Measurement

Liam Kearns, MVB, MRCVS is an official Measurer of the Joint Measurement Board.

The Joint Measurement Board was established in 1934 to run a national scheme for the measurement of the height of horses and ponies for the purpose of description and classification of horses and ponies for competition.

Key features of the scheme

• All horses and ponies must have at least one Annual Certificate before they can have a Full Certificate.
• Annual certificates are issued to animals aged 4, 5 and 6 years old, or to any animal over 7 which is being measured for the first time.
• Measurements can be done at any time of the year but Annual Certificates will expire on the 31st December following the last measurement.
• Measurements are carried out by Official Measurers.
• Measurements are carried out on registered measuring pads with shoes removed.
• Consecutive measurements must be done by different Measurers.
• The Measurer for a Full Certificate must be from a different veterinary practice from the Measurer for the last Annual Certificate.
• There is a fee of £89 in 2013 to cover the measurement procedure and issuing of certificate.
• The animal’s passport must be available at the time of measurement and all animals being measured must have a microchip inserted. This can be done at the time of measuring if required.
• A re-measurement procedure can be used to settle doubts about accuracy.

For further and more full information about the Joint Measurement Board and its panel of Official Measurers, please visit the JMB Ltd website.