Arabian horse
14.1 to 15.1 hands (57 to 61 in, 145 to 155 cm)
An Arabian horse stands 14.1 to 15.1 hands (57 to 61 in, 145 to 155 cm) at the shoulder (adults).
Compare horses and ponies by height
12 horses and ponies, from a Shire horse down to a Shetland pony, each saying what was measured and who published it. Open one to compare it with your height.
12 heights in this selection. Sorting ranks this selection only; it does not identify world records. Equal listings share a height.
Drawn to one scale; the dashed line is 5 ft 9 in, the average US man.
- Arabian horse14.1–15.1 hands
- Connemara pony12.2–14.2 hands
- Dartmoor pony12.2 hands
- Fell pony14 hands
- Friesian horse15–16 hands
- Percheron16.2–17.3 hands
- Przewalski's horse11.3–13.3 hands
- Quarter Horse14–16 hands
- Shackleford horse11–13 hands
- Shetland pony10.2 hands
- Shire horse17 hands
- Thoroughbred15.2–17 hands
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Connemara pony
128 to 148 cm (12.2 to 14.2 hands)
A Connemara pony stands 128 to 148 cm (12.2 to 14.2 hands) at the shoulder (adult breed-program range).
Dartmoor pony
up to 12.2 hands (50 in, 127 cm)
A Dartmoor pony stands up to 12.2 hands (50 in, 127 cm) at the shoulder (breed maximum).
Fell pony
up to 14 hands (56 in, 142.2 cm)
A Fell pony stands up to 14 hands (56 in, 142.2 cm) at the shoulder (breed maximum).
Friesian horse
15 to 16 hands (60 to 64 in, 152 to 163 cm)
A Friesian horse stands 15 to 16 hands (60 to 64 in, 152 to 163 cm) at the withers (typical adults).
Percheron
16.2 to 17.3 hands (66 to 71 in, 168 to 180 cm)
Percherons in the United States generally stand 16.2 to 17.3 hands (66 to 71 in, 168 to 180 cm) at the shoulder.
Przewalski's horse
1.2 to 1.4 m (3 ft 11 in to 4 ft 7 in)
A Przewalski's horse stands 1.2 to 1.4 m (3 ft 11 in to 4 ft 7 in) at the shoulder.
Quarter Horse
14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 in, 142 to 163 cm)
A Quarter Horse stands 14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 in, 142 to 163 cm) at the withers (most adults).
Shackleford horse
11 to 13 hands (44 to 52 in, 112 to 132 cm)
A Shackleford horse stands 11 to 13 hands (44 to 52 in, 112 to 132 cm) at the shoulder (wild Shackleford Banks horses).
Shetland pony
up to 42 in (106.7 cm)
A Shetland pony stands up to 42 in (106.7 cm) at the shoulder (registered-stock maximum).
Shire horse
at least 17 hands (68 in, 172.7 cm)
A Shire horse stands at least 17 hands (68 in, 172.7 cm) at the shoulder (stallion minimum).
Thoroughbred
15.2 to 17 hands (62 to 68 in, 157 to 173 cm)
A Thoroughbred stands 15.2 to 17 hands (62 to 68 in, 157 to 173 cm) at the shoulder (adults).
From a listing to your lineup
Open a name to see its measurement context and any reported range. A famous comparison puts two published listings together immediately. For your own numbers, use the height difference calculator.
When two listings disagree, compare the measurement conditions before picking a value.