SFWG Study Hall

Oh, an addendum about height.

Horses and ponies are measured by hands. A hand is 4 inches. A 15 hand horse is 60 inches at the withers. The withers are the highest point of the back itself, the spot you put the saddle behind.

Some miniature ponies are only 24 inches tall, or 6 hands!
Ponies are up to 13 hands, or 42 inches.

A lot of women ride 14 hand tall horses or ponies.

A standard sized horse, like a quarter horse, or other working breed is usually around 15 hands. They are rarely 16 hands tall. 16 hands is five foot 4 inches at the withers and is pretty tall. Lots of Thoroughbred and other racers are 16 hands, because that means they have long legs and if they are built right, they have tremendous capability of running fast and far.

Remember, you have to get the saddle up there and you! Lots of knights and others had to have squires or aides of some sort to hold the horse and get them on and off the horse. (Think A Knight's Tale

18 hands tall is reserved for very rare individuals, mostly draft horses. 17 hands is tall, you have to have a mounting block to put the saddle on, but these are the horses that make excellent hunter/jumpers and steeple-chasers.

Okay, off to do my thing! Let me know if I can help!