How to Measure a Foal's Legs to Tell How Tall It Will Grow

You may be buying a young horse for future riding, or perhaps you already own the animal and you want to decide whether or not to sell it, based on whether its ultimate size will suit your long-term plans. Although this method is not guaranteed to be accurate, you can measure a foal's legs to estimate how tall it will stand when fully mature.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure (soft and flexible)

Instructions

1. Find the middle of the foal's knee on one of its front legs and place the end of the tape measure there.

2. Pull the tape measure down to the coronet band, or the top of the hoof. (See the resources section for a diagram detailing horse anatomy.)

3. Read the measurement on the tape measure. Estimate the growth of your foal using this formula:

   1 inch = 1 hand
   1/4 inch = .1 hand

   If the foal's leg measures 15 and a half inches from the middle of the knee to the coronet, you can estimate that it will grow to be 15.2 hands tall.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, this is only an estimate. The foal's height could vary depending on genetics and health.

References

• Ultimate Horse Site: Predicting Yearling Height Growth

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Unicorn Farm: Anatomy of a Horse