Mature Horse

Mature Horse
Estimating the Mature Height of a Foal, Method 2

Helen E. Battisti Ph.D., R.D., C.D.E.

Jen Saviano, Specialist, Youth Development Programs

Ann Swinker PhD, Extension Specialist Equine

Except where otherwise noted © Horse Lover's Math

Is it possible to estimate how big a foal will be when they reach mature size? While there is no one exact mathematical formula for estimating a foals’ mature size, several methods have been developed for estimating mature horse height in foals and yearlings.
One method of measurement is to measure a straight line in inches on either front leg, from the coronary band to the middle of the knee joint. This measurement can then be converted directly to hands to give an estimate of the foal’s mature size in hands. Here’s how to do it.
Horse Talk – coronary band: The coronary band (also sometimes referred to as the coronet band), is located at the point where the leg’s hairline meets the hoof. It provides the majority of nutrition to the hoof and is the area from which the hoof grows.
First, it’s important to be clear and confident in your understanding of horse height in hands.
2. If a horse is listed as being 15.3 hh, what does the ‘3’ represent?
3. You are told a pony is 14 1/2 hh. This pony’s height 14 hands and how many inches?
4. One inch is what fraction of a hand?
Now, back to estimating mature height. Once the lower leg measurement is taken in inches, multiply the measurement by 4.
The foal to the right above measures 10 3/4 inches from the the coronary band to the middle of the knee joint.
5. Estimate this foal’s mature height in hands.
This method for estimating mature horse height can be used with foals from 3 months old upward.
You measure the foal to the left and take a measurement of 15 ¼ inches.
6. Estimate the height of this foal at maturity.
Now that you’ve used this method twice, do you see a pattern?
7. The measurement you take of a foal’s lower leg will be what fraction of the horse’s mature height?
Have you noticed a relationship between the measurement itself and the estimated mature height?
8. Is there an easy way of using mental math to make this estimation in you head?
One of the reasons leg measurements of young foals can be used to estimate mature height is that at birth, a foal’s legs are already 90% of their mature length!
In previous posts Horse Lover’s Math shows two other methods for estimating mature horse height, one for foals and one for yearlings.
This post offers a second method for estimating the mature height of a foal: https://www.horseloversmath.com/maturefoalheight/
Here’s a method for estimating the mature height of a yearling: https://www.horseloversmath.com/estimate-mature-horse-height
It would be fun to experiment with these estimation methods on a group of foals. How close would the estimates be to each other? How close would they be to estimating the foal’s actual height at maturity? Interesting questions. Perhaps someday you’ll be an equine scientist and can find the answers to these questions—and many more!
1. How many inches are in a hand?
Answer: There are 4 inches in a hand.
2. If a horse is listed as being 15.3 hh, what does the ‘3’ represent?
Answer: The ‘3’ represents inches. So a horse that is listed as 15.3 hh is 15 hands and 3 inches high.
3. You are told a pony is 14 1/2 hh. This pony’s height is 14 hands and how many inches?
Answer: 2 inches.
4. One inch is what fraction of a hand?
Answer: 1/4
5. Estimate this foal’s mature height in hands.
Answer:
Step 1: One way to make this calculation is to first convert the mixed number to an improper fraction:
10 3/4 inches = 43/4 inches
Step 2: 43/4 inches × 4 = 172/4 inches
Step 3: Convert back to a whole or mixed number: 172 ÷ 4 = 43 inches.
Step 4: Convert to hands: 43 inches ÷ 4 (number of inches in a hand) = 10 with a remainder of 3 inches. This foal may grow to a height of 10.3 hh.
6. Estimate the height of this foal at maturity.
Answer: Let’s try another way to do the math this time.
Step 1: 15 1/4 inches × 4 = 61 inches.
Step 2: Now we’ll convert directly to hands: 61 inches ÷ 4 (number of inches in a hand) = 15 hands and 1 inch tall at the highest point on the withers.
Step 3: This is written as 15.1 hh.
7. The measurement you take of a foal’s lower leg will be what fraction of the horse’s mature height?
Answer: It will be one quarter of the horse’s mature height.
8. Is there an easy way of using mental math to make this estimation in you head?
Answer: In question 5, the measurement was 10 3/4 inches and the estimate for mature height was 10.3 hh.
10 inches ➔ 10 hands and 3/4 inches ➔ 3/4 of a hand, or 3 inches, making the estimate 10.3hh.
In question 6, the measurement was 15 1/4 inches and the estimate for mature height was 15.1hh.
15 inches ➔ 15 hands and 1/4 inches ➔ 1/4 of a hand, or 1 inch, making the estimate 15.1 hh. Easy!
Common Core:
5.OA.B – Analyze patterns and relationships
5.NF.A.1 – Convert between improper fractions and mixed numbers
5.NF.B.6 – Add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions and mixed numbers
Photos:
White mare and foal; Public Domain
Chestnut foal; Public Domain
Foal scratching; Public Domain
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