How to Measure a Horse's Height How to Measure a Horse's Height How to Measure a Horse's Height How Tall is Your Horse? Here's How to Find Out Using a measuring stick to determine a pony's height. Bob Langrish / Getty Images By Katherine Blocksdorf Updated October 03, 2016. Chances are, if you read ads selling horses, or someone is telling you about the height of their horse, they will use the word ‘ hands ’ to express the measurement. For example, a very tall horse might be 17 HH. A pony is an equine under 14.2 HH. HH or H stands ‘hands high’ or ‘hands’. Hands is a measuring unit that has been used for several centuries. The measurement may, in fact, trace back to the Ancient Egyptians . A hand represents four inches or approximately the width of a male adult’s hand. However, horses are not exclusively measured in hands. In some countries and for FEI competition, horses are measured in centimetres . Ponies, Miniature Horses , and other diminutive equines may also be measured in centimetres or in inches rather than hands.

Hands and Other Measurements When measuring in hands, partial hand widths are expressed in inches. So a horse that is 14.2 hands is 14 hands plus 2 inches. The total inches would be 58 inches. A horse could never be said to be 14.5 inches, as the number after the decimal is not a fraction, but represents an entire inch. If a horse is 14.2 1/2 HH, that means he’s two and one-half inches over 14 hands. Horses are measured from the ground, just beside and behind a front foreleg to the top of the withers or fifth vertebrae. This is the one part of the horse’s top line that does not change whether he lowers or raises his head or drops or arches his back. This is standard, regardless of what increments, hands, and centimeters or inches you use, what country you are in, what discipline your ride or breed of horse or pony. Horse Measuring Tools There are a few instruments that you can use to measure a horse’s height. The most accurate and easiest are to use a proper height measuring stick.

This tall stick, marked with measurements, with a horizontal bar that slides up and down the stick. The stick is held alongside the horse, and the horizontal bar is slid down until it touches the horse’s withers. Some sticks have a leveling bubble , so you can be sure you are holding the stick level. Height tapes can be purchased inexpensively at feed or tack stores. The problem with tapes is that they are light and floppy, and are hard to hold taut enough to get an accurate measure. Someone has to hold the bottom against the ground, while another person eyes up the measurement at the horse’s withers. You can’t lay the tape against the horse. It must stay perfectly perpendicular to the ground. Often height tapes are printed with a weight tape on the opposite side. A regular tape measure can be used to measure height, but comes with the same problems as the height tape. Additionally, metal tape measures make rattling noises horses sometimes object to, making it difficult to get the horse to stand still for a measurement. Probably, the easiest homemade measuring device is a piece of binder twine tied to a large metal nut or washer.

The weight of the metal will hold the string steady, while the handler eyes up the withers and marks the twine—a magic marker will do the trick here. Then the length from the bottom of the washer to the mark on the twine is measured. Another trick is to use a yardstick, piece of lath or even a whip to make it easier to get a line from the twine to the withers. Just hold the yardstick so it is sitting on the horse’s withers, parallel to the ground and note where it hits the tape. How to Measure To measure your horse, have him stand square on a level surface. Hold the tape or stick so it is perpendicular to the ground and beside the horse so it is even with the top point of the horse’s withers. If you are using a proper measuring stick, lower the bar so it meets the top of the horse’s withers. Take note of 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 height is the determining factor of whether your horse will compete in horse or pony events, you may have to take horseshoes into account. Shoes can easily put a ‘pony’ over the official height, and you need to find out if allowances are made for shod ponies. If you require a horse of a specific height or need to qualify a horse’s height you’ll need to know if the measurement includes shoes or not. How to Measure the Height of Horses: 4 Steps (with Pictures) How to Measure the Height of Horses Community Q&A Egyptians created forms of measurement thousands of years ago. One of the measurements still widely used today is the hand. Each hand represents four inches and is the primary way to measure the height of a horse. By taking a linear measurement and converting the numbers to hands, the height of a horse can be determined. Steps 1 Purchase a horse measuring stick marked with hand measures. If a horse measuring stick is not available, a standard measuring tape is acceptable. Horse measuring sticks can be found at equestrian supply stores (tack shops), farm supply stores and from various online retailers. 2 Make sure the horse is standing on firm level ground with its front feet as even as possible.

3 Place the horse measuring stick or measuring tape at the base of one of the horse's front feet and pull the measuring device up to the withers. The withers is located at the top of the shoulders between the neck and back and is considered the highest point on a horse. The highest point of a horse is actually the top of its head, (also known as the poll), but since a horse moves its head up and down frequently, it is difficult to record this measurement accurately. Stretch the measuring device to the highest point of the withers. More precisely, extend the measuring device up to the spiny ridge between the horse's shoulder blades. 4 Record the measurement. If the horse measuring stick is being used, then the measurement can be recorded in hands immediately. If a measuring tape is being used, conversion of the measurement from inches to hands is required. One hand equals 4 inches (10.2 cm), so divide the measurement by 4. For example, if the horse measures 71 inches (180.3 cm), divide 71 by 4 inches. The result is 17 hands with 3 inches (7.6 cm) left over.

The final height would be recorded as 17.75 hands. Community Q&A Can I increase the height of my horse? wikiHow Contributor Not really, though you can make sure to feed your horse the proper feed and nutrients when the horse is young, to prevent the horse from having stunted growth. When you're using a measuring stick, do you take the measurement from the top side or the bottom side of the reading bar? wikiHow Contributor Unanswered Questions Do you use the flat bottom of cross bar on stick or the curved top with level? If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Video Tips The hand is the most common form of horse measurement in the United States, Canada, and England. However, throughout other locations around the world, the metric system is used to record the horse's height. When a horse measures one half hands, indicate the measurement with .2 and not with .5. A horse measuring stick is the easiest way to measure a horse quickly and accurately. A horse measuring under 14.3 hands high is, by definition, a pony, regardless of breed. The height of an average horse is roughly 16 hands.

Measure Horse Height Note: Links with green underlines are shopping links and will open in a new window How To Measure Horse Height It's easy to measure you horse's height accurately. To determine how tall a horse is measure the horse, in inches, from the ground in a straight line up to the highest point of the withers. This is illustrated in the photo below by the yellow line. Above: The height of a horse is properly measured, in inches, from the ground to the highest point of the withers. For the most accurate measurement the horse should be on firm, level ground with its front feet even, or close to even. Calculating The Results After you have measured your horse you will need to convert the results from inches to "hands." Horse height is correctly referred to by a unit of measurement known as a "hand." One hand is equal to four inches. The gray mare in the photo above is 58 inches from the ground to the top of her withers. When 58 is divided by 4, you have 14.5. The 14 is the number of hands, and the .5 means another half of a hand, or another 2 inches.

