JMB height measurement
Do you need a height certificate for your horse or pony?
Horses can attend our surgery at Great Harwood for official JMB height measurements. Our measuring pad is located indoors in a quiet environment so horses can relax fully prior to measurement. Our measuring vet, David Aldington, has been on the JMB panel of official measurers for over 20 years and we allow plenty of time for horses to settle before being measured.Please read through the following information on measuring your horse if you are planning to bring your horse to us for an official JMB (Joint Measurement Board) measurement.
Location of our Measuring Pad
We are conveniently located on the A680 near Great Harwood, around five minutes from both the A59 and M65. There is plenty of parking and access for horseboxes.
Please don’t forget to bring…
• Proof of online payment to the JMB (Printed receipt, email or screenshot)
• Payment for North West Equine Vets for £60.00 (cash / cheque / card) if your horse is not already microchipped.
• Your horse’s passport.
• Your horse's JMB height certificate if they have one.
Arranging a Measurement
Before calling us to book your horse in to be measured, you need to apply for a measurement on the JMB website and pay online using a credit card.Once you’ve applied and paid, please call our office on 01254 888600 to book an appointment. All official height measurements must be carried out at a JMB registered measuring pad. The pad is indoors and away from any distractions so horses can relax fully prior to measurement.
Fees
The JMB have a standard charge for an official measurement.You MUST bring proof of payment with you to the measuring appointment (in the form of a printed receipt, email or screenshot). All horses have to be microchipped before a JMB height certificate can be issued, so if your horse is not already chipped, we will insert one after the measurement at the appropriate cost.
Microchipping and Identification
You must bring your horses passport and any JMB height certificate already issued.We need to confirm your horse’s identification against the documentation and scan the microchip. If your horse is not already chipped (or if the chip is undetectable), we will need to insert a microchip immediately after measuring at additional cost.
Measuring Procedure
JMB regulations state that the horse must be well handled and must be measured in a head collar only.Horses receiving medication are not allowed to be measured. The shoes must have been removed and the feet trimmed. Measurements may have to be postponed in the case of horses that refuse to co-operate. There will still be a charge for time spent if this is the case. We are not allowed to measure horses that we measured the previous year, so please check where the last measurement was done if you are uncertain. Please read the information on JMB’s website on “Preparing Your Horse or Pony for Measurement” (see link below and scroll down the page).
It is important to note that we are required to record the lowest truly relaxed height. Even if your horse measures low enough to enter your chosen class, if he / she is not fully relaxed (or has not had his feet properly trimmed), the JMB will not be able to certify the measurement.
Issue of Certificates
If you already have a JMB Height Certificate, you should bring it with you along with the passport. From 2017, all official measurements are stored online and accessed via the JMB website. No new printed certificates will be issued.Annual Height Measurements are issued for horses of 4, 5 or 6 years of age and for horses which have not been measured before. These are valid until 31st December in the year of the measurement.
Full Height Measurements are issued for horses of 7 years or older which have held an annual certificate previously. These are normally valid for the life of the horse but an official re-measurement can be carried out in the event of any dispute over the horse’s height.
Gold Measurements can be issued to horses of 7 years or older who do not already hold a Full Certificate. Two vets and a JMB steward attend the measurement and their decision is final and cannot be disputed. These measurements need to be arranged by the JMB directly.
