31. Measurement Season

Animals may be measured at any time of the year.

32. Measurement Certificate 

i. Animals cannot be measured until they are four years old.

ii. Every animal regardless of its age has to have at least one Annual Certificate before it can have a Full certificate.

iii. Annual Certificates are issued for horses and ponies of four, five and six years of age, or any animal aged seven years of over which is presented for its first measurement.

v. The Official Measurer for second or third Annual Certificates must be different from the Official Measurer who did the last measurement but can be from the same practice.

vi. Annual Certificates cannot be issued to any animal eligible for a Full Certificate

viii. Annual Certificates issued to horses/ponies of four, five and six years are immune to objection but for the avoidance of doubt horses and ponies with annual certificates can be re-measured under rules 42.1(ii), (iii) and (iv).

2. Full Certificates

Full Certificates will be issued to horses and ponies seven years and over, provided that they have held an Annual Certificate which must not previously have been declared invalid. The Official Measurer for a Full Certificate must be from a different practice from that to which the Official Measurer who performed the last Annual Measurement belonged.

3. Amendments

Unofficial amendments of any kind to the animal’s name, identification or measurement details will render the certificate invalid, and the matter will be reported to the member society concerned, who will take disciplinary action if necessary

4. Ownership of Certificate

The certificate remains the property of The Joint Measurement Board and must be returned to The Joint Measurement Board Ltd within 14 days of a request for return of the certificate being sent to the owner or the owner’s authorised representative.

5. Certificate for International Events

Animals competing at international events under F.E.I. Rules where a Height Certificate is Required must comply with the F.E.I. Measurement Regulations. Owners should contact the discipline concerned.

33. Arranging a Measurement

1. Owners requiring animals to be measured should communicate directly with any of the Official Measurers.

2. Consecutive measurements must be carried out by different Official Measurers who, in the case of a measurement for a Full Certificate, must also be from a different practice (Rule 32.1.(v) & 32.2).

3. An Official Measurer cannot measure any animal where a conflict of interest may arise. For the avoidance of doubt the Stewards of the Joint Measurement Board Limited will not accept measurements carried out on any animal owned or produced by (i) the Official Measurer concerned, (ii) a member of the Official Measurer’s family (including partner) or household or (iii) a business partner. If an Official Measurer is in any doubt about a possible conflict of interest he or she is advised to discuss the matter with the JMB office.

34. Preparation and Venue for Measurement

1. All measurements must be carried out on a measuring pad that has been inspected by a Steward or Secretary of The Joint Measurement Board Ltd and registered by the Stewards. Where there is doubt the decision of the Stewards will be final.

2. It is the responsibility of the owner, and in his interests, to ensure that the animal is well handled, accustomed to the application of a measuring stick, and correctly prepared for measurement. See Appendix 2 below

3. The animal must have all four shoes removed and the feet must be correctly prepared and balanced as for shoeing with the wall taken down level with the bearing edge of the sole.

35. Measurement Procedure

(i) The owner is required to declare if the animal has previously been submitted for measurement under The Joint Measurement Board Limited while in his/her ownership or at any other time to his/her knowledge with a view to making an application for a certificate, regardless of whether or not a Certificate was issued (Rule 21.2). The owner is also required to state with which society(ies), if any, the animal is registered. The owner is required to present the passport and any existing documentation to the Measurer at the time of measurement.

(ii) In respect of any measurement or a re-measurement, before the measurement can be commenced the Official Measurer or the Referees must satisfy themselves as to the identification of the animal being offered for measurement. In circumstances where the diagrammatic identification available contains minor inaccuracies (the decision as to whether or not inaccuracies are minor are to be at the absolute discretion of the Official Measurer or the Referees) when compared with the markings of the animal presented and where the microchip confirms the identity of the animal, the information contained in the microchip will take precedence. In the event that the Official Measurer or the Referees are unable, to their satisfaction, to identify accurately the animal being presented for measurement or re-measurement then the measurement process must be suspended pending a report being submitted to the Stewards.

2. If this is the first measurement or a re-measurement by Referees, the Official Measurer or Referees will after they have positively identified the animal to be measured as set out at Rule 35.1.(ii) complete a full description of the animal. The diagram and written description must be sufficiently detailed to ensure positive identification of the animal in the future. The animal will be examined for the presence of a microchip with a scanner and the microchip number or the words “Not found” entered on the form as appropriate. The information from the chip will take precedence over any other form of identification including diagrams. This should be done while the animal is relaxing.

3. If the animal has been measured previously under The Joint Measurement Board Limited, and a Measurement Certificate issued, and if the Official Measurer can positively identify the animal presented against this document, a Measurement Record form should be completed, TOGETHER with the appropriate box on the original Document and BOTH sent to the Joint Measurement Board Limited. The animal will be examined for the presence of a microchip with a scanner and if a previously undocumented microchip is found the microchip number will be entered on the form and the certificate. If no microchip is found the words “Not found” will be entered on the form and the certificate. If the original certificate is not available or the description is inadequate a new identification and measurement form should be completed with the appropriate box i.e. full/annual completed.