This means she is 14 and one-half hands tall. Correctly Writing And Speaking The Results The correct way of writing "14 and one-half hands" is to write "14.2". It is not correct to write it as "14.5". When correctly written, the number before the period is the number of hands, and the number after the period is the remaining number of inches. The number after the period should NOT stand for a fraction. Horseman usually say a measurement like this one out loud as "fourteen two" or "fourteen and a half." A Few Examples Below are a few examples of how to correctly write down a horse's height. Remember, the number in front of the period is for hands and the number after the period is the remaining inches.

15 - This is a correct way of writing that a horse is 15 hands tall 15.0 - Another correct way of writing that a horse is 15 hands tall 15.1 - This is the correct way of writing that a horse is 15 hands, 1 inch tall 15.2 - This is the correct way of writing that a horse is 15 hands, 2 inches tall 15.3 - This is the correct way of writing that a horse is 15 hands, 3 inches tall 15.4 - Wrong! This means that a horse is 15 hands, 4 inches tall. Since a hand is equal to four inches, this horse is actually 16 hands tall. 15.5 - Wrong again! Some people incorrectly use the number after the period to stand for fractions of a hand, but it should stand for inches. So, some people write "15.5" to mean 15 and a half hands, but this should correctly be written as "15.2". If you like, you can add "hh" to a measurement, as in "15.1hh".

The "hh" stands for "hands high." Horse Measuring Devices There are measuring devices on the market for horses that have hand and inches measurements marked on them. Some devices are rigid poles with short cross bars toward the top that can be raised or lowered to rest on a horse's withers. These are very handy and give accurate measurements easily. Another common device is a horse height/weight tape , which is a special tape measure with hands and inches marked on it. These are inexpensive and are accurate if the person doing the measuring makes sure to run the tape straight up and down, and to read the measurement at a level angle. Where Did "Hands" Come From? As stated above, a horse's height is measured in hands. The origin of measuring a horse this way is very old, but easy to understand. In days long ago people did not have the common measuring devices (like tape measures, etc.) that we do today. To measure a horse, they used what was handy (no pun intended): Their hands.

At various times in history and in different locales a "hand" was defined as the with of a person's hand using the fingers only, the width of a person's hand using the fingers and the thumb, the height of a clenched fist, and possibly others. Somewhere along the way, the measuring unit of a hand was standardized to mean four inches. Though the origins are ancient, a hand is still the unit of measurement for horses that modern horse owners use today. Conformation: form to function : Horse : University of Minnesota Extension University of Minnesota Extension Conformation: form to function Dawn Melbye, Instructor, University of Minnesota Crookston Without acceptable conformation, there is limited function. Horses are commonly expected to perform in ways that are not natural for their form. A horse that is correct in form and for its intended use may be more comfortable to ride than a horse with poor conformation. Poor conformation in a horse may result in a greater risk of injury, difficulty in training, and greater lameness issues. Owners need to evaluate and utilize horses that possess acceptable conformation for the intended use of the horse. These evaluations will result in performance at optimum levels. Many rules of conformation are based on geometry and physics.

These are “general” rules that allow us to review a horse's athletic ability. For each athletic ability, there are unique attributes that are specific to the type of performance desired. This explains why hunters, halter horses, and reiners are all designed differently. Each performance horse is built to excel in his discipline with unique traits, such as the type and degree of muscling in a halter horse. Many times the first thing that attracts your eye to a horse is their head and neck. A head and neck that are well proportioned not only gives a pleasing aesthetic appearance, but provides for a balance point that allows for effective communication via the bridle and rider. A general rule is that a horse's neck length should be one and a half lengths of their head. Head length is measured from the front of the muzzle to the top of the poll. That measurement times 1.5 should equal the distance from the poll to the middle of the shoulder. Having these attributes provides a balanced head and neck combination. A horse with too large of a head will travel very heavy on the front end and have a tendency to be clumsy. A horse with too small of a head will lack counterbalance and may lose some its suppleness and action in its front end.

When evaluating the details of the horse's head, look for bright, bold, wide set eyes, ears that set slightly below the poll, a lower jaw that is clearly defined and well separated underneath the jaw, nostrils should be large, and a clean throatlatch lacking heavy fat and muscling. When reviewing the neck, look for a proportional neck and body. The geometry equation for a balanced neck and body is the length of neck equals one third of the horses total body length, and should be equal to the length of the horse's front leg. The union of the head and neck is determined by two bones called atlas and axis. These first two cervical vertebrae allow the horse to shift his balance while traveling, thus the importance of this connection. The head should be attached on the neck at an angle so that the horse can flex at the poll and travel in a balanced manner. The neck should attach to the horse's body fairly high with a distinct chest area below. The base of the neck should be level with the point of the horses shoulder. This allows the horse to be more flexible, balanced and collect more naturally.

Divide the horse into three parts; first from point of chest to just behind heart girth (chest), second from behind the heart girth to point of hip (back), and third from point of hip to point of buttock (croup). The shape of the horse's chest is an important part of its stamina and endurance. Chest conformation also determines lung capacity. Many horses have 18 pairs of ribs, but may range from 19 to 17 with the exceptions being Thoroughbreds and Arabians. Extra ribs allow for a shorter lumbar vertebrae area which results in stronger “coupling” of the loin area. The loin is the muscle portion of the back behind the saddle, typically from the last rib, to the point of the croup. The underline of the horse should rise gradually to the hindquarters. Horses that have “spring of rib” have ribs that project outward, have large spaces between the ribs, are shorter backed and have a strong loin. A wide chest shape is favored by most horsepersons. From the front, a wide chest allows for lung expansion, which allows for greater endurance and more room for muscle attachment.

The better combination of ribs and chest, the stronger the attachment of legs, shoulders and neck with the rest of the body which creates a powerful athletic performer. The horses back must be functional and withstand the stress of work. The back transmits the force and driving power from the hind legs. A horse should have well-formed withers that allow for attachment of the shoulder to the rest of the horses body. The length of the horses back can be measured from the middle of the withers to the point of hip. This should be one third the length of the horse. A horse's back should be longer than their underline. A horse with a long neck and short back provides the best maneuverability of head and neck, while the short back allows strength for carrying the weight of the rider. Towards the rear of the horses back is the croup. This is the highest point of the rump. The croup helps with the transmission of energy for thrust and power in the hind end of the horse. Croup height should not be too high, but rounded with muscle to provide a smooth contoured shape. The croup should be at the same height when compared to the withers to maintain balance in the horses overall confirmation. The quarters are positioned below the croup.

When viewing the quarters, they should not be too sloped or too flat. The length of the quarter can be measured form the point of the horse's hip to point of buttock. This length should be about 1/3 of the horse's body length using the proportions as described above. A properly formed front leg will move in straight lines and have less stress on bones, tendons, ligaments and muscle mass. Deviations or crooked front legs can produce stresses and lead to possible lameness. Conformation of the horse's front legs can affect their athletic ability, soundness, stride, speed and agility. When a horse stands square, the angle of the shoulder blade and the horizontal line should measure between 40 and 55 degrees. One way to measure this angle is to measure down the center of the shoulder blade to the point of the shoulder, then draw a line across the body. With this angle you should notice the horse's elbow is directly below the front of the withers. The elbow of the horse should be parallel to the horse's body and not be turned in or out.

