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Discussion on Hmmm just curious/..... description of height,.

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leslie christian
Member
Username: Leslie1

Post Number: 32
Registered: 8-2006
Posted on Friday, Jan 19, 2007 - 9:51 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

I have been raise to believe that a horses height is measured in Hands. That a hand equals 4 inches. Yet in the last year or so I have seen numerous time horses described a 16.5 or 15.5 etc...
I often see it in my Andalusian mag.
Just curious if I missed something... and for some reason it bugs me. lol ( could be PG hormones acting up )
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Holly Wood
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Username: Hwood

Post Number: 1735
Registered: 3-2001
Posted on Friday, Jan 19, 2007 - 10:06 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

leslie,
Must be that "new math," or lack thereof that is floating around our schools.

I bet 16.5 means "sixteen and a half hands," but you are right about it being incorrect.

A pet peeve of mine is the over estimation of a horse's height. I have seen 16h horses that are really only 14.3h . . .
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Sara Wolff
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Username: Mrose

Post Number: 2133
Registered: 1-2000
Posted on Friday, Jan 19, 2007 - 11:16 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

That was going to be my guess, that the ".5" meant a half a hand. Holly, you mean other breeds over estimate height? I thought the Arab people just used a special measuring stick!
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Angie J.
Member
Username: Ajudson1

Post Number: 960
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Saturday, Jan 20, 2007 - 9:47 am:   Edit PostPrint Post

And how about where to measure to get the heigth? Ask 3 different people, and they'll show you 3 different "correct" places. I've gotten inquires regarding my Freision/Morgan gelding that was for sale and when I give his height, I've gotten pictures in return showing a "true 16H tall horse". When someone at such and such a heigth standing by their horse for proof!
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Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose

Post Number: 2136
Registered: 1-2000
Posted on Saturday, Jan 20, 2007 - 11:09 am:   Edit PostPrint Post

Angie, you're right! I've had people show me to measure right on the highest point of the wither bone, right behind the whiter bone, and in the middle of the back. Where is the right place?

And, then there's "without shoes, with shoes" "on the flat" on concrete,etc. And here's my favorite...the pictures that show the horse standing "flat" when all the fences and trees in the background are obviously on a slant! And, they don't show the horses feet in most of those pictures. I want to see the feet!
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Lori
Member
Username: Maggienm

Post Number: 344
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, Jan 20, 2007 - 11:14 am:   Edit PostPrint Post

I agree Angie, the point at which to measure seems to vary greatly.
I have heard the correct point is where the hair begins to grow on the neck but even that spot can vary.
As a written description:
I think the highest spot of the wither before it becomes the neck if the horse is standing square with his neck in a natural raised position.
Also. the stick should be aligned with the middle of the foreleg.
After helping with math homework I have found myself trying to write 1/2 as point 5. It certainly isn't compatable with horse math.
But then maybe it just belongs in the misc category.
Like the time I called about an and was told she was so 'purely bred' she was 'Anglo', no really!
Or the 'black palomino' I was told about.
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Angie J.
Member
Username: Ajudson1

Post Number: 961
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Saturday, Jan 20, 2007 - 11:45 am:   Edit PostPrint Post

I thought 15.2 meant 15 and 1/2 hands. I also thought to measure you need to go with the middle of the foreleg.

I don't have a stick to measure with, I use the tape with height on one side, weight on the other. So I have to be careful where my foot is on the tape on the floor of course.

How about short enough to see over, barely can see over, and can't see anything over the horses back! LOL!!! The latter means 16 hands to me, and waaay too tall!!

Sara, Years back when we had a TW mare, we got interested in stallions. I was amazed at how many of these were "parked" and obviously on a hill!! Sure made them all look good, til you met them in person, and it was like wow, where did the horse go to?? Most of the spotted ones were like that it seemed. At least back then, guess it was hard to get tall spotted TW's.

I like the thorough breds that you see for sale. Meaning they are pure bred. Thoroughly and purely bred, must be a perfect horse.
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Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose

Post Number: 2138
Registered: 1-2000
Posted on Saturday, Jan 20, 2007 - 11:59 am:   Edit PostPrint Post

Angie! Boy, we could go on forever on some of the ads we see, what is said in ignorance, what is said to mislead, what is meant by what is said, etc.! It's a whole 'nother language!

Now, I have to say I've seen what could be called a black palomino, maybe. Isn't it one of the Russian breeds that is golden with a really dark hair coat? Like a bleached black with golden glints? I need to find my horse breeds book and look for it. I swear I've seen it. However, I'm sure that isn't what the ad Lori saw was for as they're quite rare.

Yes, just the other day I say an ad for a throughbred shetland!

And then there's the people looking for horses; haven't you gotten calls from people looking for a really pretty, breedable mare, young so the kids can grow up with her, bomb proof, can be shown english and western, and maybe even drive? All for $2000 or under? I tell them I've never seen one and if I had one she wouldn't be for sale!
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Cheryl Kallenbach
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Username: Cheryl

Post Number: 271
Registered: 2-2000
Posted on Saturday, Jan 20, 2007 - 12:13 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

I think the "black" palomino is called a chocolate point palomino. Anyway that's what I've always heard them called - beautiful color.
Cheryl
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Lori
Member
Username: Maggienm

Post Number: 347
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, Jan 20, 2007 - 12:39 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

yeah Sara, I'll keep that one too.

I never did go see the black palomino, but I don't think they meant dark points.
I would love to see a picture of the Russian horse.
Are you thinking of an Ahkel Teke? I have heard they have some unique colors and some have a metalic sheen that is quite striking.
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Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose

Post Number: 2139
Registered: 1-2000
Posted on Saturday, Jan 20, 2007 - 2:24 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

Yes, that's it. thank you. When I get back from town I'm going to look it up on line.
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