How to Measure Your Horse’s Height

Have you ever wondered exactly how tall your horse is? Well, next time you are going to the barn, bring a tape measure and find out for yourself!

When you get to the barn, get your horse and walk him to a flat surface (concrete or level dirt). Make sure your horse is standing squarely on all four feet.

Take out the tape measure and from the ground, pull the tape up to the highest point on your horse’s withers. Make sure the tape measure is perpendicular to the ground. Don’t pull the tape measure to meet the horse’s withers. Pull it straight up from the ground – your tape measure should be about 1 – 2 feet away from your horse’s withers.

Use a flat surface (like a small piece of wood, name plate, crop, book, etc) and place it on your horse’s withers to meet the tape measure. This way, you will get a very accurate measurement.

When you find the measurement, just match it up on the table below.

inches---feet---hands---meters
 56"-----4'-8----14------1.42
 57"-----4'-9----14.1----1.45
 58"-----4'-10---14.2----1.47
 59"-----4'-11---14.3----1.50
 60"-----5'-0----15------1.52
 61"-----5'-1----15.1----1.55
 62"-----5'-2----15.2----1.57
 63"-----5'-3----15.3----1.60
 64"-----5'-4----16------1.63
 65"-----5'-5----16.1----1.65
 66"-----5'-6----16.2----1.68
 67"-----5'-7----16.3----1.70
 68"-----5'-8----17------1.73
 69"-----5'-9----17.1----1.75
 70"-----5'-10---17.2----1.78
 71"-----5'-11---17.3----1.80
 72"-----6'-0----18------1.83

Also, keep in mind when your horse was last shod. This can have a pretty large impact, especially if you are aiming to hit that “14’2″ mark!

E. Landers
Round Pen