Horse Measuring Stick Uk? Top Answer Update

Horses come in all shapes and sizes, and you’ll find that their bodies differ based on breed, genetics, diet, and level of exercise.

As a rider it is important to be able to measure a horse’s height and weight as this information will help you in a number of areas, z need and choose the right horse size for you.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of measuring a horse’s height and weight, including:

How tall is the average horse?

The average horse is between 13.3-17.3 hands tall (or 1.4-1.8 meters), but it should be noted that this number includes all breeds. For competition purposes in the UK a pony is classed as being under 14.2 hands (1.47m), although actual pony breeds can be taller – you can read more about the differences between a horse and a pony later in this section.

Looking more closely at the different horse types reveals a greater variance in size, with some being much smaller on average and others being much larger. Light saddle horses are usually 14–16 hands (1.42–1.63 m), larger saddle horses are 15.2–17 hands (1.57–1.73 m), and heavy or draft horses are usually 16–18 hands (1st class). .63-1.83m). Growth can also be influenced by genetics and diet.

A horse’s height is measured from the highest point of the withers, where the neck meets the back, to the ground.

Height table for horses

Here are some of the horse breeds common in the UK and their average height:

Horse breed Average height (hands) Average height (inches) Average height (yards) American Warmblood 15-17 hands 60-68 inches 1.52-1.73 m Arabian 14.1-15.1 hands 57-61 inches 1.45 -1.55m Ardennes Horse 15.3-16.1 hands 63-65 inches 1.60-1.65m Cleveland Bay Horse 16-16.2 hands 64-66 inches 1.63-1.68m Clydesdale Horse 16 -18 hands 64-72 in 1.63-1.83 m Connemara pony 12.2-14.2 hands 50-58 in 1.27-1.47 m Dales pony 13-14 hands 52-56 in 1 1.32-1.42 m Dartmoor Pony 11.1-12.2 hands 45-50 in 1.14-1.27 m Dutch Warmblood 15-17 hands 60-68 in 1.52-1.73 m Eriskay Bangs 12-13.2 hands 48-54 inches 1.22-1.37 m Exmoor bangs 11.1-12.3 hands 45-51 inches 1.14-1.30 m coat bangs 13.2-14 Hands 54-56 in 1.37-1.42 m Hackney Horse 14.2-16.2 Hands 58-66 in 1.47-1.68 m Hackney Pony 12-14 Hands 48-56 in 1.22- 1.42m Half Finger 13.2-15 Hands 54-60 inches 1.40-1.52m Hanoverian 15.3-17.2 Hands 63-70 inches 1.60-1.78m Highland Pony 13-14, 2 hands 52–58 inches 1.32–1.47 m Holsteiner 1st 6-17 hands 64-68 in 1.63-1.73 m Irish Draft Horse 15.1-16.3 hands 61-63 in 1.55-1.60 m New Forest Pony 12-14.2 hands 48- 58″ 1.22-1.47m Percheron 16-17 hands 64-68″ 1.63-1.73m Shetland Pony 7-10.2 hands 28-42″ .71-1.07m Shire Horse 16- 17 hands 64-68 inches 1.63-1.73m Spotted Pony 8-14 hands 32-56 inches .81-1.42m Suffolk Punch Horse 16.1-17.3 hands 65-71 inches 1.65 -1.80 m Swedish Warmblood 16-17 hands 64-68 in 1.63-1.73 m Thoroughbred 15.2-17.2 hands 62-70 in 1.57-1.78 m Welara 11.2-15 Hands 46-60 inches 1.17-1.52 m Westphalian horse 15.2-17.2 hands 62-70 inches 1.57-1.78 m

What is the difference between a horse and a pony?

Ponies and horses are both horses, but confusingly there are two ways a pony can be classified. Biologically, there are breeds known as ponies that differ from horses in their bone and muscular structure, as well as thicker manes, tails, and coats.

However, in UK competitions, a horse or pony (of any breed) is called a pony if it is less than 14.2 hands (1.47 m) tall, while a horse is considered that size or larger. In competitive riding, a horse that is considered a pony is usually entered into a pony classification where younger riders manage smaller jumps and shorter distances.

Adults typically ride a horse in the equine classification and compete at the regular levels.

This can cause some confusion as there are larger pony breeds that regularly grow over 14.2 hands but would be classed as horses in a competition. Likewise, smaller horse breeds can be shorter than this height, so horses, while still biological, would compete in a pony classification.

Why are horses measured in hands?

A hand is the historical unit of measurement for horse height and is still commonly used in many English-speaking countries. In equestrian sport, despite imperial and metric systems, it has been retained as the preferred unit of measure because it is part of tradition. It is often abbreviated to “h” or “hh”.

The measurement has been used since ancient times and was originally based on the hand span, so there were quite a few variations possible depending on the culture that used it. In 1540, King Henry VIII standardized the measurement in England at 4 inches, which spread to the rest of the British Empire over the next hundred years. This 4 inch standard became widespread and is still the device of choice in the UK, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Ireland. Metric units are primarily used in other parts of the world as well as by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).

How do you measure a horse?

To measure a horse you should make sure it is standing on a level surface and measure from the ground directly to the highest point of its withers (A) as shown in the image below.

It’s best to use a measuring stick marked with pointer intervals, but you can convert from inches or centimeters. It’s also possible to use a tape measure, but you’ll likely need someone to help you keep it straight.

Note: Do you want to choose a horse that is the right size? Then be sure to read our tips on choosing the right horse for your height.

How to convert horse measurements

Once you have your horse’s height in inches, you can convert it to hands by dividing by 4. There is a chance that your horse has a measurement that cannot be divided exactly into whole numbers – for example: 63 divided by 4 is 15.75. In these measurements, the hands use a decimal to represent the extra length that is not divisible:

0.25 = 0.1

0.5 = 0.2

0.75 = 0.3

Example: If your horse is 63 inches tall, 63 divided by 4 is 15.75, which is 15.3 hands. Or, if your horse is 57 inches tall, 57 divided by 4 is 14.25, which equals 14.1 hands.

We’ve provided a handy conversion chart below to help you convert your measurements.

Hands Inch Feet/Inch Meter 7.0 28 2’4″ 0.7112 7.1 29 2’5″ 0.7366 7.2 30 2’6″ 0.762 7.3 31 2’7″ 0.7874 8.0 32 2’8″ 0.8128 8.1 32 43 8 2.8″ ” 0.8636 8.3 35 2’11” 0.889 9.0 36 3′ 0.9144 9.1 37 3’1″ 0.9398 9.2 38 3’2″ 0.9652 9.3 39 3’3″ 0.9906 10.0 40 3’4″ ″ 6 1.04’6″ 6 1.04214 0 6 1.04214 10.3 43 3’7 ″ 1.0922 11.0 44 3’8 ″ 1.1176 11.1 45 3’9 ″ 1.1.2 46 3’10 ”1.1684 11.3 47 3’11” 1.1938 12 ′ 1.2192 12.1 4’1 ″ 1.2446 12 .2 50 4’2″ 1.27 12.3 51 4’3″ 1.2954 13.0 52 4’4″ 1.3208 13.1 53 4’5″ 1.3462 13.2 54 4’6″ 1.397 13.3 55 4’7″ 7.397 14.0 56″ 56″ 7.397 14.0 56″ 56.55 4’7″ 7.397 4’8″ 1.4224 14.1 57 4’9″ 1.4478 14.2 32” 4’47 58 4’478 14.2 58 .3 59 4’11” 1.4986 15.0 60 5′ 1.524 15.1 61 5’1″ 1.5494 15.2 62 5’2″ 1.5748 15.3 63 5’3.5’3 5’3 5’3 5’3 5’2″″″ 1.5748 15.3 63 5’3.5’3 5’3 5’3 5’3 5’2’2″″″ 1.5748 15.3 63 5’3 5’3, 5’3 5’3 5’3 5’3 5’2″ 1.6002 16.0 64 5’4″ 1.6256 16.1 65 5’5′ 1.651 16.2 66 5’6″ 1.6764 16.3 67 5’7 ″ 1.7018 17.0 68 5’8″ 1.7272 17.1 69 5’9″ 1.756 17.2 70 5’10′” 1.778 17.3 71 5’11” 1.803 18.0 72 6′ 1.8288

How much does a horse weigh?

