Hands

Traditionally the size of a horse is measured in hands, where a hand equals four inches. The measurement is taken at the withers of the horse.

Hands

So,

15 hands	= 15 x 4 = 60 inches = 5 feet
16.2 hands	= 16 x 4 + 2 = 66 inches = 5 feet 6

When is a Horse a Pony?

The accepted definition is that under 14.2 hands it's a pony, above 14.2 hands it's a horse. Of course you get ponies that grow more than expected and horses that don't, so it's far from a clear cut division and leads to many grey areas.

By tradition Polo ponies are always 'ponies' and Arabs are always 'horses'.

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Comments

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Maci 15th Nov 01

When you have a horse that is 14.2hh, is he a horse or pony?? Or does it all depend the breed?

jason 12th Dec 01

I have a 14.2 clydesdale welsh x and wonded if any one
new if he is a horse or a pony.

Linzi 11th Feb 02

14.2 hands would be classified as a pony =o)

Lydia 7th Mar 02

If i am 5'1, what height should the horse i ride be.About.

Gemma 18th Mar 02

To Jason.
My friend has a good definition if anyone asks whether her 14.2hh is a horse or a pony. she says that Sandy is either a teeny horse or a giant pony and leaves them with that.

Linda Addison 19th Mar 02

I think your ClydesdaleX could be classified as a small cob, if he's short-legged and chunky.

Sarah 18th Apr 02

To lydia...It will all depend on your wieght really. Ask your instructor. Look at the horses you ride in lessons. Breeds to.

Good luck!

Kerri 7th Aug 02

A 14.2hh would class as a pony and then a 14.3hh would class as a horse!
There are some exceptions though:
An Arab is always a horse (around 14.2hh - 15hh)
Icelandic's are always classed as a horse (around 12.3hh -13.2hh)
A Camargue is a horse (around 13.1hh -14.1hh)

A welsh Cob or Welsh Sec D is classed as a pony (around 14.2hh - 15.2hh)
Whatever their height, polo ponies are referred to as Ponies and not horses. (around 15.1hh)

P.s just a little fact about height:
One of the tallest horses on record was a percheron named Dr Le Gear. He stood 21hh or 7 feet!!

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