Liam is an official measurer of the Joint Measurement Board which was established in 1934 to run a national scheme for the measurement of the height of horses and ponies for competition purposes. Measurements have to be carried out on a certified measuring pad at the surgery, and Liam usually does these on a Thursday or a Friday.
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 £98 (2023) 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 more information about the Joint Measurement Board and its panel of Official Measurers, please visit the JMB Ltd website.