A horse can weigh between 300 and 1,000 kg. Like their size, this measurement will vary drastically in different breeds of different sizes. For example, a thoroughbred horse would weigh 450–500 kg while a Shire horse would weigh 700–1,200 kg. Ponies are smaller and can range from a Shetland pony at 180-200kg to a larger breed like the Fell pony at 350-450kg.

Size is an important factor in a horse’s weight, as the increased frame of a larger horse results in more bulk. So this must be taken into account when deciding if a horse is at a healthy level. Other influences that play a role are the horse’s age, diet and activity level. There is also the influence of their genes, which can control traits such as weight distribution, metabolism and appetite.

Weight chart for horses

Here are some of the common horse breeds in the UK and their average weight range:

Horse Breed Average Weight (kg) Average Weight (lbs) American Warmblood 550-600 kg 1,212-1,322 lbs Arabian 360-450 kg 793-992 lbs Ardennes Horse 700-1,000 kg 1,543-2,205 lbs Cleveland Bay Horse 550-700 kg 1,212-1,543 lbs Clydesdale Horse 700-800 kg 1,543-1,764 lbs Connemara Pony 290-390 kg 639-860 lbs Dales Pony 400-500 kg 882-1,102 lbs dartmoor pony 200-320 kg 441-705 lbs hutch warm butch warm butch warmblood 550-600kg 1,212 – 1,212 – 1,212 – 32° Exmoor Pony 300-400kg 661-882lbs Fell Pony 350-450kg 772-992lbs Hackney Horse 400-550kg 882-1,212lbs Hackney Pony 250-350kg 551-772lbs Half Finger 350-600kg 772-1,322lbs Hanoverian 550 600kg Highland pony 500–600kg 1.102–1.322LBS Holsteiner 450–700kg 992–1.764LBS Irish Trainpfer 600–700kg 1.322–1.764LBS New Forest Pony 507–728LBS Percheron 850–950kg 1.874-94LBS Shetland pony 2,094lbs –441lbs Shire Horse 700–1200kg 1,543–2,646lbs Spotted Pony 200–300kg 441–882lbs Suffolk Punch Horse 750–900kg 1,653–1,984lbs Swedish h Warmblood 400–550kg 882–1,212lbs Thoroughbred 450–500kg 992–1,102lbs Welara 300–400kg 661–882lbs Westphalian horse 450–600kg 992–1,322lbs

How to weigh a horse

Here are the three easiest ways to weigh or accurately estimate your horse’s weight:

Please note: We recommend taking these measurements every 1-2 weeks and documenting your horse’s progress. This way you can see how they are doing and if any adjustments to feeding or medication are needed.

Checking your horse’s weight is a process that you must become familiar with if you want to take optimal care of your horse. This is because they need to stay in a healthy weight range for their breed, otherwise they can develop serious health problems. Being overweight can cause laminitis, heart disease, lung problems and insulin resistance, while being underweight can be a sign of disease and dental problems. Checking the weight can also help you estimate the right dosage for any medication needed and ensure the feeding routine is tailored to their needs.

Using a horse scale

We’ll start with the most obvious method: place your horse on a horse scale or cattle scale, also known as a weighbridge. They feature large, heavy-duty platforms that can support the weight of a horse. While a scale is perfectly accurate, they are not widely available, are quite large and can be expensive to purchase so there may be times when you don’t have access to one.

Use a horse weight band

A horse weight tape is a soft tape measure marked with pounds or kilograms (or both) instead of standard length measurements. The idea is that it is possible to estimate total weight by measuring the horse’s heart circumference, starting just below the withers, around the bottom of the body (B) and back again. This method has an accuracy of about 90% and is the most common method that riders use to regularly check how much their horse weighs.

How to use a weight band:

Make sure your horse is on level ground and relaxed. This is important to ensure they don’t tense their muscles or over-inflate their lungs with heavy breathing, which can interfere with the measurement. Hold the band on your horse’s left side, just behind his withers, and let it hang down the opposite side of his body so that it dangles under his belly. Make sure it isn’t twisted and that your horse can get used to the band. You may need a second pair of hands if you can’t reach them. With your free hand, reach under your horse’s belly and grasp the loose band before pulling it up and around the left side of his body, making sure it’s snug but not too tight. The tape should run just behind the withers, a few inches behind the front legs and back to the same position on the left side. Don’t worry if these instructions cause the tape to run diagonally across the body: that’s how it should be. Now that the tape measure is in place, you can read the dot next to the zero point at the beginning of the tape measure to find your horse’s weight. For better accuracy, it is recommended to repeat this process 3 or 4 times and then calculate the average of the measurements. This is because your horse’s body expands and contracts as it breathes, giving a slightly different reading each time.

Using a weight formula

To get a more accurate picture of your horse’s weight, you can use a regular tape measure to take measurements (heart circumference and height) and use a widely used weight formula to calculate an estimate. There are two versions of the formula for metric and imperial measurements:

Using inches: ((heart circumference x heart circumference) x body length) ÷ 330 = body weight in pounds

((Heart Circumference x Heart Circumference) x Height) ÷ 330 = Body Weight in Pounds Using centimeters: ((Heart Circumference x Heart Circumference) x Height) ÷ 11,990 = Body Weight in Kilos

This formula requires you to measure your heart’s circumference, which can be done using the same steps as using a weight band. You will also need to measure your horse’s body length as shown in the image below (C), which will likely require a second pair of hands. Follow these steps:

Get a second person to hold your horse and the tape measure. You should position the zero end of the tape at the shoulder point of the front legs. Take the other end of the tape measure and go to the rear of the horse, measuring down to the buttocks. Make sure the tape is taut and straight to ensure an accurate reading.

Here’s an example of each calculation so you can see how they work.

A horse has a heart circumference of 78″ and a body length of 81″, so the formula would be:

((78 x 78) x 81) ÷ 330 = 1,493 pounds

A horse has a heart circumference of 198 cm and a body length of 206 cm, so the formula would be:

((198 x 198) x 206) ÷ 11,990 = 674 kg

Hint: Need to find a horse that is the right size? Then take a look at our advice on choosing the right horse for your weight.

Horse weight management tips

Now that you know roughly what your horse should weigh and how to monitor it, you can track its progress every week or two. However, you may be wondering what you should do if your horse is gaining or losing weight in an unhealthy way – you can refer to our weight chart as a general guide for a weight range, but you should assess your horse individually if you’re still not sure. Our Body Scoring Guide will show you how to get a better picture of your horse’s body condition. In this section we give you some tips for managing the weight of underweight or overweight horses.

Please note: This advice is for guidance only. You should always seek the opinion of a veterinarian or equine nutritionist if you are concerned about your horse’s weight.

Dealing with an underweight horse

Make an appointment with the vet: Before taking any weight correction measures, have your horse examined by a veterinarian. They can run tests to make sure there aren’t any serious underlying health issues that could be causing the weight loss.

Before taking any action to correct your horse’s weight, have it checked out by a veterinarian. They can run tests to make sure there aren’t any serious underlying health issues that could be causing the weight loss. Check the quality of the roughage: Your horse cannot get the nutrients and energy it needs from poor-quality roughage. You may need to ensure that roughage has adequate energy and nutritional value and is not coarse and difficult to digest. This may require getting the roughage you’ve tested, but you should make sure there isn’t a problem on your end, such as: B. incorrect storage of hay or haylage.

Your horse cannot get the nutrients and energy it needs from inferior roughage. You may need to ensure that roughage has adequate energy and nutritional value and is not coarse and difficult to digest. This may require getting the roughage you’ve tested, but you should make sure there isn’t a problem on your end, such as: B. incorrect storage of hay or haylage. Give Your Horse Unlimited Roughage: Horses depend on roughage as their staple diet. So giving your horse access to it at all times will ensure he is free to peck at the feed all day. This also ensures that their natural digestive pattern is mimicked, helping them gain weight faster.

