(Redirected from Hands)

Hand (as a unit of measurement) The standard unit of measurement applies to the height of a horse at the withers. One hand equals four inches or 10.2 centimeters. The measurement is derived from the ancient habit if using the width of the palm of a man's hand to determine how tall a horse was. If your horse measures 61 inches at the withers, the highest point on his back where it meets his neck, he is 15 hands and 1 inch tall. The measurement is written as 15.1 hh (hands high). It is spoken as "fifteen-one.