From the front of the horse, there should be a straight line from the point of the shoulder down the center of leg, bisecting the forearm, knee, cannon, fetlock joint, pastern and hoof. The cannon bone in the foreleg should be shorter than that of the rear leg. From the side of the front leg, a straight line should be formed in front of the withers to down the center of the front leg and touch at the heel. The angle of the pastern to the toe should also be measured at 40 to 55 degrees. An adequately sloped hoof will transfer weight from the tendons to the upper leg of the horse, decreasing pressure and maintaining soundness. Horses with straighter shoulder and pastern angles tend to have shorter strides. However, some disciplines tend to prefer horses with a shorter stride. The hind legs tend to have fewer lameness issues compared to the front legs because the front legs carry about 60% of the horse's weight compared to 40% of the weight being carried on the hind legs. However, front vs. rear leg lameness tends to be connected to overall horse use.

Hindquarter conformation influences a horse's capacity for speed, agility, propelling power, and strength to maintain and hold collection. No matter the shape of the hindquarter of the horse, there must be symmetry and balance of muscle with the rest of the body. Running, jumping and other forward movements depend primarily on the muscles of the hind quarters, thigh and gaskin. A long hindquarter allows for an increased range of extension and flexion. However, for power and strength, a shorter hindquarter is desired (i.e. think of a Quarter Horse vs. a Warmblood). The connection from the hindquarter to the gaskin thru to the hock is one of the keys to the structure of the hind leg. A strong well placed hock will make the leg stronger and more efficient in moving. Large formed hocks are preferred. A larger joint, with more surface area for absorbing concussion, generally makes for a sounder joint. The hock should be level with the top of the chestnut on the front leg, which is located a few inches above the knee. Viewing from behind, the hock should be directly under the point of the buttocks, but slightly pointed inward.

From the rear view, an ideal hind leg should be in-line with the point of the buttock to slightly inside of the hock to the middle of the hoof. When viewing from the side, the hock should be wide from front to back and set on top of a sturdy cannon bone. The hind cannon bone is usually longer and wider than the front cannon bone. From the side of the rear legs, a line should be dropped from the point of the buttock, to the hock, down the back of the cannon to behind the heel of the hoof. Correct conformation, overall balance, and symmetry are exhibited in the best horses of each breed, with all body parts showing proportion. Length and proportions play a determining role in form to function. When examining a horse for conformation, the temptation to place the center of attention on legs is important, but the horse's body proportions are important as well. A body that is balanced and proportionate plays a fundamental role in proper leg structure and attachment. A proportionate horse is usually square. Square means the height from the withers to ground should equal the length of body, which is the distance from the point of shoulder to the point of the buttocks.

The proportionate horse will exhibited all the qualities that have been discussed to this point which are: a neck that is long and balanced tying into a long sloping shoulder, a top line that is short and strong, a desirable underline that is longer than the top line, and front legs (from elbow to fetlock) that equal the length of depth of body (from top of withers to bottom of girth). A horse that is proportionate will also exhibit symmetry on both sides of its body. If there are faults of a horse's conformation, those faults should be symmetrical. Lack of symmetry will cause stress on those points, causing harm and obstruct the horse's ability to perform with grace and ease. Determining Horses' Body Weight and Ideal Condition | TheHorse.com Determining Horses' Body Weight and Ideal Condition To determine your horse’s nutrient requirements—particularly with respect to energy intake—you need to first calculate its body weight and body condition. Photo: Photos.com To determine your horse’s nutrient requirements—particularly with respect to energy intake—you need to first calculate its body weight and body condition. Body weight is measured in kilograms or pounds.

Body condition refers to how much or how little fat coverage an animal has, and it can be measured through both subjective visual inspection to obtain a “score,” or through more objective and quantitative body measurements. At A Glance A scale best determines body weight, but calculations and weigh tapes can also be helpful. Body condition scores and cresty neck scores give a subjective indication of the amount of condition (fat coverage) on a horse. Quantitative measures of adiposity include girth-to-height ratios and the overall percentage of fat (determined by a rump fat thickness ultrasound). Most horses should have a body condition score between 4 and 6. Determining Body Weight The most accurate way to determine a horse’s weight is by weighing the horse. Scales clearly give the most accurate reading and can detect minor changes in body weight (though it should be pointed out that weighing a horse daily will likely reveal fluctuations due to fecal loss rather than true weight). Although most horse owners do not have access to scales, they are fairly common at equine veterinary clinics and research facilities. Also, many feed companies own portable scales and can bring them to your facility to accurately assess your horse’s weight and to find out how much of their product you need.

If you run a relatively large boarding facility or have mares and foals whose weights you’d like to keep track of (because growth of foals should be monitored closely), a scale is a wise investment. An equine scale can be purchased for approximately $3,000. Because of the need for some kind of weight estimate in horses (for determining the amount of feed, de-wormer medication, etc.), several research groups have identified equations to estimate body weight using body measurements such as heart girth and body length. Body length is measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock. Heart girth is taken around the midsection, behind the elbow, and beyond the highest part of the withers. Weight (kg) = [(heart girth) x (heart girth) x (body length)] / 11,990 where heart girth and body length are measured in centimeters or Weight (lbs) = [(heart girth) x (heart girth) x (body length)] / 330 where heart girth and body length are measured in inches.

It is also possible to get a reasonable estimate of body weight from heart girth alone, which has given rise to the popularity of “weigh tapes.” Readily available for purchase at most tack and feed stores, these tapes are placed around the heart girth area. Incremental weights have been printed directly on the tape to give a rapid estimate. ONLINE TOOL: Adult Horse Weight Calculator The calculation of body weight (from both body length and heart girth) tends to be a little more accurate than using the heart girth alone (from a weigh tape), simply because differences in body length can greatly affect weight. For example, the weight of a horse with a long body would be underestimated if determined by heart girth alone. Calculations specific for estimating the weight of growing horses are more complicated, and a scale is recommended to monitor growth rates in these horses. Weight determination in growing horses is more important for ensuring smooth, consistent growth patterns than for ideal “body weight” with respect to fat coverage. Rapidly growing foals can be prone to developmental problems and orthopedic diseases such as epiphysitis or osteochondritis dissecans.

