Instructions
Multiply the number of hands by 10.16 to convert the value to centimeters. A horse that is 20 hands high, for example, would also be 203.2 centimeters high.
Convert the centimeters to meters. A meter equals 100 centimeters, so divide 203.2 by 100 to get 2.032 meters.
If you can not remember the conversion rates for metric measurements, you can multiply the number of hands by 4 (1 hand equals 4 inches). Once you determine the value in inches, such as 80 inches for 20 hands, you can convert to centimeters by multiplying by 2.54 (the number of centimeters in an inch). Follow Step 2 to convert from centimeters to meters.
How to Convert Hands to Metres
Hands are a way of measuring the height of horses. They are calculated from the ground to a spot on the horse's back in an area called the withers; the specific spot is a lump that looks like the animal's shoulder blades. The line that you measure runs from this point down the front leg. Should you need to express this as a metric value, you'll have to complete very few calculations.