How Tall Is A Horse? Updated 2021

How Tall Is A Horse?

There are many variations with respect to height in the equine world. Different breeds of horses have different heights. However, with the help of proper measuring instrument we can calculate their average height. 

On an average, a horse is 14.2 to 15.2 hands.

Method of measurement of height of horses: 

The size of horses is measured with the help of height measuring stick or height tape. They are measured from their withers to hooves. They are not measured from head to toe. 

Unit of measurement: 

The unit of measurement of the height of horses is “hand”. Its abbreviation is “hh”. A hand is equal to 4 inches. The number after decimal is represented in inches. For example, a horse having height of 14.2 is 14 hands and 2 inches.

Different breeds of horses having different sizes: 

Average sized breeds of horses: 

These horses have average height. These include Quarter horses and Arabian horses.

Quarter horses: 

The Quarter horses are well known for covering short distances with greater speed. Their size ranges from 14 to 16 hands. 

Arabian horses:

The Arabian horses are specifically known for their endurance. Their size is approximately 15 hands.

Tall breeds of horses:

The racehorses have usually greater size. These include Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. 

Thoroughbreds:

Thoroughbreds are best known for covering longer distances with greater speed. Their size ranges from 15 to 17 hands. 

Standardbreds:

Standardbred horses are slightly heavier than Thoroughbred horses. Their size ranges from 14 to 17 hands.

Draft breeds: 

They are the tallest of all horses. These include Belgian horses, Percherons, Clydesdales and Shire horses.

Belgian horses: 

The Belgian horses are known for their calm nature. They are easy to handle. Their size is approximately 16 to 17 hands.

Percherons: 

Percherons are usually black or gray in colour. They are well known for their intelligence. Their size is approximately 16 to 17 hands. 

Clydesdales:

Clydesdales are known for their large size and calm nature. Their size is approximately 17 hands. 

Shire horses:

Shire horses are cold blooded and hard working. They are the largest draft horses. Their size ranges from 17 to 18 hands.

Small breeds of horses: 

They have small size. These include, Miniature horses, Falabella and Ponies.  

Miniature horses: 

They are friendly, gentle, calm and docile. They are known for their intelligence. Their size is approximately 8.5 hands.  

Falabella horses: 

They are known for their small size. They pass their calm nature towards their foals. Their size is approximately less than 8 hands. 

Ponies: 

They are small sized horses. They are known for their ability to travel in steep hills. Their size ranges from 9 to 14 hands.

How Tall Is A Horse?

Different breeds of horses have different sizes. Draft horses are the tallest. Some Quarter horses and Arabian horses have average size. Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds have greater size. Miniatures, Falabella and Ponies are the smallest. 

On an average, the size of horse ranges from 14.2 to 15.2 hands.

How Tall Is A Horse In Feet? 

On an average, the size of horse in feet ranges from 4ft to 5ft. This size can vary depending on the type of horses. The largest horses are draft horses including Clydesdales and Shire horses. The smallest horses are Miniature horses and Ponies.

How Tall Is A Horse

How Tall Is A Horse In Hands? 

“Hand” is the unit of measurement of the height of horses. Its abbreviation is hh and is equal to 4 inches. Their height is measured from their withers to hooves. The size is measured with the help of height measuring stick or tape. 

On an average, a horse is 14.2 to 15.2 hands tall. However this can vary depending upon the breed of horses. Certain draft horses have height greater than this average height and some Miniatures and Ponies have smaller heights.

How Tall Is A Horse In Cm? 

On an average, a horse is 147 to 157 cm tall. Some breeds like Quarter horses have average sizes. Thorugh breds have greater sizes. Draft horses have the highest sizes and Miniatures have the smallest sizes.

How Tall Is A Horse On Its Hind Legs?

When horse stands up on its hind legs then it is called as “Rearing”. On an average, a horse when standing on its hind legs is 11ft to 12ft tall. There are many factors affecting this height. These include, 

  • Height of the body from withers to hooves
  • Height of its neck
  • Height of hind legs 
  • Lastly of course the breed of horses. 

Draft horses are the tallest. Ponies are the smallest.

How Tall Is A Horse At The Head? 

The height of horse is measured from withers to hooves. They are not measured from head to toe because they continuously move their head so it’s difficult to get accurate results. On an average, a horse is 14.2 to 15.2 hands tall.

How Tall Is A Horse In Meters? 

On an average, a horse is 1.4 to 1.8 meters tall. Different breeds of horses have different sizes. Draft horses like Clydesdales, Belgian horses, Percherons and Shire horses are the tallest. On the other hand, smallest horses include Miniature horses, Flabella horses and Ponies.

How Tall Is A Horse That Is 16 Hands? 

A horse measuring 16 hands is 64 inches, 5 feet 4 inches, 162 centimeters and  1.62 meters tall. The standard unit of measurement is hand but we can also calculate in inches, centimeters, meters and feet.

How Tall Is A Horse That Is 15 Hands? 

A horse measuring 15 hands is 60 inches, 5 feet 1 inch, 152 centimeters and  1.52 meters tall. The horse’s height is measured from top of the withers to the bottom of hooves with the help of height measuring tape or stick.

How Tall Is A Horse In Inches? 

On an average, a horse is 58 to 62 inches tall. Some breeds have more than average height such as Draft horses. Some have less than average height such as Ponies.

How Tall Is A Horse At The Shoulder? 

The height of a horse is measured from the shoulder to the buttock. It is not measured from head to toe because of continuous movement exhibited by the head of horses. On an average, a horse is 14.2 to 15.2 hands tall. This can vary in Draft horses and Ponies.

How Tall Is A Horse And Rider?

For riding purposes, you should know which horse would be suitable for you with respect to its height. If your height is bigger than the height of your horse then it will cause great damage to the 

horse. If your horse’s height is bigger than yours then it will be difficult for you to handle your horse. The horse’s size depends on the weight of the rider and horse. The rider should weigh 15% of his horse’s weight

In addition, the size of the horse is ideal if its weight is 7 times more than the rider.

How Tall Is An Arabian Horse? 

Arabian horses are known for their great endurance. They have large muscular development. They are gentle, docile and calm. On an average, an Arabian horse is 15 hands tall.

How Tall Is A Baby Horse? 

A baby horse is approximately 27 to 29 inches tall. Baby horse or newborn horse is also called as foal. The foal starts walking after few hours of its birth.

How Tall Is A Belgian Horse In Feet? 

Belgian horses are Draft horses. They are known for their calm temperament. They are gentle and docile. They are easy going and easy to handle. Their size is approximately 5 feet.

How Tall Is A Horse

Conclusion: 

Horses are extremely versatile creatures. They vary in their weight, speed, weight carrying capacity, distance travelling ability as well as size. While measuring height of your horse, make sure to consider different breeds of horses having different sizes.

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