Measurement of horses and ponies for the Joint Measurement Board official height
certificate
St David’s Equine Practice is one of few places in Devon where horses can be measured
under the scheme administered by the Joint Measurement Board. We have an official
measurement pad that is located in a quiet location within the clinic premises.
It has been placed within an area, away from the stable block, that enables horses
and ponies to settle to a fully relaxed state for accurate height measurement.
Bob Barker is the measurer for St David’s Equine Practice and has been an official
measurer for the Joint Measurement Board for many years. Measurement of horses and
ponies is carried out with them unshod, feet trimmed normally and in a fully relaxed
and natural state.
Measurement of the horse is undertaken with it standing on the certified level concrete
pad within an enclosed room. Under the scheme the measurement is taken at the top
of the withers of the relaxed horse using a metal shod measuring stick that has
been verified by the Trading Standards metrology laboratory. The horse must stand
with all four feet flat on the ground and the feet in line. Plenty of time is taken
for the horse to be fully relaxed. This ensures that an accurate minimum height
measurement is achieved.
Horses may be measured each year for an Annual Measurement Certificate up until
they are 7 years old, when they can have a Life Certificate. Horses of seven years
old and over must have had at least one Annual Certificate before a Life Certificate
will be issued. This ensures that all horses will have been measured at least twice
when a Life Certificate is issued.
More information about the Joint Measurement Board and the official measurement
of horses can be obtained on their website (www.thejmbonline.co.uk).
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