move it or take it off site.

Anyone have a scale?[/QUOTE]

Don’t have one for horses but I’m familiar with them. You do have to be careful of lightning shorting them out. The people I know who have them have lost 3 before they managed to get them grounded well enough.

[knic13]

My experience is with livestock scales for cattle. I would research the accuracy pretty closely, especially with the lower end scales, and decide what level of variation you are willing to accept.

Portable scales are great in theory but can be very difficult to calibrate.

[Texarkana]

[QUOTE=flashwhitelock;8830805]
Don’t have one for horses but I’m familiar with them. You do have to be careful of lightning shorting them out. The people I know who have them have lost 3 before they managed to get them grounded well enough.[/QUOTE]

Interesting. That is something I’ve never experienced or heard about.

Is it because of the metal platforms or the hard-wiring?

Because what I’m most interested in is something like this:

http://www.qcsupply.com/farm-livestock/handling/scales/80360-salter-brecknell-ps2000-floor-scale-with-indicator.html

I would assume lightning strikes wouldn’t be a problem with something like that, as it would only be connected to the power source when in use.

My experience is with livestock scales for cattle. I would research the accuracy pretty closely, especially with the lower end scales, and decide what level of variation you are willing to accept.

Portable scales are great in theory but can be very difficult to calibrate.

Noted. Although I have no idea how to tell what is a good v. bad scale, since there doesn’t seem to be any reviews, etc.

I’ve found some links for some pretty snazzy portable equine scales with fold up platforms in the UK, but can’t seem to find anything comparable in the US.

[2miniB]

I don’t have one for horses, but I do have a Salter Brecknell scale that we used with other livestock. It did best on a wooden platform (not directly on the concrete). Had to make sure nothing was touching its edges. The one we have works in battery mode or can be plugged into the wall. Ours was in regular use (monthly year round, more frequently during spring/summer) for 9 years without issues. It’s not exactly happy on 10F degree days. We’d just bring the readout into the heated feed room to warm up.

With my minis, the weight tape I have is accurate to within 10lbs of what they weigh on a scale. Haven’t been able to compare it with my pony.

[airhorse]

We had a lower end Salter scale that was not accurate if you moved across it. In other words, you would not weigh the same at each corner.

This was one of the first of their low cost scales produced. I hope by now they have improved the quality.

We sent it back and got one of their more expensive scales and have been very happy with it.

[Texarkana]

Thanks for the feedback on the Salter scales 2miniB and airhorse! Good info I would not have otherwise known. :yes: