The adoption of the international inch in 1959 allowed for a standardized imperial form and a metric conversion.

[9] On surviving Ancient Egyptian cubit-rods, the royal cubit is divided into seven palms of four digits or fingers each.

[2] It was standardised at four inches by a statute of King Henry VIII, the Horses Act 1540 (32 Hen.

In other parts of the world, including continental Europe and in FEI-regulated international competition, horses are measured in metric units, usually metres or centimetres.

[24] A horse is measured from the ground to the top of the highest non-variable point of the skeleton, the withers.

[2] For official measurement, the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra may be identified by palpation, and marked if necessary.

[25] Some varieties of Miniature horses are measured at the base of the last true hairs of the mane rather than at the withers.