Measuring “Condition” While important in determining your horse’s overall nutrient requirements, knowing how much your horse weighs still doesn’t tell you if it is too fat, too thin, or in good overall condition with respect to fat coverage. There are a few ways to estimate condition or overall adiposity (amount of fat cover) in horses. One way is through physical examination of the horse and assigning it a subjective score of adiposity. Other more quantitative means include those derived from direct measurement of the animal. Henneke Scoring Since the 1980s, veterinarians and horse owners alike have been using the Henneke Body Condition Scoring (BCS) system to estimate fat coverage of horses. This system uses a scale of 1 through 9, determining body weight and ideal condition where 1 represents an extremely emaciated horse and 9 represents a grossly obese one. Areas of the body that are examined include the shoulder and elbow region, the ribs, the withers, the loin and tailhead region, and the crest of the neck. Occasionally some people will use a 0–5 or 1–5 scale instead of the 1–9 Henneke scale.

These scales would follow the sample principles in which the higher number refers to a fatter animal. The 1–5 scale is commonly used to evaluate dogs and cats as well as dairy cattle and swine. Using the Henneke scale, a horse in good general condition whose ribs cannot be seen but can be easily felt is assessed as a 5. Table 1 shows the correlation between the condition score numbers and the expected condition of the various assessed areas: Table 1: Body Condition Scores Difficult to feel ribs due to excessive fat cover Crease down back due to bulging fat on either side of spine The scale is useful because it is easy to learn, but there are several drawbacks. For instance, it is very subjective; one horse owner might label a horse a 3 while another might label it a 2 or 2.5. This discrepancy generally isn’t an issue unless different people are keeping records. For example, if it wasn’t known that different people were scoring the horses, one might assume a horse has suddenly lost or gained weight. It is also difficult to use the scale when tracking a horse over time to observe small changes in body condition score.

In this case, careful record keeping and photos can be helpful to monitor body condition score changes with dietary management. Another problem with the Henneke system is that not all horses follow the chart smoothly. For example, some horses may carry more weight around their ribs but won’t have much coverage along the hind end. Therefore, it is possible for a horse to be a 6 at the ribs but only a 4.5 or 5 in another region. In these kinds of situations, owners and clinicians must average the entire body’s scores to obtain the horse’s true overall score. Cresty Neck Scores Researchers in Virginia have established a similar subjective scoring system for the neck region, as horses with a so-called “cresty neck” appear to be more prone to metabolic dysfunctions such as insulin resistance. The cresty neck scores (CNS) range from 0 to 5, where 0 indicates no visible appearance of a crest (no fleshy region along the mane) and 5 signifies a crest so large it droops to one side. Most horses will have some tissue coverage along the crest (in the 1–2 range), and horses with more fat coverage will be in the 3–4 range.

A score of 3 or higher would be considered a “cresty neck” (Carter et al., 2009a). It is rare to see horses with a score of 5 and a drooping neck, though it is fairly common in miniature donkeys. Ideally, horses should have a cresty neck score of less than 3. Quantitative Measures of Adiposity Because estimates of fat coverage are subjective, researchers have been investigating more objective and quantitative measures of adiposity. For example, in humans the body mass index (BMI) is well-established to compare body weight with height to give an indication for overall fat mass. Human BMI = [Weight (lbs) x 703] / [Height (inches) x Height (inches)] A human BMI less than 18.5 is considered underweight, 18.5–24.9 is normal weight, 25–29.9 is overweight, and a score over 30 is considered obese.

The waist-to-hip ratio (waist circumference divided by hip circumference) is another measure of body fat in humans and is particularly important as abdominal fat is believed to be more associated with health concerns than general subcutaneous fat (located just below the skin). Similar ratios have been derived in horses. The girth-to-height ratio (G:H or girth divided by height) has been shown to be useful to estimate overall adiposity in horses and is well correlated to body condition scores. One study that examined these measurements (Carter et al., 2009a) found that horses and ponies had different ranges of girth-to-height ratios associated with obesity. Another quantitative means of measuring fat coverage is with an ultrasound. A veterinarian or trained technician can measure “rump fat” on the horse’s hind end using the ultrasound probe at a point 5 cm lateral from the midline of the animal at the midpoint of the pelvic bone (Kearns et al., 2002). The amount of rump fat is measured in centimeters.

Then, the percentage of body fat in the animal can be calculated (Kane et al., 1987): % Body Fat = 2.47 + [5.47 (Rump fat in centimeters)] For example, if the rump fat is 3 cm, then the total percentage of body fat is 18.88% (3 cm x 5.47 = 16.41, + 2.47 = 18.88). Most lean horses would have body fat percentages in the range of 8–14%, while horses with excess body fat would likely have values in the 16–30% range. It should be noted that this equation to determine body fat was only assessed in a couple of breeds of horses and may not be applicable to all body types. Nonetheless, rump fat (measured in cm) is still a useful measure of adiposity and can be monitored over time. Ideal Weight? So what is the ideal body score or level of adiposity in horses? At this point, veterinarians and nutritionists aren’t certain.

Most horse owners, veterinarians, and nutritionists agree that, in general, a leaner animal is healthier (within reason). In this sense, a horse with a body condition of 5 is generally considered to be in good condition. However, in some cases a leaner or fatter condition may be desired, as described below. Determining an ideal weight for a horse is difficult, in part due to vast breed differences affecting bone and musculature. Muscle accounts for more than 50% of body weight in most athletic horses (and is usually still around 45% in non-athletic horses), compared to 30% to 40% in other species. As in humans, muscle weighs more than fat; therefore, a muscled horse will weigh more than a fat one for a given height and body type. Thus, it is difficult to make claims such as a 16-hand horse should weigh 500 kg. In reality, based on breed differences a 16-hand horse may weigh anywhere between 450 and 550 kg. This is another reason why body condition scores are useful.

Horses with body condition scores equal to or greater than 7 are considered overweight, while those with scores equal to or greater than 8 are considered obese. In terms of the girth-to-height ratios, a horse would be considered overweight if the G:H was 1.26 and obese if the G:H was greater than 1.29. A pony would be considered overweight if the G:H was 1.33 and obese if the G:H was 1.38 (Carter et al., 2009a). In domestic species such as dogs and cats, it is well established that leaner animals live longer and healthier lives. One study in dogs found those that consumed 25% less food than their counterparts lived significantly longer (1.8 years) and had lower incidences of chronic disease (Kealy et al., 2002). It is unknown if horses fare the same way, though it isn’t unreasonable to speculate that a horse with a body condition score of 4 may be very healthy. In fact, a leaner body condition score may be ideal for a horse with any kind of chronic lameness, as the amount of body weight on the limbs would be less.

In some cases it might be wise for a horse to have a slightly higher body condition score. The original work by Henneke studied reproductive efficiency in mares and found that mares with more condition (higher BCS) had higher conception rates than their leaner counterparts. So, it may be wise to keep a broodmare at a slightly higher condition (for example, around a BCS of 6), though keeping any horse at a body condition score greater than 7 may increase the risk of metabolic issues. It may also be recommended that older horses be kept in higher condition (BCS 6). As the ability to maintain weight during disease or times of stress becomes increasingly difficult with increasing age, having a bit of a “buffer” in body weight could be beneficial. However, the overall health of the animal should be taken into consideration, as an older horse with arthritis or a history of laminitis may do better without the excess weight. Only a few studies have reported body conditions of performing horses. It has been reported that horses competing in endurance events are more successful with more condition.

