A Look at Different Horse Heights

There are hundreds of breeds of horses in the world and so many different sizes. There are horses small enough to fit on your couch and horses so tall you would need a ladder in order to touch their ears. But if you’re new to horses, learning all the different breed heights can be a real challenge. What makes Miniature Horses miniature, compared to a pony? How big is a draft horse, compared to a Thoroughbred? And what is a ‘hand,’ anyway? Luckily, we’re here to help.

Let’s start with answers to some frequently asked questions about measuring a horse’s height:

What is the average horse height?

The average horse height is between 13.3 and 17.3 hands tall (or 1.4–1.8 meters), but it should be noted that this figure includes all breeds.

Why are horses measured in hands?

A hand, which is the equivalent to four inches, is the traditional measure used to determine the height of a horse. It is still used extensively in a variety of English-speaking nations. In the world of equestrians, it has been retained as the most preferred measure, although the metric system is used in FEI-regulated international competitions. It is usually abbreviated to “h” or “hh” (the latter meaning “hands high”).

How do you measure a horse?

To measure a horse’s height, be sure they’re standing on a level surface. Using a measuring stick or tape measure, take measurements directly from the ground all the way to the top of the withers. Do not measure to any other point on the horse’s body; the withers are the universal point of measurement for horse height.

Watch a video demonstrating how to measure a horse’s height >>
Pony Club Skills: Measuring a Horse>>

Explore the infographic below and take a fun look at the different average heights of some common horse breeds and how they compare to each other—there’s a wide range of sizes in the equine world!

Click image to view larger

Note: The two Miniature Horse registries, the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) and the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR), have different criteria for measuring Miniature Horses. The AMHA will not register a horse of a height over 34” tall, while the AMHR has two separate categories of sizes; horses under 34”, and horses between 34” and 38”. All registered Miniature Horses will be under 38” tall.

This article about horse heights is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!