Breeds and sizes

The average horse weighs around 1,200 lbs – 1,400 lbs as an adult and the average height of a horse is 15.2hh. The measurement hh stands for hands, a hand is four inches, that would mean the average height at 15.2hh is really 5’1″ feet tall at the withers. The withers is where you measure a horse, the withers is the ridge located between the shoulder blades of the horse.

Here is a basic info graphic for a quick understanding of horse height.

First we will start with the biggest and tallest horses and the proceed to get smaller and smaller. Moving on below is the average sizes and heights for horses:

Gentle giants:

The gentle giants are draft horses, they are the tallest and sturdiest horses with a much taller average height and a much heavier weight average. The average draft horse between 16.2hh – 18.2hh tall and weighs between 1,700 lbs – 2,200 lbs.

SHIRE

Shires are the biggest all around both weight and height wise. The average gelding weighs 2,000 lbs – 2,200 lbs and is between 17.3hh – 18.2hh tall. The average mare weighs 1,800 lbs – 2,000 lbs and is between 17hh – 18hh tall.

CLYDESDALE

Next comes the mid size of the draft horses, the Clydesdale. The average gelding weighs 1,800 lbs – 2,200 lbs and is between 16hh – 17hh tall. The average mare weighs 1,700 lbs – 1,900 lbs and is between 15.3hh – 16hh tall.

PERCHERON

The Percheron is the smallest of the draft horses but still top of the height class for the middle size horses. The average gelding weighs 2,200 lbs – 2,600 lbs and is between 15hh – 19hh tall. The average mare weighs 2,000 lbs – 2,450 lbs and is between 15hh – 17hh tall.

A class of their own:

FRIESIAN

Friesians are in their own class because they resemble draft horses in certain aspects but still don’t qualify to be a light draft horse. The average gelding weighs 1,300 lbs – 1,500 lbs and is between 16hh – 17hh tall. The average mare weighs 1,300 lbs and is between 15.3hh – 16hh tall.

LIPIZZAN

The Lipizzan is trained to do various intricate movements and dances. The average gelding weighs 1,150 lbs and is between 16hh tall. The average mare weighs 1,100 lbs and is between 15hh – 16hh tall.

CLEVELAND BAY

Cleveland Bay’s are usually used as a harness horse because of the way the carry themselves and also because of the similarities between them and the draught horses. The average gelding weighs 1,450 lbs  and is between 15hh – 16hh tall. The average mare weighs 1,400 lbs and is between 15hh – 16hh tall.

Medium size:

ARABIAN

The Arabian horse is known for their grace and their speed. The average gelding weighs 1,200 lbs and is between 14hh – 15hh tall. The average mare weighs 1,100 lbs and is between 14hh – 14.3hh tall.

THOROUGHBRED

The Thoroughbred is one of the most common horses, it is also on of the main horses used in races.The average gelding weighs 1,200 lbs and is between 16hh – 17hh tall. The average mare weighs 1,100 lbs and is between 15.3hh – 16hh tall.

QUARTER HORSE

The Quarter Horse is the most registered breed of horse around the world being the most common breed of horse. The average gelding weighs 800 lbs – 1,200 lbs and is between 14.2hh – 15.2hh tall. The average mare weighs 800 lbs – 1,200 lbs and is between 14hh – 15hh tall.

Small size:

PONY

The Pony is a very small horse that is usually given to smaller children even though they have very bad tempers. The average gelding weighs 440 lbs – 880 lbs and is  12.3hh tall. The average mare weighs 440 lbs – 880 lbs and is 12hh tall.

SHETLAND PONY

The Shetland Pony is by far the smallest breed of horse. The average gelding weighs 450 lbs and is 11hh tall. The average mare weighs 425 lbs and is 10hh tall.

Like the saying goes “You tell a gelding, ask a stud, discuss with a mare, and if its a pony you pray to God almighty.”

The Basics of Lunging

Today we will discuss the topic of lunging a horse, what its good for, and how to do it properly. Lunging a horse is important for both the rider and the horse, it allows the horse to exercise and build a relationship with the rider. It also allows the horse to learn basic rules or guidelines such as personal space or dominance. First off you need to gather the proper equipment such as:

Lunge Whip

Lead Rope

Rope Halter

It is also important that you know how to properly tie a rope halter so that it doesn’t rub and agitate the horse whilst being lunged. First you place the rope halter on the horses head like you would any other bridle. Then you take the rope and string it behind the horses ears, after you loop it through the hole make the motion of going down around and back up again. Once the rope halter is in place you will want to check how tight it is around the horse’s neck. There should be at least a two finger space between the rope halter and the horse’s neck, any tighter and there will be chafing which can lead to hair loss and and possible bleeding.

When you first start to lunge a horse you lead them out from your own personal space into a consistent sized circle. Make sure that you face the horse with your entire body, square up your shoulders to the horses body, position your whip hand towards their hind end to help motivate them to move. Allow the horse to slowly walk and take in its surroundings, you can change lead and allow the horse to take in the surroundings on the other side.

SPIRAL OUT

Let the horse understand that its surroundings and distractions won’t harm it. Now that the horse is more acclimated to its surroundings you can begin to actually lunge the horse. Allow the horse to gradually pick up pace from walk to trot, or you can simply cluck to your horse if you have trained him that way. Permit the horse to have a longer lunge line so that the circle can gradually extend; begin changing pace, direction, and size of the circle. Bring the horse to a canter or lope depending upon which style of riding you have trained your horse in, to bring a horse to canter I usually kiss to the horse. However you can also crack the lunge whip to help motivate the horses movement. Once you get the general idea you should begin to switch directions faster to help teach your horse better reaction time.

Now that you can lunge a horse on a lunge line you can begin to attempt to free lunge. This is when you keep the horse following a circle however the horse is no longer connected to you in any way. In the beginning this can be sort of difficult if you can’t contain the horse to a consistently sized circle around yourself. But it as you and your horse gets use to this it becomes much easier to control them verbally as well as physically.

*I take no ownership of the photos