Specifically, horses entered in the 100-mile Tevis Cup successfully completed 20 miles more with each additional body condition score; for example, a horse with a score of 4 averaged 20 miles more than a horse with a score of 3. Horses with body condition scores less than 3 did not finish the race (Garlinghouse and Burrill, 1999). From this it would be taken that endurance horses should be kept in moderate condition (BCS 4–5). Most racehorses are reported to be in the 3.5–5 range, though it is unknown how this relates to overall performance. Pagan and coworkers (2009) reported body condition scores in sporthorses and found that pony hunters had average scores of 7; dressage, hunters, and jumpers had average scores ranging from 5.5–6.5; and polo horses were close to 5. Horse owners should work with their veterinarians and trainers to determine the ideal body condition for their horse and discipline, as serious consequences can result when a horse is too thin or too fat. However, prior to discussing health concerns regarding weight management, the concept of energy balance must be introduced.

About the Author Summary When examining horses for conformation, either when considering a purchase or competing in horse judging contests, it is important to break things down into key principles to avoid becoming overwhelmed when putting the overall picture together. There are five main criteria to evaluate when examining a horse's conformation: balance, structural correctness, way of going, muscling, and breed/sex character (also known as type). Balance is arguably the most critical aspect to evaluate when examining the horse. Balance is essential for both quality of movement and performance in any event, and is determined by the horse's bone structure. Balance refers to equal distribution of muscling and weight from the front of the horse to the back of the horse, from its top to its bottom and from side to side. However, balance is not determined by the horse's weight but instead by proper angles and proportions of different parts of the body. In other words, a horse can be light bodied or heavy bodied and still be balanced if its bone structure allows for equal distribution of that weight. Proper balance enables the horse to carry itself in a manner to allow for easy maneuverability, greater power and smoother movement. Structural correctness is critical for soundness as well as correct and clean movement.

This is determined by proper structure and alignment of bone, particularly pertaining to the legs. Structural correctness is tied very closely to balance and influences the way a horse moves. Way of going, also known as tracking, refers to the way the horse moves. The horse is evaluated both for cleanness and quality of movement. Muscling is also a consideration when evaluating the horse, though not nearly as important as balance and structural correctness. The quantity, quality and distribution of the muscle are evaluated when looking at the horse from its sides, front and back. Breed and sex character (i.e., “type”) refers to how well a horse represents its particular breed and sex. Most breeds have unique qualities by which they can be identified. Judging a horse by its type refers to judging how well it resembles the ideal horse of that breed. This may or may not be important depending on the expectations of the horse. Horses competing in many performance events do not necessarily have to represent a breed or sex well to be competitive. However, for horses competing in halter events this criteria is important. How to Evaluate if the Horse is Balanced Figure 1: Ideal balance in the horse. All solid white lines are roughly equal in length.

The dashed white line (length of topline) is shorter than the dashed purple line (length of underline). The first priority when looking at a horse is to determine if it is balanced. To begin with, the horse should carry equal weight on his front end and back end and on his topline and underline. This is determined by the skeletal structure of the horse allowing for correct proportion of the horse's parts. The neck, shoulder, back and hip should all be approximately equal lengths and the horse's topline should be shorter than its underline (Figure 1). Figure 2: The horse on the top represents good conformation — the topline is shorter than the underline. The horse on the bottom represents a horse with a long, weak back — the topline and underline are similar lengths. A common flaw that negatively affects the horse's balance is a back that is long in relation to the neck and hip. An important ratio to consider when analyzing balance is the ratio of the topline to the underline. The topline is measured from the withers to the point of coupling. The underline is measured from a point under the belly between the horse's front legs to a point roughly even with the stifle (Figure 2).

The topline should always be shorter than the underline in a balanced horse. A longer topline indicates that the horse has a long, weak back, which is often problematic due to long backs having weaker muscling. Longer back length also makes it difficult for the horse to bring its hind legs up under its body when it moves. The hind legs reaching under the body are the source of power for the horse to move forward and also allow the horse to maneuver and adjust easily. If a horse is unable to bring its hind legs well underneath its body, more weight must be carried on its front end, thereby reducing its power and maneuverability as well as leading to a more jarring impact for the rider. Figure 3: The horse on the top represents a balanced horse with roughly equal hip and wither height. The horse on the bottom represents a "downhill" horse with withers much lower than hips. Another important yet easy to determine criterion of balance is hip and wither height. Hip and wither height should be approximately the same. Often, a horse can be slightly "uphill," or higher at the withers, without being penalized.

If a horse is "downhill," or lower at the withers than at the hip, the horse will carry more weight on its front end and lack maneuverability and driving power from behind (Figure 3). Carrying too much weight on the forehand can also lead to future lameness of the front legs. However, when evaluating young horses, it is important to remember that they will grow faster at the hip than at the withers; therefore, a young horse (e.g., horses showing in weanling, yearling, or 2-year-old classes) may be downhill as it is growing but may catch up as it reaches maturity. Figure 4: Depth of heart girth is a measure of body capacity. Ideally, the depth of heart girth (white solid line) is roughly the same as the distance from the chest floor to the ground (blue dashed line) and should be greater than depth of flank (solid red line). Another consideration that can be grouped with balance is depth of heart girth. Depth of heart girth is not quite as critical to a horse's balance but is considered in this section since it is an important measure of the body's capacity to house the heart, lungs and other vital organs.

It is desirable for the horse to have a deep heart girth. When drawing a line from the withers to the chest floor, this length should be approximately the same as the distance from the chest floor to the ground and should be greater than depth of flank (Figure 4). Proportions to consider when determining balance Figure 5: Evaluation of shoulder slope. The horse on the top has a more ideal shoulder with an approximately 45-degree angle. The horse on the left has a much steeper, straighter shoulder, which can lead to more jarring movement and shorter stride length. When determining whether a horse is balanced, it is important to examine certain ratios and angles of the body. The slope of the horse's shoulder is one of the most crucial aspects to consider. The slope of the shoulder ties in closely with many other body parts and proportions, such as length of back and neck. The slope of the shoulder measures the angle of the horse's scapula and is commonly measured from the top of the scapula near the withers to the point of the shoulder.