Horses depend on roughage as a staple food. So giving your horse access to this all the time will ensure he is free to peck at the feed all day. This also ensures that their natural digestive pattern is mimicked, helping them gain weight faster. Give your horse more time out in the pasture: Naturally grown grass has a higher protein and energy content than hay and haylage, so it pays to let your horse out in the pasture longer to make sure he’s getting as much as possible . Just make sure to cover your horse appropriately when he’s outdoors for long periods of time.

Naturally grown grass has a higher protein and energy content than hay and haylage, so it pays to let your horse out in the pasture longer to make sure he’s getting as much as possible. Just make sure to cover your horse appropriately when he’s outdoors for long periods of time. Adjust nutrition to work level: As you exercise your horse more, he may need additional feeds such as grains, supplements and mixes to compensate for the extra energy expenditure. You’ll have to review and adjust their feed to accommodate any changes in their needs as you start working them harder.

Dealing with an overweight horse

Get advice from the vet: Have your horse examined by a veterinarian before making any decisions about changing the diet or taking any other action. It could be an underlying health issue causing the problem rather than overeating.

Have your horse checked by a veterinarian before making any decisions about changing diets or doing anything else. It could be an underlying health issue causing the problem rather than overeating. Check the feed: If your horse’s current feed is providing him with too many calories, it could be causing him to gain weight. It is therefore worth reviewing their needs and making any necessary adjustments to the amount of roughage or other types of feed they are currently consuming to ensure they are getting back into balance.

If your horse’s current diet is giving him too many calories, it could cause him to gain weight. It is therefore worth reviewing their needs and making any necessary adjustments to the amount of roughage or other types of feed they are currently consuming to ensure they are getting back into balance. Accurately Weigh All Feed: To ensure you don’t accidentally overfeed, weigh all of your horse’s feed rather than guessing or using volumetric measures such as handfuls or scoops. This will give you the most accurate portion size possible.

To ensure you don’t accidentally overfeed, weigh all of your horse’s feed rather than guessing or using volumetric measures such as handfuls or scoops. This will give you the most accurate portion size possible. Reduce the amount of grazing: When you take your horse out to pasture for the day, it could end up overgrazing itself or eating a type of grass that contains more energy than you thought. Instead of putting your horse in a stall, try to put it in a place where it can be exposed without access to large amounts of roughage. This will ensure your horse is still getting exercise and exposure to the weather, which is essential for weight loss.

When you take your horse out to pasture for the day, he could be overgrazing or eating a type of grass that contains more energy than you thought. Instead of putting your horse in a stall, try to put it in a place where it can be exposed without access to large amounts of roughage. This will ensure your horse is still getting exercise and exposure to the weather, which is essential for weight loss. Explore more creative grazing solutions: There are some slightly more creative ways that will allow your horse to turn and lose weight. Putting up fences that force them to walk a distance to get water or low-calorie roughage can improve their exercise. You can also let a horse that is not overweight go out to pasture first so that all the juicy grass has already been eaten.

There are some slightly more creative methods that will allow your horse to turn and lose weight. Putting up fences that force them to walk a distance to get water or low-calorie roughage can improve their exercise. You can also let a horse that is not overweight go out to pasture first so that all the juicy grass has already been eaten. Consider over-protecting your horse: A horse that is over-protected from the elements will burn fewer calories than one with the right level of protection because it doesn’t need as much exercise to stay warm and tone its body holding doesn’t have to use as much energy. So it’s worth considering whether you’re providing your horse with too much rug – see our rug guide, which includes a horse rug temperature guide, to see what the appropriate level should be.

A horse that is overly protected from the elements will burn fewer calories than one with the right level of protection because they don’t need to exercise as much to stay warm and their body doesn’t have to burn as much energy. So it’s worth considering whether you’re providing your horse with too much rug – see our rug guide, which includes a horse rug temperature guide, to see what the appropriate level should be. Increase the level of work: There may be times when your horse is not getting the right amount of exercise for his diet or in general. As such, you may need to ride them more often, walk around, or allow them to spend more time outdoors to ensure they burn off that energy.

Being able to accurately measure your horse’s height and track their weight will help you keep them as healthy as possible. It will also make other tasks easier, e.g. B. when purchasing equipment or planning which eventing, show jumping or dressage categories you will enter. We hope this guide has given you some insight into the importance of height and weight and how to monitor them.

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Roget’s Thesaurus of the 21st Century Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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WORDS RELATED TO MEASURING ROD

Roget’s Thesaurus of the 21st Century Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

When you read ads selling horses or someone tells you the size of their horse, chances are they will use the word “hands” to express the measurement. For example, a very large horse might be 17 HH. A pony is a horse under 14.2 HH. “HH” or “H” stands for “hands up” or “hands”.

A hand is a measurement of a horse’s height that has been used for several centuries. The measurement can actually be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. A hand is four inches, or roughly the width of an adult male’s hand. However, horses are not measured solely by hands. In some countries and at FEI competitions, horses are measured in centimetres. Ponies, miniature horses, and other small horses can also be measured in centimeters or inches instead of hands.

hands and other measurements

Since one pointer is four inches, partial pointers are expressed as decimal numbers. A horse with 14.2 hands is 14 hands plus 2 inches. The total in inches would be 58 inches: (14 x 4) + 2. A horse can never be said to be 14.5 inches because the number after the decimal point is not a fraction but represents a whole inch. If a horse measures 14.2 1/2 HH, that means it measures two and a half inches across 14 hands.

Horses are measured from the ground just beside and behind a front leg to the withers (shoulders). This is the one part of the horse’s topline that doesn’t change whether it lowers or raises its head or lowers or arches its back. This is the standard place to measure a horse’s height, regardless of what steps (either hands or inches) you use, what country you are in, what discipline you ride, or what breed of horse or pony you are.

Tool

There are a few instruments you can use to measure a horse’s height. The most accurate and easiest method is to use a horse length ruler. This is a tall staff marked with inch measurements, with a horizontal bar sliding up and down the staff. The stick is held beside the horse and the horizontal bar is pushed down until it touches the horse’s withers. Some sticks have a bubble level so you can be sure you are holding the stick level.

Height bands can be purchased inexpensively at feed or accessory stores. The problem with measuring tapes is that they are light, slack, and difficult to hold tight enough to get an accurate measurement. Someone must hold the buttocks against the ground while another person observes the measurement at the horse’s withers. You cannot put the tape against the horse. It must remain perfectly perpendicular to the ground. Elevation tapes are often printed with a weight tape on the opposite side.

A regular tape measure can also be used to measure height, but it has the same problems as the tape measure. In addition, metal tape measures make rattling noises that sometimes disturb horses, making it difficult to get the horse to stand still for a measurement.

Probably the simplest homemade gauge is a piece of twine attached to a large metal nut or washer. The weight of the metal holds the cord in place while the handler looks at the withers and marks the cord – a magic marker will do the trick here. Then the length is measured from the bottom of the washer to the mark on the thread. Another trick is to use a folding ruler, a piece of lath, or even a whip to make it easier to get a line from the cord to the withers. Simply hold the ruler so it sits on the horse’s withers, parallel to the ground, and note where it meets the tape measure.

how to measure

To measure your horse, stand him up straight on a flat surface. Hold the band or stick perpendicular to the ground and beside the horse and with the highest point of the horse’s withers. Using a suitable measuring stick, lower the stick so that it meets the horse’s withers. Note the measurement. If you can only measure in inches, divide the inches by 4 and calculate the remaining inches. So 62 inches would be 15 hands plus 2 inches or 15.2 HH.

If size is the determining factor in whether your horse competes in horse or pony competitions, you may need to consider horseshoes. Shoes can easily push a “pony” over the official height, and you need to find out if shod ponies are accounted for. If you need a horse of a specific size or need to qualify a horse’s size, you need to know whether the measurement includes shoes or not.

hHorses come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and their bodies vary by breed, diet, and activity level. You need to determine how big a horse is because it will help you monitor its nutritional needs and exercise level.

