How to Measure the Height of a Horse
History of the "Hand" Measurement
Requiring a uniform dimension, around 3000 BC the Egyptians standardized the “hand” measurement. Five digits equaled a hand and four digits, a palm (Figure 1). Because of the enormous influence of the Egyptian culture, use of this system migrated to other cultures and countries. This form of measurement was not a planned system. It evolved, growing out of custom and popular usage and at some point in time, horse owners and traders agreed to do business with the “hand” standardized at 4 inches.
Figure 1
Some History Tidbits on Linear Measurement:
While the Romans occupied Britain from 43 AD until 410 AD they introduced the mile of 5000 feet (1000 paces) or double steps, the pace being equal to five Roman feet.
During the 10th Century, Saxon King Edgar and Henry 1 established the distance from the nose tip to the outstretched thumb to equal one yard.
Edward 1, during the 13th Century by decree standardized a long list of measures:
3 grains of barley = 1 inch
12 inches = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
5 ½ yards = 1 rod
The rod equaled the combined total length of the left feet of the first 16 men leaving church on Sunday.
40 rods x 4 rods = 1 acre
The acre equaled the amount of land one man with an ox could work in one day.
During her reign from 1558 to 1603, Queen Elizabeth I changed, by statute, the Roman mile from 5000 feet to 5280 feet or 8 furlongs, a furlong being 40 rod (unit)s of 5 ½ yards each.
During the 10th Century, Saxon King Edgar and Henry 1 established the distance from the nose tip to the outstretched thumb to equal one yard.
Edward 1, during the 13th Century by decree standardized a long list of measures:
3 grains of barley = 1 inch
12 inches = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
5 ½ yards = 1 rod
The rod equaled the combined total length of the left feet of the first 16 men leaving church on Sunday.
40 rods x 4 rods = 1 acre
The acre equaled the amount of land one man with an ox could work in one day.
During her reign from 1558 to 1603, Queen Elizabeth I changed, by statute, the Roman mile from 5000 feet to 5280 feet or 8 furlongs, a furlong being 40 rod (unit)s of 5 ½ yards each.
The "Hand" Measurement Today
The “hand” has become a tradition of measurement in several different countries, including the USA, Australia and the UK in the determination of height for ponies, horses and other equines. This form of measurement is accurate to one inch, still not precise, but a habit with thousands of years behind the system, it is doubtful it will change. The highest point of a horse is the top of its head (poll), but since a horse can move its head up and down making it impossible to take a true measurement, the withers are used. The height of a horse is measured in a vertical line from level ground to the highest point of the withers (Figure 2).
Figure 2
Lets Measure ‘Em Up
There are several different methods available to measure the height of a horse. While certain aspects are similar, variations lie within the equipment used.
The horse should stand squarely on all four feet and on level ground (i.e. concrete, plywood or dry level earth).
It is hard to make an equine measure up the same every time. Take a few measurements and average the readings.
Measuring should be done when the animals hooves are freshly trimmed, or at least of proper length. Long toes and the addition of shoes can add to a height.
Have all the equipment needed lying on the ground close to horse.
The horse should stand squarely on all four feet and on level ground (i.e. concrete, plywood or dry level earth).
It is hard to make an equine measure up the same every time. Take a few measurements and average the readings.
Measuring should be done when the animals hooves are freshly trimmed, or at least of proper length. Long toes and the addition of shoes can add to a height.
Have all the equipment needed lying on the ground close to horse.
Equipment Variables:
Metal or Cloth Tape:
Use a measuring tape; calculate the inches from the ground to the highest point of the horse's withers (Figure 2, A to B). An easy indicator to locate the highest point of the withers - lay an edible treat on the ground in front of the animal. When it puts its head down to eat the goody, look at the shoulders. The part of the shoulder that protrudes the highest is the point of the withers to extend the measuring tape.Place measuring tape on ground from the “zero” end and hold in place with the tip of your boot, block of wood, brick etc. Pull the tape up to the highest point on your horse’s withers making sure the tape measure is perpendicular to the ground keeping it at the same distance all the way – do not pull the tape measure to meet the horse’s withers. The tape measure should be about 1 - 2 feet away from your horse’s withers. Use a carpenter’s level and place it on the horse’s withers to meet the tape measure. Embedded in the middle of the level is a small window where the bubble and the tube is mounted (vial). Two notches (or rings) designate where the bubble should be if the surface is level. Once level, read the measurement. A carpenter’s level gives you a more accurate reading, but any flat surface will work like a small piece of wood, crop, yardstick, etc.