If a line is drawn from the top of the scapula near the to the point of the shoulder and another line is drawn through the top of the scapula near the perpendicular to the ground, the ideal shoulder angle is approximately 45 degrees (Figure 5). The slope of the shoulder directly influences the horse's stride length and smoothness. Too straight of a shoulder causes the horse to not be able to easily extend its front legs and therefore have a very short, jarring stride. Horses with a nicely sloped shoulder have a free flowing, smooth, long stride since they are able to reach farther with their front legs. Figure 6a Figure 6b Figure 6c The shape and tie-in points of the neck also influence the shoulder. The horse in figure 6a ties in high (white arrow) while the horse in figure 6b ties in low, giving it a heavier and less refined neck. Also, figure 6c shows a desirable 2:1 topline to underline ratio of the horse's neck, whereas the horse in figure 6b has almost a 1:1 ratio, contributing to a straighter shoulder and lower tie in.

The slope of the shoulder greatly influences the look of the horse's neck. A horse with a steep shoulder often has withers that tie into the neck much farther forward than a horse with a good shoulder slope, which leads to a shorter neck topline and a longer back. Such a horse will typically have a shorter stride coupled with more weight on its front end due to its longer back. A short neck is typically an undesirable characteristic because it causes the horse to lack flexibility of the neck, as well as typically being associated with a steep shoulder angle. Another important consideration when examining the horse's neck and shoulder is the point where the neck ties into the chest at the shoulder. It is preferred that the horse's neck tie in high to its chest to allow for greater slope to the shoulder and a neater, more refined neck. If the horse's neck ties in low, the neck tends to be much heavier at the base and the shoulder is usually straighter (Figure 6). How the neck ties in to the shoulder also tends to also influence the shape of the horse's neck. An important ratio to consider when evaluating a horse's conformation is the ratio of the top of the neck to the bottom of the neck.

The topline of the neck is measured from the poll to the withers and the underline is measured from the throatlatch to the shoulder junction. The ideal ratio would be a 2:1 topline:underline ratio. This allows the horse to have a more sloped shoulder since the withers will be set back well behind the point of the shoulder and also allows the horse to flex at the poll and carry his neck in a slight arch (Figure 6a). A horse that has a longer underline than topline is said to be "ewe necked." This is a very undesirable conformation trait as it typically is associated with a straight shoulder and a lack of ability to flex and lower the head. Figure 7: A horse with a refined throatlatch. The distance from the poll to the underside of the jaw is less than the distance from the poll to the muzzle. One other ratio that is important to consider when looking at the horse's neck is the ratio of the throatlatch to the length of the head. The throatlatch is measured from the poll to the windpipe and should be roughly half the length of the head as measured from the poll to the muzzle.

If the throatlatch is longer and thicker than this, it restricts the horse from flexing at the poll. Horses with deep, coarse throatlatches can possibly have trouble breathing when asked to flex their head towards their chest. This also detracts from a refined show quality appearance. Figure 8: A closer look at hip angles. The horse on the left has a desirable hip with a nice turn and good length. The horse on the right has a very short, steep hip. Finally, the length and turn of the hip is also critical to a horse's athletic ability. In general, larger hips are better since they provide more power and musculature to propel the horse forward and carry its weight. Almost all disciplines of riding have maneuvers that require power and adjustability. The larger and better shaped the hip is, the more power the horse will have. A horse's hip should be approximately the same length as its back. It is also important to consider the way the hip is shaped. The horse should ideally have a "nicely turned" hip and croup. The slope of the hip should be roughly the same as the slope of the shoulder.

A horse with too flat of a hip will have trouble bringing its hind legs under itself, while one with too steep of a hip (a "goose rump") will lack the range of motion to provide power to the horse's movement. Additionally, the hip should tie in low to the gaskin muscling (muscling of the upper leg). How important is the head when looking at balance? Figure 9: The horse on the top has an ideal head. Note the distance between the eyes and the position of the eyes relative to the head. The horse on the bottom has a head that is too narrow for its length. The major function of the head, apart from essential purposes such as breathing, eyesight, etc., is to serve as a pendulum to balance the horse as it moves; therefore, it is critical for the head to be proportionally sized to the rest of the horse's body. The horse's head is heavier in proportion to the length of its neck than any other animal in the world and weighs, on average, 40 pounds. If the neck is the proper length and the head is proportionally sized to the rest of the body, it can function as a balancing aid for the horse's movement.

A classic example of this is the lame horse "head bobbing." When a horse has lameness or injury to a front leg, it limps by using its head to pull his body upwards; it lifts its head and pulls in the opposite direction of the injured leg. When it is lame in a hind leg, it will limp by lowering its head and pulling in the opposite direction of the back leg. In both instances, the head is acting as a pendulum to take weight off of the injured leg. Since the horse uses its head for balance, it is critical that the weight of the head be in proportion to the body. When a horse has too large and heavy a head, it tends to be unable to move weight off of its front end and therefore lacks in athletic ability. Although the "ideal" head will vary somewhat among breeds, a few basic principles pertaining to the size and shape of the head are fairly universal. The distance from the poll to the midpoint between the eyes should be half the distance from the midpoint of the eyes to the midpoint of the nostrils. In other words, the eye will be positioned at about one-third of the distance from the poll to the nostrils.

Also, the width of the horse's head from the outside of one eye to the outside of the other should be approximately the same length as the distance from the poll to a horizontal line drawn between the eyes. This width is important to provide room for the brain and also for sinuses, tear ducts and breathing canals located beneath the skull, as well as being aesthetically appealing. Figure 10: The horse on the top has a nicely shaped, refined head. The horse on the bottom has a slight Roman nose. Common structural characteristics of the head that are generally faulted are the Roman nose and the platter jaw. A Roman nose describes a condition in which the front of the horse's face is rounded outwards as opposed to being flat (Figure 10). This usually does not affect the use of the horse other than it is not as attractive and often adds weight to the horse's head. A platter jaw is condition that describes excessively large jaws on the horse. It also detracts from a refined look and is undesirable because it adds weight and interferes with the horse's ability to flex at the poll. Other important considerations when examining the head are nostril size and eye size and shape.

Nostrils should be large and round to allow maximum intake of air when the horse is working hard and breathing heavily. It is also desirable for the horse to have large, dark eyes set far apart and to the outside of the head to allow for good vision. It is important to understand the horse's field of vision in order to understand why eye placement and size is important. Horses have more developed monocular vision than binocular vision. The horse sees a different picture out of each eye (monocular vision) very well but has more limited binocular vision (seeing the same picture in both eyes of what is directly in front of it). Because of these factors, horses with small eyes or eyes that are too close together are faulted because their field of vision may be more limited. Figure 11: The horse’s field of vision. While it is important to be able to evaluate the horse's head, both for proportionality as well as refinement, it is equally important to recognize that the head is not as critical as other previously discussed proportions when determining balance. Refinement and attractiveness of the head should never take precedence over other measures of balance or structural correctness.

