chance are if you read ads selling horses , or someone is tell apart you about theheight of their horse , they will expend the parole " hands " to express the measurement . For example , a very tall sawbuck might be 17 HH . A pony is an equine under 14.2 HH . " HH " or " H " endure for " hands mellow " or " hands . "
A hand is a measure whole for an equine ’s height that has been used for several centuries . The measurement may , in fact , decipher back to the ancient Egyptians . A script represents four in or approximately the breadth of a male adult ’s hand . However , horse are not exclusively measured in hand . In some country and for FEI competition , horses are measured in centimeters . pony , miniature horses , and other diminutive equines may also be measured in cm or in inches rather than mitt .
Hands and Other Measurements
Because one script is equal to four in , partial hands are expressed as decimal fraction . A horse that is 14.2 hand is 14 hands plus 2 column inch . The entire inches would be 58 inches : ( 14 x 4 ) + 2 . A cavalry could never be said to be 14.5 inches , as the number after the decimal is not a fraction , but represent an entire column inch . If a horse cavalry is 14.2 1/2 HH , that means he ’s two and one - half inch over 14 hands .
Horses are measured from the reason , just beside and behind a foreleg to the top of the withers ( shoulder ) . This is the one part of the horse ’s top line that does not switch whether he lower or raises his headspring or drops or curve his back . This is the standard position to appraise the height of a horse , no matter of what increments ( either hands or centimeter ) you apply , what rural area you are in , what correct your ride , or what strain of sawhorse or pony .
Tools
There are a few instruments that you could use to measure a buck ’s superlative . The most exact and easiest method is to use an equine height measuring control stick . This is a tall spliff stigmatise with inch measurements , with a horizontal bar that slides up and down the spliff . The stick is hold alongside the horse , and the horizontal bar is slid down until it impact the horse ’s withers . Some sticks have a tearing down house of cards , so you could be sure you are holding the stick level .
pinnacle tapes can be purchased inexpensively at feed or tack stores . The job with tapeline is that they are light and floppy , and are difficult to hold tight enough to get an accurate measuring . Someone has to hold the bottom against the ground , while another person eyes up the measure at the horse ’s withers . You ca n’t lie the mag tape against the horse . It must detain absolutely perpendicular to the primer coat . Often summit tape are printed with a exercising weight tape on the opposite side .
A regular tapeline cadence can also be used to valuate elevation but comes with the same problems as the height taping . to boot , metal tape bar make rattling noises horses sometimes object to , making it difficult to get the horse to tolerate still for a measurement .
Credit: Bob Langrish / Getty Images
believably the easiest homemade measuring equipment is a objet d’art of reaper binder twine tied to a large metal addict or washer . The weighting of the metal will hold the string steady , while the handler eyes up the withers and mark the string — a magic marking will do the trick here . Then the length from the bottom of the washing machine to the mark on the string is measure . Another trick is to use a yardstick , piece of lath , or even a whiplash to make it easier to get a line from the string to the withers . Just go for the yardstick so it is sitting on the horse ’s withers , parallel to the ground , and note where it hit the tape .
How to Measure
To evaluate your sawbuck , have it stand square on a degree open . Hold the tapeline or stick perpendicular to the ground and beside the horse , and even with the top point of the buck ’s withers . If you are using a proper measuring stick , lower the barroom , so it meet the top of the horse ’s withers . Take note of the measurement . If you’re able to only measure in column inch , divide the inches by 4 , and calculate the remaining inches . So , 62 in would be 15 hand plus 2 inches or 15.2 HH .
If the acme is the ascertain gene of whether your horse will compete in gymnastic horse or pony outcome , you may have to takehorseshoesinto account . Shoes can easily put a " pony " over the prescribed stature , and you necessitate to witness out if allowance are made for shodden pony . If you postulate a sawbuck of a specific height or need to qualify a horse ’s altitude , you ’ll need to know if the measurement includes place or not .
Credit: CasarsaGuru / Getty Images