Carpenter’s Level:
Calculating the Results:
Convert the measurement from inches to hands. One hand is equal to 4 inches, so divide the height in inches by 4. Example, if the horse measures 60 inches, divide by 4 and the correct measurement is 15h (“h” stands for hands) or 15hh (“hh” stands for hands high).
If the horse measures 62 inches, divide by 4 and you will get 15.50. Remembering a hand is 4 inches, the fraction .50 is two equal quarters of 4 or simply “2”. In horseman's terms, this equates to 15 hands, 2 inches.
When written correctly, the number before the period is the number of whole hands and the number after the period is the remaining number of inches. The number after the period is not a fraction – it is inches. The acceptable language of the measurement when spoken is to say either, "15.2 hands," “15.2 hands high” or simply "fifteen-two."
If your original measurement from the tape is a fraction of an inch i.e. 60 ½”, some people will incorporate them into the height of the equine, but by standards most do not. So, round ½“ measurements or any fractions below that down to the closest whole inch and round fractions above ½ “ up to the next whole inch.
For those wishing to use metric, 4 inches equals 10.16 centimeters.
The following link will do the conversion for you.
The following measuring devices are convenient for measuring the height of equines. Hand and inch measurements are already marked on them giving the measurements easily.
Rigid Poles with Short Cross Bars:
Special Equine Height/Weight Tape Measure:
Some Equine Height Tidbits:
A pony will measure up to 14.2hh (58’) and anything above 14.2hh is classified as a horse. However, breed characteristics also play a role in defining animals as horses or ponies. In the United States, ponies in some classes of show competition are sometimes further subdivided into sections, depending on height:
Small pony: 12.2hh or smaller
Medium Pony: taller than 12.2hh up to 13.2hh
Large Pony: taller than 13.2hh, but shorter than 14.2hh
In Australia, ponies measure under 14hh and horses that measure from 14hh to 15hh are known as a Galloway.
A miniature horse is shorter than 9.2hh or 8.2hh, depending on the registry.
As of April 2008, Thumbelina is the world’s smallest horse standing at 4.1hh and the world’s tallest is Noddy standing 20.1 hands and said to be still growing.
For FEI and USEF competition in the United States, a horse can be measured with shoes on or off, but in the United Kingdom, the JMB requires shoes to be removed for measurements.
Some people in the industry say that if you measure an equine after the age of 2 years from the elbow to ergot, multiply the number by two, and then add the measurement from the ergot to the ground it will produce the adult height of the equine when completely grown.
Cut down your purchases and waste:
Large Pony: taller than 13.2hh, but shorter than 14.2hh
In Australia, ponies measure under 14hh and horses that measure from 14hh to 15hh are known as a Galloway.
A miniature horse is shorter than 9.2hh or 8.2hh, depending on the registry.
As of April 2008, Thumbelina is the world’s smallest horse standing at 4.1hh and the world’s tallest is Noddy standing 20.1 hands and said to be still growing.
For FEI and USEF competition in the United States, a horse can be measured with shoes on or off, but in the United Kingdom, the JMB requires shoes to be removed for measurements.
Tips from the Trail:
Some people in the industry say that if you measure an equine after the age of 2 years from the elbow to ergot, multiply the number by two, and then add the measurement from the ergot to the ground it will produce the adult height of the equine when completely grown.
Go Green Tips:
Cut down your purchases and waste:
- Borrow from barn mates when you only need something temporarily, ask if they would loan it to you or give you some if it is a disposable item - repay them by a similar gesture
- Share with barn mates things like books, magazines, movies, games, newspapers , shampoos, conditioners and other products that are not individual to a horse - i.e tack, grooming tools, etc
Any Go Green Ideas?
A horse is poetry in motion
Author Unknown
Author Unknown