It’s also important information you need when choosing the right horse for you. The correct way to measure horse height is from the point at the withers of the tallest horse to the ground. Just take a look.

handset

A hand unit is equal to 10 cm (4 inches) and you must use it to measure a horse to the withers, which is the horse’s highest shoulder point. Although you can trace the hand back to the ancient Egyptians, Henry VIII was the one who standardized it to 4 inches (10 cm) in 1541.

Horse size measurement hands in (m) hands in (m) hands in (m) 7 28 (0.71) 11 44 ​​(1.12) 15 60 (1.52) 7.1 29 (0.74) 11, 1 45 (1.14) 15.1 61 (1.55) 7.2 30 (0.76) 11.2 46 (1.17) 15.2 62 (1.57) 7.3 31 (0, 79) 11.3 47 (1.19) 15.3 63 (1.60) 8 32 (0.81) 12 48 (1.22) 16 64 (1.63) 8.1 33 (0.84) 49.2 (1.25) 16.1 65 (1.65) 8.2 34 (0.86) 12.2 50 (1.27) 16.2 66 (1.68) 8.3 35 (0 .89) 12.3 51 (1.29) 16.3 67 (1.70) 9 36 (0.91) 13 52 (7 68) 1 (1.73) 9.1 37 (0.94) 13 .1 53 (1.35) 17.1 69 (1.75) 9.2 38 (0.97) 13.2 54 (1.37) 17.2 70 (1.78) 9.3 39 (0 .99) 13.3 55 (1.39) 17.3 40 71 (1.8) (1.02) 14 56 (1.42) 18 72 (1.83) 10.1 41 (1.04) 14.1 57 (1.45) 18.1 73 (1.85) 10.2 42 (1.07) 14.2 58 (1.47) 18.2 74 (1.89) 10.3 9 5 .1 43 (1.04) (1.50)

The system of measuring horses is not complicated at all. Since a hand equals 4 inches, the calculation is:

1hh = bra x 4 inches + fh

WH – the whole hand number

FH – the hand fraction

For example:

A 12 hand horse is 12 x 4 + 0 = 48 inches. A 12.2 hand horse is 12.2 x 4 + 2 = 50 inches

Today the hand is the primary unit of measurement for horses in the UK, Ireland, Australia, the US, Canada, India and South Africa. Most European countries use meters and centimeters for the same purpose.

horse types

You can divide horses into three main groups based on size, but sometimes you will find sub-categories such as small, shetland and draft horses.

Horse Size Horse Type Hands Inches (Meters) Miniature 6.2 Hands 26 to 28 inches (66-70 cm) 7 Hands 28 inches (71 cm) 7.2 Hands 30 inches (76 cm) 8 Hands 32 inches (81 cm) Small 8 .2 hands 34 in (86 cm) 9 hands 36 in (91 cm) 9.2 hands 38 in (97 cm) Shetland 10 hands 40 in (1.02 m) 10.2 hands 42 in (1.07 m) 11 hands 44 inches (1.12 m) bangs 11.2 hands 46 inches (1.17 m) 12 hands 48 inches (1.22 m) 12.2 hands 50 inches (1.27 m) 13 hands 52 inches ( 1.32 m) 13.2 hands 54 inches (1.37 m) Horse 14 hands 56 inches (1.42 m) 14.2 hands 58 inches (1.47 m) 15 hands 60 inches (1.53 m) 15.2 hands 62 inches (1.58 m) 16 hands 64 inches (1.63 m) 16.2 hands 66 inches (1.68 m) 17 hands 68 inches (1.73 m) 17.2 hands 70 inches (1.78 m) 18 hands 72 in (1.83 m) 18.2 hands 74 in (1.89 m)

The height of most full-size mature horses is in the 14.2 to 16.2 hands range. While most riders find medium-sized horses, six to six inches tall, to be the most comfortable, beginners find that smaller horses are a better option for learning to ride.

miniatures

Miniatures are miniature horses that breeders have obtained by separating genes that produce this desirable trait. Such a toy horse can be a popular pet or you can use it for cart driving.

They are always shorter than 9.2 hands or 38 inches (97 cm), but you can find classifications that consider the animals under 8 hands or 32 inches (81 cm) as miniatures. Larger animals go in a group of small horses.

Pony Size Breed Size Shetland Pony 7 to 10.2 hands 28 to 42 inches (71-107 cm) Spotted Pony 8 to 14 hands 32 to 56 inches (81-142 cm) Dartmoor Pony 11.1 to 12.2 hands 45 to 50 inches (114-127 cm) Exmoor Pony 11.1-12.3 hands 45-51 inches (114-130 cm) Welara 11.2-15 hands 46-60 inches (117-152 cm) Eriskay Pony 12-13.2 Hands 48-54 inches (122-137 cm) Hackney Pony 12-14 Hands 48-56 inches (122-142 cm) New Forest Pony 12-14.2 Hands 48-58 inches (122-147 cm) Welsh Pony 12, 2 to 13.2 hands 50 to 54 inches (127 – 137 cm) Connemara Pony 12.2 to 14.2 hands 50 to 58 inches (127 – 147 cm) Dales Pony 13 to 14 hands 52 to 56 inches (132 – 142 cm) Highland Pony 13 to 14.2 hands 52 to 58 inches (132 – 147 cm) Fellpony 13.2 to 14 hands 54 to 56 inches (137 – 142 cm)

ponies

Ponies are horses measuring 10 to 13.2 hands or 40 inches (1.02 m) to 54 inches (1.37 m). You can sometimes find subcategories like small, medium and large ponies. Remember that only a horse under 14.2 hands or 58 inches (1.47 m) tall is considered a pony in UK competitions.

horses

Any type of horse taller than 14.2 hands goes in this group, but some of them can even reach 18.2 hands or 74 inches (1.89 m). Few horses are about 19.2 hands or 78 inches (1.98 m) tall.

Horse Size Breed Size Spanish Mustang 12 to 14 hands 48 to 56 inches (122 – 142 cm) Halbinger 13.2 to 15 hands 54 to 60 inches (140 – 152 cm) Gypsy Vanner 14 to 15 hands 56 to 60 inches (142 – 152 cm ) Morgan 14 to 15 hands 56 to 60 inches (142 – 152 cm) Walkaloosa 14 to 15 hands 56 to 60 inches (142 – 152 cm) American Standardbred 14 to 15 hands 56 to 60 inches (142 – 153 cm) Appaloosa 14 to 15.3 hands 56 to 63 inches (142 – 160 cm) American Quarter Horse 14 to 16.1 hands 56 to 65 inches (142 – 165 cm) Paso Fino 14.1 to 15 hands 55 to 60 inches (140 – 152 cm) Arabians 14.1 to 15.1 hands 55 to 61 inches (140 – 155 cm) Tennessee Walkers 15 to 15.1 hands 60 to 61 inches (152 – 155 cm) Lipizzaners 15 to 15.3 hands 60 to 63 inches (152 – 160 cm) Criollo 15 to 15.3 hands 60 to 63 inches (152 – 160 cm) Paint Horse 15 to 16 hands 60 to 64 inches (152 – 163 cm) American Saddlebred 15 to 16.1 hands 60 to 65 inches (152 – 165 cm) Andalusian 15 to 16.1 hands 60 to 65 inches (152 – 165 cm) 165 cm) Hackney 15 to 16.2 hands 60 to 66 inches (152 – 168 cm) Gypsy Vanner 15 to 16.2 hands 60 to 66 inches (152 – 168 cm) Orlov Trotter 15 to 17 hands 60 to 68 inches (152 – 173 cm ) American Cream Draft 15 to 17 hands 60 to 68 inches (152 – 173 cm) American Warmblood 15 to 17 hands 60 to 68 inches (152 – 173 cm) Belgian Draft 15 to 17.3 hands 60 to 71 inches (152 – 180 cm) Westphalian 15.2-17.2 hands 62-70 inches (157-178 cm) Ardennes 15.3-16.1 hands 63-65 inches (160-165 cm) Irish Draft 15.3-16.1 hands 63 to 65 inches (160 – 165 cm) Dutch Warmblood 15.3 to 17 hands 63 to 68 inches (160 – 173 cm) Suffolk 15.3 to 17 hands 63 to 68 inches (160 – 173 cm) Trakehner 15.3 to 17 hands 63 to 68 inches (160 – 173 cm) Thoroughbred 15.3 to 17.2 hands 63 to 70 inches (160 – 178 cm) Percheron 16 to 17 hands 64 to 68 inches (160 – 173 cm) Holsteiners 16 to 17 Hands 64 to 68 inches (160-173 cm) Shire 16 to 17 Hands 64 to 68 inches (163-173 cm) Swedish Warmblood 16 to 17 hands 64 to 68 incl hes (163 – 173 cm) Hanoverian 16 to 17.2 hands 64 to 70 inches (163 – 178 cm) Oldenburg 16 to 17.3 hands 64 to 71 inches (163 – 180 cm) Cleveland Bay 16 to 17.3 hands 64 to 71 inches (163 – 180 cm) Clydesdale 16 to 18 hands 64 to 68 inches (163 – 173 cm)