How to Evaluate Structural Correctness After examining the horse for balance, a close second in importance is structural correctness. A horse's structural correctness is mainly determined by the structure and position of the bones in the legs. This is critical because the horse's legs take incredible impact in most riding disciplines. Any conformational flaw causes deviations in where the horse absorbs concussion. Conformational defects affect the horse's way of moving and can also lead to future lameness due to excessive stress placed on certain areas of the body during athletic movements. A horse carries approximately 65 percent of its weight on its front legs, thereby making the front legs the most likely area for injuries resulting from trauma or concussion. Conformational defects cause deviations in the way the horse moves and places its hooves on the ground, and therefore affects the way impact travels up the leg. The more structurally correct the horse's legs are, the more evenly distributed the impact will be and the less likely the horse will be to have chronic or acute injuries. Front leg conformation Figure 12: Conformation of the front leg as viewed from the front. Ideal conformation is represented by the horse farthest to the left. All other diagrams represent undesirable structural conformation of the front legs.

When analyzing the conformation of the horse's legs, it is important to examine the horse from a side view, a front view and a hind view. When observing the front legs from a front view (facing the horse), one should be able to draw a straight line from the point of the shoulder to the ground that bisects the leg exactly in half (Figure 12). The hoof and knee should point forward and be bisected in half by the line. The width of the hooves at the sole should be roughly the same as the width of the legs as they originate from the chest. Deviations from this cause extra strain to be placed on different regions of the legs. It is important to understand that all of these conformational defects can lead to lameness and blemishes because they cause excessive pressure to be centered on a certain area of the legs. For example, base narrow horses are predisposed to landing on the outside of their hoof wall. This increase in pressure on the outside of the hoof wall can lead to conditions such as ringbone, sidebone and heel bruising. At the opposite extreme, base wide horses tend to toe out.

This causes weight to be distributed more on the inside of the horse's hoof and also predisposes them to ringbone and sidebone. Deviations of the knee (bowlegs, knock knees, etc.) cause increased strain on this joint and the ligaments and tendons attached to it. Knock knees (knees set to the inside) tend to also be associated with pigeon toes and therefore additionally have rotation of either the cannon bone, fetlock or pastern. This causes extreme pressure to be placed on the point of rotation. All of these deviations cause an unequal line of concussion. The concussion from every stride the horse takes causes an impact to travel up the leg unequally. The area that absorbs more of the concussion is more likely to be damaged. Figure 13: Conformation of the front leg when viewed from the side. When examining the horse's legs, the horse should also be viewed from the side (Figure 13). A straight line should be able to be drawn from the center of the scapula through the front edge of the knee and bisect the hoof.

Structural deviations that may be observed are "camping out" and "camping under." A horse that is "camped out" will stand with its legs too far in front of it, causing excessive pressure to be placed on the hooves as well as the knee and fetlock joints. These joints must almost bend backwards for the horse to stand in this position. This stance can be due to conformational defects or sometimes are an indication of hoof pain, such as navicular. The horse that is "camped under" will stand with its legs too far underneath it, causing increased strain to be placed on the ligaments and tendons of the leg. It also causes the horse to carry too much weight on its front end, which can cause lameness due to stress and also causes the horse to have a short, choppy stride and potential stumbling. It is important to recognize that the way the horse is standing greatly influences this view from the side. Be sure the horse is standing naturally and squarely before concluding that it is either naturally camped out or camped under. Many horses will stand this way simply because they are not correctly stood up by the handler.

Two other conditions that may be observed from the side of the horse are calf knees (back at the knee) and buck knees ("knee sprung" or over at the knees). If the line does not bisect the knee but instead is to the front of the knee (i.e., the knee looks as if it is bending the wrong way), the horse is considered calf kneed. This is typically considered to be the more problematic of the two faults since it causes excessive strain on the back ligaments and tendons of the leg as well as pressure on the front of the carpal joint, making the horse more prone to carpal arthrosis. If the line is in back of the knee (i.e., the knee looks like it is bent even when the horse is fully bearing weight on the leg), the horse is considered "over at the knees" or "buck kneed," a condition that also distributes pressure unequally over the leg. Hind leg conformation Figure 14: Conformation of the hind legs as viewed from behind. The horse farthest to the left represents ideal conformation while the others represent commonly seen structural flaws.

The horse's hind legs should also be examined for structural deviations by viewing them both from the side and from behind the horse. When facing the hindquarters of the horse from behind (standing behind the horse looking at its tail) one should be able to draw a straight line from the horse's buttock through both its hock and fetlock (Figure 14). The hooves on the back leg will not be as straight as the front hooves; it is normal for these to point slightly outward. Problems associated with horses that are either cow hocked or base narrow include additional stress placed on the leg and joints (bog and bone spavins can be associated with cow hocks), as well as potential interference when the horse moves due to part of the legs being closer together than normal. Horses that are bow legged have the opposite condition of cow-hocked horses. Bow legged and base wide horses often have trouble being able to properly use and push off of their hind legs and therefore can lack the athletic ability of a horse with proper conformation. Figure 15: Conformation of the hind legs as viewed from the side. Illustration B represents a horse with sickle hocks (too much bend).

Illustration D represents a post-legged horse. When examining a horse's hind legs from a side view with the horse standing squarely, you should be able to draw a line perpendicular to the ground that touches the point of the horse's rump cheek, the back of the hock and the back of the fetlock (Figure 15). This conformation of the hind leg allows the horse to carry weight well over its hindquarters and reach under itself as it moves to allow for maximum power. A horse that is sickle hocked has too much angle, or "set," to its hocks. A horse with sickle hocks will look like it has too much bend at the hock when standing squarely. When the hock angle looks normal on a sickle-hocked horse, the hind legs will often be farther behind the horse than they should be (camped out). This puts extreme stress on the hock joint and surrounding tendons and ligaments and can lead to conditions such as curbed hocks, bog spavin and bone spavin. Horses that have the opposite conformation of a sickle-hocked horse are said to be post legged. These horses have extremely straight angles to their hocks.

This puts extreme strain on the hock and can also cause bog spavins and bone spavins. Lower leg conformation Fast Facts Fast Facts Fast Facts The Nature of Horses The English-speaking world measures the height of horses in hands, abbreviated "h" or "hh"; one hand is equivalent to 4 inches. Horses are measured at the highest point of an animal's withers (at the base of the neck). A horse described as 15.2 hh tall is 15 hands, 2 inches (62 inches). A horse can rest and even doze while standing by locking one of its hind legs at the stifle joint (basically, the knee). A group of ligaments and tendons called the stay apparatus holds the leg in place with minimal muscle involvement. Horses will switch from leg to leg to prevent fatigue in the locked leg. A female horse is called a mare and a male horse is called a stallion. In the wild, the mare decides when the herd moves on and usually only one stallion will stay with a herd. Horses live in well-structured groups with clear followers and leaders.

