Many people have a difficult time when it comes to numbers, and some ignore them entirely! Here is a short little article regarding scale, and how it applies to model horses.
When we say that the Classic scale is (1:12), it means this-- for every one of something here, there is 12 of something there. In other words, if there is one inch on a model, that equals 12 inches on a real horse. Got it so far?
When we say that the Classic scale is (1:12), it means this-- for every one of something here, there is 12 of something there. In other words, if there is one inch on a model, that equals 12 inches on a real horse. Got it so far?
Horses are measured from the ground to their withers, the point between their shoulder blades. On GC's, that is essentially the "hump" at the base of their neck.
The classic pose mare is approximately 4.75 inches at the withers. (Please note in the photo that 0 on the ruler does not start exactly at the ground)
If the model is 4.75 inches, then a real horse would be 12 times that amount, or
4.75 x 12= 57 inches
This means the model would be a horse of 57 inches high.
Let's convert that to hands. One hand = 4 inches. So if we have 57 inches, then that's
57/4 = 14.25 hands
But hands are tricky because they are read as x hands- x inches. So since 56 inches is exactly 14 hands, 57 inches is 14 hands + 1 inch. This is written as 14 hands- 1 inch, or 14.1 hands.
She is a little on the short side (a horse is technically measured from 14.2 hh and larger, and a pony is anything up to 14.2 hh). But there's the possibility I didn't measure correctly, or someone would see a different number that I did, or maybe the model is even slouching a little. She could easily be 14.2 hh instead!
Let's look at the classic stallion. He measures at 5 inches. That means
5 x 12 = 60 inches
60/4 = 15 hands exactly
So the Classic stallion is a horse of 15 hands high (or 15 hh). That is certainly believable!
This same concept works for any of the other scales. For the traditional/SNA scale (1:9), instead of multiplying the inches you measure the horse by 12, you would multiply by 9 because the scale says 1 of something here = 9 of something there.
I hope this helped explain the concept of scale and how it measures up against the models (and didn't make it more confusing!). Please leave any questions you have in the comments section here on the blog, or in the guestbook. I'd be happy to answer them!
The classic pose mare is approximately 4.75 inches at the withers. (Please note in the photo that 0 on the ruler does not start exactly at the ground)
If the model is 4.75 inches, then a real horse would be 12 times that amount, or
4.75 x 12= 57 inches
This means the model would be a horse of 57 inches high.
Let's convert that to hands. One hand = 4 inches. So if we have 57 inches, then that's
57/4 = 14.25 hands
But hands are tricky because they are read as x hands- x inches. So since 56 inches is exactly 14 hands, 57 inches is 14 hands + 1 inch. This is written as 14 hands- 1 inch, or 14.1 hands.
She is a little on the short side (a horse is technically measured from 14.2 hh and larger, and a pony is anything up to 14.2 hh). But there's the possibility I didn't measure correctly, or someone would see a different number that I did, or maybe the model is even slouching a little. She could easily be 14.2 hh instead!
Let's look at the classic stallion. He measures at 5 inches. That means
5 x 12 = 60 inches
60/4 = 15 hands exactly
So the Classic stallion is a horse of 15 hands high (or 15 hh). That is certainly believable!
This same concept works for any of the other scales. For the traditional/SNA scale (1:9), instead of multiplying the inches you measure the horse by 12, you would multiply by 9 because the scale says 1 of something here = 9 of something there.
I hope this helped explain the concept of scale and how it measures up against the models (and didn't make it more confusing!). Please leave any questions you have in the comments section here on the blog, or in the guestbook. I'd be happy to answer them!