The average horse size depends on the particular breed. For example, quarter horses typically reach 15 hands or 60 inches (1.52 m), which allows them to serve their purpose.

On the other hand, Thoroughbreds are used for racing and need to be larger. On average they stand at least 16 hands or 64 inches (1.63 m). Finally, draft horses are the tallest, ranging from 17 to 19 hands or 68 inches (1.73 m) to 76 inches (1.93 m).

summary

Determining the size of the horse is critical to practicing good horsemanship. This measurement determines the breed and provides the information necessary to calculate meal size and medication dose if needed.

Why Horses Are Measured in Hands: Guide to Horse Hand Units

Why are horses measured in hands?

Over the last several thousand years, the units of measurement have changed, except when it comes to measuring horses. Horses are described using the “hands” unit of measurement, which has not changed throughout history according to the ancient descriptions of measuring horses.

Why are horses measured in hands? Thousands of years ago, tape measures (or a metric system) did not exist. People needed a way to measure their riding horses for sale and trade, so they used a unit of measurement they always carried with them – their hands. This unit of measurement was standardized in the 1500s as one hand equals four inches and has been used ever since.

Read on for a history of the hand measurement and how to measure your own horse.

A History of Using Hands to Measure Horses

The ancient Egyptians used a unit of measure called cubits, which is one of the earliest forms of measurement that we have recorded. Cubits were a man’s arm’s length, from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. As a simple, understandable practice, ancient societies used parts of their bodies to measure things. There are records of Egyptians using their hands or the distance from their thumb to little finger to measure horses for trading purposes, whence the unity of the hands probably originated.

Of course, this is not an entirely accurate way of representing size, as every man’s hands are a different size. This was a well-known problem, which is why King Henry VIII standardized the hand to exactly 4 inches in the 15th century, which is what we still use today to measure a horse’s size.

How to measure a horse in the hands

While many experienced riders can guess the size of a horse’s hands with a degree of accuracy, it is important to properly measure your horse for registration, showing, sport and sale. So how do you measure your horse by the hands?

Where you can measure your horse for size

A horse is measured from the ground to the withers or shoulders. This is the most stable point of the horse’s body. It would be impossible to measure a horse from ground to crown as the horse’s head is movable, meaning that a height measured to the crown can change as the horse raises or lowers its head.

The withers is the horse’s highest “resting” point. For example, when a horse is nose to the ground, the withers is the highest point on the horse’s body.

When you’re ready to measure your horse, get him on level ground so he’s standing on a level surface, which will add more accuracy to your measurement.

Measuring tools for horses

You can use a tape measure to measure your horse, but handling both your horse and a tape measure can be difficult. The easiest way to measure your horse is with a measuring stick, which you can buy online or at any supply store. Measuring sticks for horses are rigid and have a bar at the top that can slide up or down. The purpose of the bar is to place it on top of the withers – the bar stays in place to “mark” your measurement. Measuring sticks may also have inches and other units marked for easy conversion if you want to know how many inches or centimeters your horse is standing.

Once you have your horse on level ground, tethered or held by you, place the measuring stick as close to the front of the withers as possible. Once in position, slide the bar up and rest it on the withers. Where it rests is your measure – that’s how tall your horse is.

For a full breakdown of how to measure a horse’s hands, see my article How to Measure a Horse’s Height (Step by Step with Pictures).

Horse/pony height measurements

A pony is not just a small or baby horse – there are certain size restrictions that a small horse must meet in order to be considered a pony. A horse measuring 14.2 hands high or less is considered a pony. If a horse measures more than 14.2 hands, it is a horse.

Does everyone measure horses in hands?

Hands are the proper unit of measurement for horses in most English speaking countries, however some European countries use meters to measure horses in addition to the Federal Equestrian International (FEI). Australia, Canada, the United States, Ireland and the UK are some examples of countries that use hands to measure horses.

Are hands used to measure animals other than horses?

Interestingly, the hands unit is not used to measure animals other than horses. Why did we switch to different units of measurement for everything else but still use hands to measure horses? Since nothing else is measured that way, and there are tools today that make measuring in any form an easy task, it is only fair to assume that we still use hands to measure horses today, simply by tradition. Horsemanship is a sport steeped in tradition and we will probably still be measuring horses by hand in a few thousand years!

Are hands fractionated?

Horses don’t grow in 4 inch increments, so you will see a horse described as having “15.1” hands or “16.2” hands. These are not traditional decimals. For example, a horse with 16.5 hands is not referred to as “16.5” hands. The number after the dot is inches. This means that a horse with 16.5 hands is written as “16.2” hands (literally: 16 hands plus 2 inches). A 15.1 hand horse has a measurement of 15 hands plus 1 inch. Since each hand is 4 inches, you will not see a horse measured as “15.4” or “15.6” hands since a horse measuring 15 hands plus 4 inches is recorded as 16 hands.

Horse measurement terminology

Most riders will not refer to a horse as a “sixteen-point-two” handhorse, rather you will hear “sixteen-two” or “fifteen-two.” You may even hear this as a noun, as in “we have a sixteen-two available at auction”. Speaking of technical terms – the “hh” after the unit of measurement stands for “hands high”. In writing, a horse is measured “16.2 hh” which means 16.2 “hands high”.

What is the largest horse breed?

There are hundreds of horse breeds in the world, but the Shire is, on average, the largest horse breed. Shire stallions must measure at least 17hh to be registered as Shire, while the largest recorded Shire in the 19th century was measured at 21.25 hands (and weighed 3,360 pounds!).

Draft horse breeds are the largest in the horse world and include the Shire, Clydesdale, Belgian and Percheron. Draft horses are workhorses and are used to pull heavy loads, so strength and size play a big part in their use. Draft horses can be ridden; However, they often don’t have the stamina or athleticism of other lightweight horse breeds.

Would you like to learn more about draft horses? Check out my article Top 8 Largest Horses and Horse Breeds (with pictures).

What is the smallest horse breed?

The smallest horse breed in the world is the Falabella, which averages 6 to 7 hands tall, or 21 to 34 inches (measurements of miniature horses are often given in inches because of their small stature). Interestingly, a Falabella’s body is proportioned like that of a horse and not like that of a typical pony.

The smallest known horse, a pygmy miniature horse, was 17 inches tall, or 4 hands high, and weighed only 57 pounds. She was born in 2001 and was 17 years old. Her name was Thumbelina.

Average height of a horse

What is the average size of a horse? This varies greatly depending on the breed. The average mustang or wild horse is 14 to 15 hands tall. Thoroughbreds bred for racing measure 15.2 to 17 hands on average, while the Clydesdale, a common draft horse breed, measures 16 to 18 hands high. American Quarter Horses have a wider range of “normal,” typically measuring anywhere from 14 to 16 hands tall.

