Measuring the height at the withers of ponies at a competition and at home using a laser device.
Abstract: Measuring the height of ponies at the withers is currently a prerequisite at Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) competitions. A pony measured at a competition site must not measure more than 151 cm with, or 150 cm without horse shoes. When a pony exceeds the regulated height, it is excluded from participation in the competition. Moreover, the sale value of a pony can decrease dramatically if by height measurement it is designated as a 'horse'. The aim of this study was firstly to determine whether measuring ponies at the withers with a laser device is repeatable; secondly, to evaluate whether laser measurements are more accurate than use of a conventional measuring stick, and, thirdly, to evaluate the difference in height at the withers between ponies at home and the height of the same ponies at a competition. Fifteen clinically healthy horses and 38 healthy ponies were used in the study. A statistical evaluation was performed to determine whether there was a correlation or a significant difference between measurements (P<0.01). The repeatability of the laser measurements, the comparison of the use of the laser versus the measuring stick, and of the measurements done at home compared to the competition site were all very high (0.999, 0.0997 and 0.992, respectively; P<0.01). The mean height measured at a competition was 141.9+/-9.0 cm and of the same ponies at home was 142.4+/-9.1 cm. This difference was not significantly different, although there was a tendency for ponies measured at home to have a higher height at the withers compared to the same ponies at a competition.
Publication Date: 2008-08-28 PubMed ID: 18760644DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.07.007Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research focused on the accuracy and repeatability of using a laser device to measure the height of ponies at the withers for both competition and home settings, and compared this system to the conventional measuring stick method.
Objective of the Study
- The study aimed at determining the reliability and accuracy of a laser device when used to measure the height of ponies at the withers. This arose from the need to ensure compliance with the standards set by the Fédération Equestre Internationale for pony heights during competitions, where a pony should not exceed certain measurements, whether shod or not.
- In addition, the research compared the use of a laser device to the conventional measuring stick, to evaluate which method yielded more accurate results.
- Lastly, the study examined height discrepancies for identical ponies measured both at home and during competitions, this was to determine if there were any significant variance based on the measuring environment.
Research Design and Methodology
- A total of 15 clinically healthy horses and 38 healthy ponies were used in this study. The measurements of these animals provided the data needed for in-depth analysis.
- The study extensively utilized statistical evaluation to ascertain if there were any significant differences or correlations between measurements. This was particularly important when comparing the laser device’s readings to those from the conventional measuring stick.
Findings of the Study
- The study found high repeatability with the laser measurements. This suggests that the use of a laser device provides consistent measurements, which is essential for its adoption in environments where precise measurements are critical.
- When comparing the measurements from the laser device and the conventional measuring stick, it was found that both methods provided almost identical results, implying that the laser device is as accurate as the traditional tool.
- Furthermore, the study found negligible differences between measurements taken at home and during competitions. There seemed to be a slight tendency for ponies measured at home to have a higher height at the withers, but the difference was not statistically significant, reinforcing the view that the measuring environment has little impact on the height of the ponies.
Cite This Article
APA
Kleijn WM, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.
(2008).
Measuring the height at the withers of ponies at a competition and at home using a laser device.
Vet J, 182(2), 193-197.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.07.007 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yalelaan 114, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biometry / instrumentation
- Biometry / methods
- Female
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Lasers
- Male
- Reproducibility of Results
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Mayol-Kreiser SN, Garcia-Turner VM, Johnston CS. Examining the utility of a laser device for measuring height in free-living adults and children. Nutr J 2015 Sep 8;14:93.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
