Kelly Bell

Kelly's knowledge of horses grew in local 4-H and open shows competing in Western pleasure, Western equitation, English Pleasure, English Equitation, Trail, Showmaship and Halter classes. Kelly competed with two horses over her showing career; a sorrel Quarter Horse mare, Double D Fashion and a Sorrel Overo Paint mare, Little Partee Sis.

Published on 05/12/2006

A horse's height is measure in hands. Hand measurements are broken down into inches, where one hand equals 4 inches (10 centimetres).

Horse Height

A horse's height is measure in hands. It is measured from the highest point of the withers to the ground. Hand measurements are broken down into inches, where one hand equals 4 inches (10 centimetres).

1 Hand = 4 inches

To measure a horse, it will be necessary to convert any metric measurements into inches. To convert from centimetres to inches multiply by 0.394.

For example: A horse that measures 152 cm tall (60 inches) at the withers will be 15 hands high.

152 cm x 0.394 = 60 inches = 15 hands
4 inches/hand

Incomplete hands are broken down using inches, so that if your horse is 148 cm (58 inches) tall it would be 14.2 hands (14 hands + 2 inches).

148 cm x 0.394 = 58 inches = 14.5
4 inches/hand

14.5 = 14 inches + 0.5 of a hand

1/2 of a hand = 2 inches

1/4 of a hand = 1 inch
3/4 of a hand = 3 inches