Best height for a riding horse

When deciding what size horse is best for riding, it is important to consider the size of the rider. You’ll hear differing opinions on how much weight a horse can carry, but most agree that it’s between 10% and 20% of the horse’s own body weight (although 20% is rather high). For example, a healthy 16 hh Quarter Horse that weighs 1300 pounds and in its prime can safely carry a rider up to 130 pounds to 250 pounds. Most riding horses will be between 14.2 and 17h, although smaller riders and children can safely ride smaller sized ponies.

Hands: A unit of measurement that stays here

As previously mentioned, the world of equestrian sport is a deeply traditional world and the unity of hands is unlikely to be phased out anytime soon. Hands are an ancient and convenient way of measuring horses, they have been used for thousands of years and can continue to be used for centuries to come.

To learn more about what horse size you need, visit my article What Horse Size Do I Need: A Beginner’s Guide.

PS Save this to your “Horse Care” board!

To successfully maintain your horse at a healthy weight you will need:

Blue Cross Fat Horse Slim Guide

a body score chart

a weigh belt

a progress chart

It helps if you can also:

Work with a partner or team

to be objective; That means taking off the rose-colored glasses

Keep your focus on your goal of a healthier horse

This is how you can tell if your horse is at a healthy weight

To maintain a healthy body weight, all horses should be treated with a combination of proper nutrition, good health care, and regular, appropriate exercise (even if not engaged in riding).

This is especially important for horses that gain weight easily – the so-called “do-gooders”. It is very difficult to know in advance the ideal weight for each horse. The table below gives a guide, but there are so many variations of size and type, muscle mass and bone density that also make a difference that it can only be a guide.

Guide values ​​for the approximate horse weight – in kilograms

However, to ensure your horse is in a healthy weight range, you need more tools.

Weight and condition assessment tools

Scale

This is the only truly accurate method of measuring a horse’s weight, it’s not an option for most people, but if you can use one it’s worth it. You can then be absolutely accurate with worm and feed calculations.

weighing belt

In the absence of a weighbridge, a weigh belt is an essential tool to keep in your saddle box. They are inexpensive to buy and with regular use they will help you monitor weight gain and loss and be more accurate with feeding and medication. The weight tape is placed around the horse’s girth where a pulley would normally fit.

Remember to follow the instructions carefully, use the same tape and record the readings.

If more than one person is using the tape, make sure you use it the same way, at the same time of day, and in the same place each time.

The formula

Slightly more accurate than a weigh tape is a calculation where you measure your horse with a tape measure (in inches) and use a formula to calculate the weight.

The formula was developed at Texas University.

The Calculation: (Heart Circumference x Heart Circumference) x Height ÷ times 330. This gives the horse’s weight in pounds (lbs).

Heart Circumference Measurement: Take a tape measure and measure the horse’s entire circumference from the highest point of the withers to just past the elbows.

The body length: Measure from the shoulder point in a straight line to the buttocks on one side. The result is reported in pounds (lbs). You can divide this by 2.2 to get kilograms.

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unit of length

Not to be confused with a survey pole on which a surveying instrument is mounted; a range bar used for sighting; or a leveling staff, which may also be referred to as a leveling rod.

Rod System of units imperial/US units Length unit conversions 1 rod in … … corresponds to … imperial/US units 16 + 1 ⁄ 2 measurement ft metric (SI) units 5.0292 m

The rod, pole, or rod (sometimes eyelet) is a surveying tool[1] and a unit of length of various historical definitions, often between approximately 3 and 8 meters (9 ft 10 in and 26 ft 2 in). In modern US standard units, it is defined as 16 + 1⁄2 US survey feet, which is exactly 1⁄320 of a survey mile or quarter of a survey chain (5 + 1⁄2 yards), and is approximately 5.0292 meters. The rod is useful as a unit of length, since integer multiples of it can form a square kilometer (area). The “perfect acre”[2] is a 43,560 square foot rectangular area bounded by sides 660 feet long (a furlong) and 66 feet wide (220 yards by 22 yards), or the equivalent of 40 poles and 4 poles becomes. So an acre is 160 square bars or 10 square chains.

The name perch derives from the ancient Roman unit pertica. The measure is also related to the military pike, which is about the same size. Both measures[1] date back to the 16th century[3] when the pike was still used in national armies. The tool has largely been replaced by electronic tools such as surveying lasers (lidar) and optical sights for land surveying. Survey rods and chains are still used in rough terrain with heavy vegetation where laser or other optical measurements are difficult or impossible. In dialectal English, the term lug was also used, although the Oxford English Dictionary states that although this unit is usually 16 + 1⁄2 feet, it can also be 15, 18, 20, or 21 feet. [4] [5 ][6]

history [edit]

In England the perch was officially discouraged in favor of the rod as early as the 15th century; [7] [better source needed], however local customs retained its usage. In the 13th century, perch were variously recorded in lengths of 18 feet (5.49 m), 20 feet (6.1 m), 22 feet (6.71 m), and 24 feet (7.32 m); and even as late as 1820 a House of Commons report records lengths of 16+1⁄2 feet (5.03 m), 18 feet (5.49 m), 21 feet (6.4 m), 24 feet (7.32 m) and even 25 feet (7.62 m).[8] In Ireland, a perch was standardized at 6.4 m (21 ft), making an Irish chain, furlong and mile proportionately 27.27% longer than the English “standard” measurement.

Until King Henry VIII of England confiscated the lands of the Roman Catholic Church in 1536[1], land measures as we know them today were essentially unknown.[1] Instead, a narrative system of landmarks and lists was used. Henry wanted to raise even more money for his wars than he had confiscated directly from church property (he had also assumed the debts of the monasteries[1]), and as James Burke writes and quotes in the book Connections that the English monk Richard Benese ” produced a book on surveying land with the simple tools of the day, a pole with string, knots at intervals, waxed and resined against wet weather.” Benese poetically described the measure of a morning in terms of a perch:[3]

An acre of woodland, also called fyldlande [heath], is always forty perches long and four perches wide, though an acre of woods more in quantity [value, was more commercially estimated] than an acre of fyldelande

The practice of using survey chain and bar length rods fashioned into a detachable rigid chain came about a century later when iron was a more plentiful and common material. A chain is a larger unit of length measuring 66 feet (20.1168 m) or 22 yards or 100 links[10] or 4 bars (20.1168 meters). There are 10 chains or 40 poles in a furlong, and thus 80 chains or 320 poles in a legal mile (1760 yards, 1609.344 m, 1.609344 km); It was not until after the Great Fire of London (1666) that the Royal Surveyor (called ‘Sworn Surveyor’) John Ogilby established the definition of this.

An acre is defined as the area of ​​10 square chains (i.e., an area of ​​one chain times a furlong) and arises from the shapes of new technology plows[2] and the desire to quickly survey confiscated church lands into a set of places for the quick sale[3] by Henry VIII’s agents; Buyers simply wanted to know what they were buying while Henry raised money for wars against Scotland and France.[3] Consequently, the survey chain and survey poles or poles (the perch) have been used for several centuries in Britain and in many other countries influenced by British practices such as North America and Australia. By the time of the Industrial Revolution and the acceleration of real estate sales, canal and railroad surveys, etc. Survey poles such as those used by George Washington were generally made of rigid metal – semi-flexible, drawn, wrought iron, linkable bar stock (not steel), so that the four folded elements of a chain could be easily transported through brushes and branches when carried by a single man of a surveyor’s crew. With a direct relationship to the length of a survey chain, and sides of both an acre and a square (mile), they were common tools used by surveyors, if only to establish a known plottable baseline on rough terrain that thereafter line for instrumental (theodolite) triangulations served as a reference.

The pole as a measuring stick was standardized by Edmund Gunter in England in 1607 as a quarter of a chain (of 66 feet (20.12 m)) or 16 + 1⁄2 feet (5.03 m) long.