Without any human training, horses will line up behind a lead mare according to their rank in the herd, usually with a stallion guarding the rear. A person who makes horse shoes and fits them onto the horses is called a farrier. Farriers also clip hooves, which grow like fingernails, to keep them from getting overgrown, as well as caring for hooves more generally. The famous mustangs of the American West, like many other "wild" populations, are actually considered feral, descended from escaped domesticated horses. The only truly wild horses live in Mongolia: the Przewalski. The Przewalski horse of Mongolia was declared extinct in the wild in the late 1960s. Thanks to an existing captive breeding program, a group was reintroduced to the wild in 1992, and has now successfully reproduced. The Origin of Horses The horse evolved 55 million years ago. A close, early relative of the horse is Hyracotherium, also known as an eohippus. The size of a large fox, Hyracotherium stood 10 inches high at its shoulders and had four toes on its front feet and three on its back.

The only surviving branch of the horse family is the genus Equus, which includes zebras, asses, and donkeys along with the horse. Rhinoceroses and tapirs are the horse's closest living relatives outside the horse family. As horses adapted to eating tough grasses, their teeth became tougher too. Longer teeth evolved that could wear down without wearing out. The first domesticated horses were probably kept primarily as a source of food, rather than for work or for riding. During the Han dynasty, the Chinese mounted an expedition to Fergana, in present-day Uzbekistan, to acquire superior horses. Fergana horses were famous for sweating blood--a mystery now thought to be caused by parasites under their skin. Kazakh horse herders milk mares and ferment the milk to make koumiss, a mildly alcoholic drink thought to have healthful properties. Horses At Work In 1532, 168 Spanish soldiers, 62 on horseback, faced off against 80,000 Inca on foot in western South America and captured the emperor, Atahuallpa. To protect against the poison gases used in World War I, both soldiers and horses wore gas masks.

Horses' noses were covered but their eyes were not, since they could tolerate the poisons better than humans. Though cavalry charges are now a thing of the past, there are still places where a horse is more useful than a truck. In 2002, for example, during the war in Afghanistan, some U.S. Special Forces rode horses in areas where the rugged terrain and lack of fuel made auto transport impractical. In 1900, around 130,000 horses worked in Manhattan--more than ten times the number of yellow cabs on the streets of New York City today. A typical city horse produced up to 45 pounds (20 kilograms) of manure and 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of urine a day. In April 1860, a new postal service called the Pony Express was launched. With railroads handling the eastern leg and horsemen racing day and night across the west, from Missouri to California, the Pony Express could get a letter from coast to coast in just 10 days for just five dollars, later reduced to one dollar.

Prior to this, the fastest way to get a letter cross-country was still by horse-drawn stagecoach, which took 25 days or more. How to Measure a Horse. The Horse Height & Weight | Local Riding Search How to Measure a Horse. The Horse Height & Weight How To Measure a Horses Height and Weight … All horse owners should know how to measure a horse and especially how to estimate your horses weight and specify its height. Your horses weight measurement should be used to calculate how much feed it needs as well as dosage for worming and other medications. Knowing your horses’ height is very important if you are considering selling your horse or entering some classes of equestrian competition, particularly showing classes. Horse heights conversion table : Horses and ponies are measured in either hands high (hh) or centimetres (cms). The decimal centimetre measurement being the more modern way to measure a horse but quite a few horse owners struggle to compare the two measurements. So, we thought a horse measurement conversion chart would come in handy : Hands 180 Table 13-17.3 – Horse Height Conversion Hands and cms A hand is equal to 4 inches or 10.2cms.

You should measure your horse from the point of the withers to the ground. A horse that is 61 inches tall is 15.1 hands or 15 hands and 1 inch or 15.1hh. This is calculated using (61/4 = 15.25); the .25 is the decimal equivalent of one quarter and a quarter of 4 = 1; so 15.1hh. Alternatively, to calculate the centimetre height either mulitply 61 inches by 2.54 which equals apprx 155cms or divide 61 by 4 and then multiply by 10.2 which again equals approximately 155cms. A pony is 14.2 hands or less at the withers. Calculating your horses weight is a little more complicated : Knowing your horses weight, at least approximately, can be very helpful for such simple things as calculating feed amounts and knowing how much wormer to administer. As it’s not easy to find a weighing machine or scale big enough to accommodate your horse, there are several ways of calculating a horse’s approximate weight.

Of course, if you have a farmer friend or have access to livestock scales, then use those for a truly accurate measurement. The following two methods are among the most common approximation methods and provide a good idea of your horses weight. 1. Height and Weight Tapes : Probably the most common method people use to estimate their horses weight is to buy and use a height/weight tape. You simply wrap the tape around your horses girth (aka "heart girth") and read the estimated weight on the tape. The height and weight tape has been available for many years and horse owners generally feel they are very reliable. They usually come complete with instructions on how to use them. You can find low cost examples on ebay and other online stores. 2. Measuring your horses’ weight using a standard inch tape … Another way to estimate your horses weight is to use a standard inch tape to measure its girth and length. Then, simply perform the following calculation: (((heart-girth x heart-girth) x body-length) divided by 300) + 50 = weight. How to take the horse weight measurements : Step 1.

Measuring Heart Girth To measure your horses heart girth, measure (in inches) from the base of the withers down to a couple of inches behind your horses front legs, then under the belly and up the opposite side to where you started. The tape measure should run at an angle as shown by the yellow line in the image on the right. This measurement is your horses heart girth. Step 2. Measuring Body Length To measure your horses body length, measure (in inches) from the point of the shoulder to the point of the hip. Your tape measure should run at an angle as shown by the yellow line in the image. The measurement you take is your horses body length. Step 3. The calculation Multiply the heart-girth by the heart-girth Multiply the above result by the body-length Divide this result by 300 then add 50 The result is your horses aprroximate body weight. Practical Use & Testing We were curious to know if a height/weight tape would give the same estimated weight for a horse as calculating weight with the manual heart girth and length calculation. We tried both methods on the same horse and you can see the results we came up with below.

How close will the results be for each method : Any method that doesn’t actually use a calibrated weight scale is always going to be a rough approximation based on accepted norms, generalities and averages. ie, the average 15.2hh cob type has a heavy chest and shoulders, so will weigh between x and y. The 15.2hh thoroughbred is finely built and will be light for its height. Both methods should be reasonably close but the answers will vary depending on how close your horse is to the average horse. The height and weight tape doesn’t factor in your horses body length and, as we all know, a tall horse can be short backed and a short horse can have a long body. So, we measured our 6 year old, 16.3hh (170cms) thoroughbred warmblood cross. She’s a big girl and well covered due to the wet summer, hot autumn and plentiful grass.

The height/weight tape gave us a value between 1320lbs (600kgs) and 1380lbs (627kgs) Measuring by hand we calculated (((70×70)x75)/300)+50 = 1275lbs (580kgs) Close enough to reassure us that we’re feeding correctly and using the correct dose of horse wormer . To get any closer to the true weight of your horse you need access to a livestock scale.

Question: What is the point at the base of a horse’s neck to which the horse’s height is measured?
Answer: Withers