4. Where a JMB measurement page exists within another Society’s passport that page should be completed with a Measurement Record Form and both returned to The Joint Measurement Board Limited provided the animal can be positively identified against that passport. The animal will be examined for the presence of a microchip with a scanner and the microchip number entered on the form or the words “Not found” entered on the form as appropriate. The passport issuer and the passport number must be written on the form.

5. The animal should be presented for measurement in a headcollar without a bit.

6. The animal should be handled quietly and allowed to relax before measurement is attempted.

7. The animal must be positioned for measurement with the front legs parallel and perpendicular; the toes of the front feet should be in line, allowing not more than 1.5 cm (½ in) difference. Both hind-feet must be taking weight and as near perpendicular as possible; the toes of the hind feet should be not more than 15 cm (6 in) out of line with each other.

9. The animal’s head must be in its natural position in relation to its neck, positioned so that the eye is neither more than 8 cm (3in) below, nor more than 8 cm (3 in) above the highest point of the withers.

9. The measurement must be taken at the highest point of the withers, (i.e. immediately above the spinous process of the 5th thoracic vertebra), which at the discretion of the Official Measurer or Referee, may be identified, by palpation and if necessary be marked before any measurements are made.

10. The veterinary surgeon carrying out the measurement has the responsibility that the stick he uses is an accurate one; it must have been certified by a Weights and Measures or Trading Standards Officer no more than four years previously. The stick must be fitted with a spirit level and must be shod with metal.

11. The measurement, which must be done by an Official Measurer (or in the case of a re-measurement, by Referees), should be the lowest truly relaxed height of the animal.

12. If the animal on presentation to an Official Measurer or Referees shall in his/her opinion be unfit to be measured for any reason, or present evidence of improper preparation, or the conditions for measurement are unacceptable, the owner shall be informed that the animal will be measured at a later date, when it is in a fit condition to be measured. The Official Measurer’s or Referees’ decision as to fitness and preparation for measurement shall be final. Any extra costs incurred by the enforcement of this rule will be at the owner’s expense. Official Measurers, or the Board in the case of a re-measurement, can at their discretion make a charge for an abandoned measurement or re-measurement.

13. The animal must not be in receipt of any Prohibited Substance in Appendix 3. If the Official Measurer (or Referees in the case of a re-measurement) considers it necessary, a body fluid sample will be taken for sampling. If this course of action is taken and tests show that a Prohibited Substance (see Appendix 3) has been administered, the case will be referred to the Member Society with which the animal is registered for action to be taken. Any Measurement Certificate issued will be declared invalid. The owner is responsible for the total cost of the Test and the additional time spent in collecting the sample.

14. The Measurement Form MUST BE RETURNED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE by the Official Measurer or Referees to The Joint Measurement Board Limited, regardless of the outcome of the measurement, with a report if necessary. The Measurement Certificate should be submitted with the measurement form.

APPENDIX 2

Preparing the Horse or Pony for Measurement

- a guide for Owners and Handlers

In accordance with the Rule Book of The Joint Measurement Board, (Preparation and Venue for Measurement, 34.2) “It is the responsibility of the Owner, and in his interests, to ensure that the animal is well handled, accustomed to the measuring stick, and correctly prepared for measurement.”

This guide aims to assist Owners and Handlers to achieve an accurate measurement, based on the careful education and preparation of the Horse or Pony (hereinafter ‘the animal’)

                o          You are advised to study the current JMB Rule Book, in particular, items 33, 34 & 35 which refer to the Measurement procedure.

                o          As it is necessary to travel to the approved Measuring Pad, give the animal travelling practice, so that it will arrive calmly at the destination.

                o          As a matter of course, the animal should already be trained to stand still and squarely, wearing a headcollar and lead rope only, with the minimum of fidgeting.

                o          For the purpose of accurate measurement, the animal should be further trained to place its front feet in line, and its hind feet no more than 15cm. (6 inches) out of line with each other.

                o          It must learn to relax and to lower its head to a natural position, approximately level with and not lower than its withers.

                o          Furthermore, it must learn to remain in this position for many minutes and it must learn to allow a stranger to move quietly around it, with the minimum of fuss.

                o          The animal must be presented in good condition, with no signs of distress or dehydration.

                o          During the measuring process, the handler will be positioned in front of the animal and will stand calmly and quietly.

                o          It is not recommended to feed the animal titbits or to fuss it; in our experience this makes the animal more fidgety and is counterproductive to achieving a still, calm persona.

                o          In addition to travelling practice, it is wise to have accustomed the animal to strange surroundings (ie. indoor premises other than its own familiar stable).

                o          Finally, you are advised to leave plenty of time for the journey, so that both you and your animal arrive calmly!