In ancient cultures[edit]

The perch as a linear measure in Rome (also Decempeda) was 10 feet (3.05 m) and in France it varied from 10 feet (perche romanie) to 22 feet (perche d’arpent – apparently 1⁄10 of the “range of an Arrow” – about 220 feet). To further confuse matters, according to the ancient Roman definition, an arpent equaled 120 Roman feet. The associated square unit of measurement was the scrupulum or decempeda quadrata, which is approximately 8.76 m2 (94.3 sq ft).[12]

In continental Europe[edit]

A standard in the town hall in Munster Germany from 1816; the rod shown is a “Prussian half rod” (1.883 m) long.

Units comparable to perch, rod, or rode were used in many European countries, with names such as French: Perche and Canne, German: Ruthe, Italian: Canna and Pertica, Polish: Pręt, and Spanish: Canna. They were sectioned in many different ways and were of many different lengths.

Based on data from:

N – Niemann (Quedlinburg and Leipzig – 1830).[14]

In the UK[edit]

In England the rod or perch was first legally defined by the Composition of Yards and Perches, one of the statutes of uncertain date (late 13th century make a yard, five and a half yards make a perch).[15]

The length of the chain was standardized to exactly four bars by Edmund Gunter in 1620.[16][17] Fields were measured in acres, which were one warp (four rods) by one furlong (ten warps in the UK).

Rods of metal one rod in length were used as length standards in surveying land. The stick was still in use as a common unit of measurement in the mid-19th century, when Henry David Thoreau used it frequently to describe distances in his work Walden.[19]

Holyrood, Edinburgh

In traditional Scottish units, a Scottish cross (ruid in Lowland Scots, ròd in Scottish Gaelic) also measures 222 inches (6 cubits).

Modern use[edit]

The stick was phased out as a legal unit of measurement in the UK as part of a ten-year measurement process that began on 24 May 1965.

In the US, the rod, along with the chain, furlong, and statute mile (as well as the survey inch and survey foot) are based on pre-1959 values ​​for US linear units of measurement. The Mendenhall Order of 1893 defined the yard as exactly 3600⁄3937 meters, with all other linear units of measurement, including the rod, being based on the yard. In 1959, an international agreement (the International Yard and Pound Agreement) defined the yard as the basic unit of length in the Imperial/USCU system, defined as exactly 0.9144 meters. However, the above units, when used in surveying, may retain their pre-1959 values, depending on the legislation in each state.[22] As of 2020, there are plans by the US National Geodetic Survey and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to replace the definition for the above units with the 1959 international definition of the foot, which is exactly 0.3048 meters.

Although the rod is no longer widely used, it is still used in certain specialty areas. In recreational canoeing, charts measure portages (overland routes along which canoes must be carried) in poles; typical canoes are about a rod long.[25] The term is also widely used when purchasing line easements, since the offers for an easement are often expressed on a “price per rod” basis.[26]

In the United Kingdom, in some areas, allotment sizes continue to be measured in square bars, sometimes simply referred to as poles rather than square poles.

In Vermont, the standard right-of-way width of state and city highways and trails is three bars (49.5 feet or 15.0876 m).[28] Rods are also found in the older legal descriptions of tracts of land in the United States that follow the “Metes and Bounds” method of land surveying,[29] as shown in this current legal description of rural real estate:

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Beginning 45 rods east and 44 rods north of the southwest corner of southwest 1/4 of southwest 1/4; thence northward 36 poles; thence eastwards 35 poles; thence south 36 spears; thence west 35 rods to the place of beginning, Manistique Township, Schoolcraft County, Michigan.[30]

Area and volume[ edit ]

The terms pole, perch, rod, and rood were used as units of area, and perch is also used as a unit of volume. As a unit of area, a square perch (which is standardized to 16 + 1⁄2 feet or 5 + 1⁄2 yards) is equivalent to a square stick of 30 + 1⁄4 square yards (25.29 square meters). or 1⁄160 acres. There are 40 square poles for a cross (e.g., a 40 pole by 1 square area) and 160 square poles for an acre (e.g., a 40 pole by 4 square area). This unit is usually referred to as a perch or rod, although square perch and square rod were the more accurate terms. Rod was also sometimes used as a unit of area to refer to a rod.

However, in the traditional French system in some countries, 1 square bar is equal to 42.21 square meters.

As of August 2013, perch and roods are used as state survey units in Jamaica. They appear on most property title documents. The perch is also widespread in Sri Lanka, where it is even preferred over the red and the morning in property listings.[31] By the early 21st century, perches were used informally as a measure in Queensland properties, primarily historic properties in older suburbs.

Volume [edit]

A traditional unit of volume for stone and other masonry. A masonry bar is the volume of a stone wall that is one bar (16+1⁄2 feet or 5.03 meters) long, 18 inches (45.7 cm) high, and 12 inches (30.5 cm) thick. This is exactly 24+3⁄4 cubic feet (0.92 cubic yards; 0.70 cubic meters; 700 liters).

Depending on the type of masonry being built, there are two different measurements for a perch:

A worked stone work is measured by the perch 24 + 3 ⁄ 4 cubic feet (16 + 1 ⁄ 2 feet or 5.03 meters) long, 18 inches (45.7 cm) high and 12 inches (30.5 cm) thick. This is exactly 24 + 3 ⁄ 4 cubic feet (0.916667 cubic yards; 0.700842 cubic meters). A masonry or rubble wall of broken stone of irregular size, shape, and texture, of unworked stone, is measured (16 + 1 ⁄ 2 feet or 5.03 meters) in length, 12 in. (30.5 cm) in height, and 12 in (12″) thick. This is exactly 16 + 1 ⁄ 2 cubic feet (0.611111 cubic yards; 0.467228 cubic meters).[33]

See also[edit]

A horse’s height is measured in hands, and 1 hand equals 4 inches. The measurement should be taken from the ground perpendicular to the horse’s highest point at the withers.

However, there may be times when you need to know the equivalent measurement in meters, feet or inches.

The table below converts your horse’s height into metric and imperial units (feet, inches and centimeters).

One hand equals four inches, which means it’s pretty easy to work out the number of inches yourself. If you don’t have the conversion table handy, you can use this calculation:

4 x WH + FH = number of inches

WH is the number of whole hands and FH is a fraction of a hand. Here’s how this would work in an example: 14.2 hands (4 x 14 = 56 + 2 = 58 inches)

Here is the size conversion chart for hands, feet, inches and centimeters:

Also Read: The 7 Largest Horse Breeds In The World

Why are horses measured in hands?

Now that you know how to convert traditional hand measurements, you can use metric or imperial units as well. But what exactly are hands and why are they used to measure horses?

The answer to this goes back many centuries, before people had rulers or tape measures. Instead, parts of the horse’s body were typically used as a yardstick.

A foot – which now measures 12 inches – was originally literally a man’s foot. Likewise, a hand measurement was the width of a man’s hand. It was later standardized at four inches and still remains the accepted measurement for horses.

This measurement is taken from the highest point of the withers, approximately in the middle, to the ground.

Aside from the original lack of measuring tools, it has been suggested that one of the reasons for using hands was that horses preferred it.

While some horses have become nervous with a tape measure or other device held against them, soft hands would have presented much less of a problem. It’s not clear if this is just an urban myth, but it’s a plausible theory!

Fun Fact: The tallest horse of all time, a Shire named Sampson, was 21.25 hands tall!

Also check out our average horse breed height and weight.

