Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride a big draft horse? Julia Bassett, who is just 5 feet 1 inches tall and weighs 95 pounds, gets to ride one every day. Al, is a 1,800-pound Percheron. He stands 18 hands high at his withers, and towers over Julia.
1. How tall is Al in feet and inches? (1 hand = 4 inches)
2. When Julia stands beside Al, how much higher is Al’s withers than the top of Julia’s head?
3. How much more does Al weigh than Julia?
The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Perche Valley in northern France. Al also towers over the Arabian horses that the Bassett family owns in Sunnyslope, Washington. The Arabians are about 4 feet, 8 inches at the withers and weigh 850 to 950 pounds.
4. Calculate the height of the Arabian horses in hands.
Al is 23 years old and lived for 14 years with Julia’s aunt in the Los Angeles area. When she died Julia’s mother, Cori, and father, Gerald, brought Al to their home stable in Sunnyslope, Washington.
He is very social, Cori says, and quickly fit in with the three other horses on the property. Al was also highly trained, having been ridden by Cori’s sister in horse shows and parades.
His foot is as big as her head!
Julia rides him in trail and pairs competition at Appleatchee Riders as part of her participation in Washington State Equestrian Teams.
So what’s it like to ride a horse as big as Al?
First, Julia says, she has to get up on the horse. She stands on a chicken coop to give herself a boost up when she’s riding bareback or with an English saddle.
Then, she says, it’s just like riding any horse, except she had to get used to Al’s gait.
It’s almost lumbering,” she says.
Al follows Julia’s orders just like any trained horse but, she thinks his personality is his best feature.
“He’s a sweet as can be — always willing to do what you want him to do,” she says. “He’s a big sweetie, basically a big teddy bear.”
1. How tall is Al in feet and inches? (1 hand = 4 inches)
Answer: 18 x 4 = 72. Al stands 72 inches high at his withers.
2. When Julia stands beside Al, how much higher is Al’s withers than the top of Julia’s head?
Answer: Step 1: (5 x 12) + 1 = 61
Step 2: 72 – 61 = 11. Al’s withers is 11 inches higher than the top of Julia’s head.
3. How much more does Al weigh than Julia?
Answer: 1800 – 95 = 1705. Al weighs 1,705 pounds more than Julia.
4. Calculate the height of the Arabian horses in hands.
Answer: Step 1: (4 x 12) + 8 = 56.
Step 2: 56 ÷ 4 = 14. The Arabians are 14 hands high.
Photos:
little rider by iBjorn; CC BY-SA 2.0
Percheron draft horse grazing by The_Gut: CC BY 2.0
bigger than Mari’s head by iBjorn; CC BY-SA 2.0