Horse size conversion chart

Hands Inches Feet Centimeters 12HH 48 4ft 121.92cm 12.1HH 49 4ft 1 124.46cm 12.2HH 50 4ft 2 127cm 12.3HH 51 4ft 3 129.54CM 13HH 52 4ft 4 132.08cm 13.1hh 53 4ft 5 134.62cm 13.2H 5F 4FT 53 4TIEM4.62CM 13.2HH 54ft 4ft 55 45 4 139.7cm 14HH 56 42.24cm 14.1HH 57 44.78cm 14.32cm 14.3hh 59 4ft 11 149.86 cm 15hh 60 5ft 152.4cm 15.1hh 61 5ft 1 154.94cm 15.2hh 62 5ft 2 157.48cm 15.3HH 63 5ft 3 160.02cm 16HH 64 5ft 4 162.56cm 16.1HH 65 5ft 1 16.5ft 5 16.5ft 2HH 66 5ft 6 66″ 16.3.3.3. 67 5ft 170.18cm 175.2 175.2.5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft 5ft). hh 70 5ft 10 70″ 17.3 hh 71 5ft 11 71″ 18 hh 72 6ft 72″

Why are horses measured in hands?

horses big and small

Traditionally, the height of a horse is measured in hands, 1 hand = 4 inches, so 17.2 hh = 70 inches, which is 178 cm. In addition to hands, people now refer to their horse’s height in inches. Below we take a look at a horse size conversion chart. The reason horses are measured goes back to the days when rulers were not widely owned so people used body parts to measure, hence the width of the average hand is about 4 inches and it`s then this was standardized for conversion. Other body parts were also used to measure things, for example a foot is about 12 inches long. This measurement is taken from the highest point of the withers, approximately in the middle, to the ground. Einstein – The smallest horse Einstein is one of the smallest horses in the world at 35.5 cm, which is just over 4 hands high. Brooklyn Supreme – The tallest horse in the world Brooklyn Supreme is the tallest horse in the world weighing 3200 pounds and standing at 19.2 hh (195 cm converted). Horses are measured in hands, one hand = 4 inches, so one foot equals 3 hands A 16.2 hh horse is 5 1/2 feet tall. – Horse hands on feet

Why measure your horse or pony’s height and weight… Because every caring horse owner should know how to measure their horse and certainly at least how to estimate or report your horse’s weight.

Your horse’s weight measurement should be used to calculate how much feed it needs, as well as dosage for dewormers and other medications.

And knowing your horse’s size is very important if you are considering selling your horse or entering certain classes of equestrian competitions, especially show classes.

Horse height conversion table:

Horses and ponies are measured in either hand height (hh) or centimeters (cms).

The decimal centimeter measurement is the more modern way of measuring a horse, but quite a few horse owners have difficulty comparing the two measurements.

So we thought a horse size conversion chart would be handy:

Hands cms hands cms cms cms hands cms 8.0 91 10.0 102 112 12.0 122 84 94 104 114 124 8.2 86 97 107 117 127 89 9.3 99 109 11.3 119 12.3 130 89 89 9.3 99 109 109 11.3 119 12.3 130 89 89

Hands CMS Hands Hands CMS Hands Hands Hands CMS 132 14.0 152 163 173.1 135 145 15.1 165 17.1 175 137 147 157 168 178 13.3 150 15.3 170 17.3 180

A hand equals 4 inches or 10.2 cm. You should measure your horse from the withers to the ground.

A horse that is 61 inches tall has 15.1 hands or 15 hands and 1 inch or 15.1 hh.

This is calculated as (61/4 = 15.25); 0.25 is the decimal equivalent of a quarter and a fourth of 4 = 1; so 15.1hh.

This is calculated as (61/4 = 15.25); 0.25 is the decimal equivalent of a quarter and a fourth of 4 = 1; so 15.1hh. As an alternative to calculating the centimeter height

Either multiply 61 inches by 2.54, which is approximately 155 cm

or divide 61 by 4 and then multiply by 10.2, which is approximately 155 cm.

Either multiply 61 inches by 2.54, which is approximately 155 cm, or divide 61 by 4 and then multiply by 10.2, which is approximately 155 cm. A pony measures 14.2 hands or less at the withers.

Calculating horse weight is a bit more complicated:

Knowing your horse’s weight, at least roughly, can be very helpful for things as simple as calculating how much to feed and what dewormer to administer.

Since it’s not easy to find a bridle or scale big enough for your horse, there are several ways to calculate a horse’s approximate weight.

Of course, if you have a farmer friend or have access to livestock scales, use them for a really accurate measurement.

The following two methods are among the most common approximation methods and will give a good idea of ​​your horse’s weight.

1. Tape measures for height and weight:

Probably the most common way to estimate your horse’s weight is to purchase and use a height and weight tape measure.

You simply wrap the measuring tape around your horse’s circumference (aka “heart circumference”) and read the estimated weight on the measuring tape.

The size and weight tape has been available for many years and horse owners have generally found it very reliable. They usually come complete with instructions for use.

Cheap examples can be found on ebay and other online stores.

2. Measure the weight of your horses with a standard inch tape measure…

Another way to estimate your horse’s weight is to measure the girth and length with a standard inch tape measure. Then just do the following calculation:

(((Heart Circumference x Heart Circumference) x Height) divided by 300) + 50 = Weight.

To take the horse weight measurements:

Step 1. Measuring Heart Circumference To measure your horse’s heart circumference, measure (in inches) from the base of the withers to a few inches behind your horse’s front legs, then under the belly and on the opposite side of your starting point. The tape measure should run at an angle as shown by the yellow line in the image to the right. This measurement is your horse’s heart circumference.

Step 2. Measuring the Body Length To measure the body length of your horse, measure (in inches) from the shoulder point to the hip point. Your tape measure should run at an angle as shown by the yellow line in the picture. The measurement you take is the length of your horse’s body.

Step 3. The calculation

Multiply heart circumference by heart circumference

Multiply the above result by the body length

Divide this result by 300 and then add 50

The result is the approximate body weight of your horse.

To successfully maintain your horse at a healthy weight you will need:

Blue Cross Fat Horse Slim Guide

a body score chart

a weigh belt

a progress chart

It helps if you can also:

Work with a partner or team

to be objective; That means taking off the rose-colored glasses

Keep your focus on your goal of a healthier horse

This is how you can tell if your horse is at a healthy weight

To maintain a healthy body weight, all horses should be treated with a combination of proper nutrition, good health care, and regular, appropriate exercise (even if not engaged in riding).

This is especially important for horses that gain weight easily – the so-called “do-gooders”. It is very difficult to know in advance the ideal weight for each horse. The table below gives a guide, but there are so many variations of size and type, muscle mass and bone density that also make a difference that it can only be a guide.

Guide values ​​for the approximate horse weight – in kilograms

However, to ensure your horse is in a healthy weight range, you need more tools.

Weight and condition assessment tools

Scale

This is the only truly accurate method of measuring a horse’s weight, it’s not an option for most people, but if you can use one it’s worth it. You can then be absolutely accurate with worm and feed calculations.

weighing belt

In the absence of a weighbridge, a weigh belt is an essential tool to keep in your saddle box. They are inexpensive to buy and with regular use they will help you monitor weight gain and loss and be more accurate with feeding and medication. The weight tape is placed around the horse’s girth where a pulley would normally fit.

Remember to follow the instructions carefully, use the same tape and record the readings.

If more than one person is using the tape, make sure you use it the same way, at the same time of day, and in the same place each time.

The formula

Slightly more accurate than a weigh tape is a calculation where you measure your horse with a tape measure (in inches) and use a formula to calculate the weight.

The formula was developed at Texas University.

The Calculation: (Heart Circumference x Heart Circumference) x Height ÷ times 330. This gives the horse’s weight in pounds (lbs).

Heart Circumference Measurement: Take a tape measure and measure the horse’s entire circumference from the highest point of the withers to just past the elbows.

The body length: Measure from the shoulder point in a straight line to the buttocks on one side. The result is reported in pounds (lbs). You can divide this by 2.2 to get kilograms.

A 3 month old foal is 73% of its mature height. At 6 months he is 82% of his mature height. At one year of age, the colt is 89% of its mature size. By 18 and 24 months, your foal should be 95 and 97% of its adult size, respectively. So, adult height can be estimated at any time by dividing current height by percentage of foal maturity by age and multiplying by 100. Also, the horse’s leg length is fully grown by the age of 1 year, and the horse is usually twice its leg length. So by measuring the leg length of a yearling and doubling that length, you can estimate the adult size. The percentages are based on research on a large group of horses and are a good guide to growth rates and height, but they may not accurately represent an individual horse. Some horses are sexually mature early or late and their growth rates will deviate from the norm, but these estimates will approximate actual size.