Horses have been an integral part of human history, from being used for transportation to working in agriculture and industry. Over the years, humans have selectively bred horses to create larger and stronger breeds. As a result, some horses have grown to be incredibly tall and heavy.
In this article, we will explore the top 10 tallest horses in the world. We will look at their breeds, heights, and weights, and learn about their contributions to society. From the Belgian breed to the Shire breed, these horses have made a significant impact on the world. So, let’s dive in and discover the world’s biggest horses.
You are reading: Top 10 Tallest Horses In The World
Top 10 Tallest Horses In The World
Shire
The Shire horse is a British breed of draught horse that is usually black, bay, or grey. It is a tall breed, and Shires have at various times held world records both for the largest horse and for the tallest horse.
The Shire has a great capacity for weight-pulling and was used for farm work, to tow barges, and as a cart-horse for road transport. The breed is believed to be a descendant of the “Great Horse” of medieval England, a large, strong mount that could carry a knight and armor weighing up to 400 pounds with swiftness and agility. These native English horses were crossed with Flemish stallions in the 1200s and Dutch Friesians in the 1500s.
Shire horses are an easygoing breed that is hard working and easy to train, making them a good breed for all levels of owners – even beginners.
Today, the Shire horse is still popular for pulling vehicles, such as sightseeing wagons, and many equestrians enjoy riding the docile breed for pleasure. They are an environmentally friendly alternative to tractors on small farms and are still used in logging operations. They also are a popular promotional tool for modern-day beer brewers, some of whom are again making deliveries by horse and wagon.
Clydesdale
According to the search results, the tallest horse ever recorded was a Shire gelding named Sampson (later named Mammoth) who was 21 hands (or 7 feet and 2.5 inches or 219 cm) tall and weighed 3,359 lbs (1,524 kg) .
However, the tallest horse alive as of 2021 was Big Jake, who measured over 22 hands tall and weighed in at 2,260 pounds. Big Jake was a Belgian horse. While Clydesdales are a large breed, they are not the tallest horses in the world.
The tallest Clydesdale on record is Digger, who was 19.2hh and trained as a drum horse for royal parades.
Percheron
According to the search results, the Percheron horse is not the tallest horse in the world. However, there have been some very tall Percheron horses recorded in history. Dr Le Gear, a Percheron horse, was recorded in 1915 as the world’s biggest horse, standing 21 hands high and weighing 2,995 lbs (1,359 kg).
Goliath, another Percheron gelding, was known as the 2005 Guinness Book of World Record holder for Tallest Living Horse, standing at 19.1 hands high.
While Percherons are not the tallest breed of horse, they are still a large and powerful breed that is known for their strength and work ethic. They are often used for farm work, forestry, and as a leisure horse for riding.
Belgian Draft
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The Belgian Draft horse is a breed of heavy draft horse that originated in the region of the Low Countries, which is now central Belgium. There are two main types of Belgian Draft horses: the Belgian Draught and the American Belgian Draft. The Belgian Draught is one of the strongest of the heavy breeds and is generally taller and less heavily built than the American Belgian Draft.
The American Belgian Draft is an American breed of heavy draft horse that derives from the draft horses of Belgium but became genetically distinct from them in the early part of the twentieth century due to isolation and different selective breeding.
The Belgian Draft horse is known for its kind temperament and is easy to handle. They are still used today for farm work, forestry, and leisure riding. The breed associations for the Belgian Draft horse are the Société Royale Le Cheval de Trait Belge/ Koninklijke Maatschappij van het Belgisch Trekpaard and the Eleveurs Wallons du Cheval de Trait Belge/ Vlaamse Fokkers van het Belgisch Trekpaard.
Dutch Draft
The Dutch Draft, also known as the Nederlands Trekpaard, is a breed of heavy draft horse that originated in the Netherlands.
Here are some key facts about the Dutch Draft:
– The Dutch Draft is of cold-blood type, massively built, and calm in temperament.
– It was bred in the early twentieth century in the province of Zeeland, and may for that reason be known as the Zeeland Horse or Dutch: ‘Zeeuws Paard’.
– The breed was created by cross-breeding the heavy draft mares of the province of Zeeland with Ardennes and Brabant stock from neighboring Belgium.
– Until after the Second World War, it was the most important Dutch horse breed, but with the mechanization of agriculture, it declined rapidly.
– In 2009, the breed population was reported to be 1424.
– The Dutch Draft is well-known for its heavy muscling and calm disposition.
– The average height of the Dutch Draft is 16 hands high.
– The Dutch Draft is used for heavy draft and farm work, and they make great companions and workers.
There are two breeders’ associations for the Dutch Draft horse: the Koninklijke Vereniging Het Nederlandse Trekpaard en de Haflinger and the Vereniging Het Nederlands Trekpaard en de Groninger.
Suffolk Punch
According to the search results, the Suffolk Punch is not the tallest horse in the world. Although they are a large and powerful breed, they are generally smaller in height than other draft horse breeds such as the Shire and Clydesdale. The average height of a Suffolk Punch is 15.2 to 16.2 hands high, although some individuals can reach 17 hands.
However, they are known for their massive size and strength, with an average weight of 2000 to 2200 pounds. The Suffolk Punch is a British equine breed that originated in Suffolk and Norfolk in eastern England, and is thought to be the oldest breed of heavy horse in Britain. They were bred for draft work, such as farming and other heavy-duty tasks, and are known for their hardy constitution and endurance.
Suffolk Punches are always chestnut in color and are particularly powerfully built. They are even-tempered and easygoing, and are always willing to work.
American Cream Draft
According to the search results, the American Cream Draft is not the tallest horse in the world. The American Cream Draft is a medium-to-large breed of draft horse that stands between 15 and 16.3 hands high (60-67 inches or 152-163 cm) . Mares weigh between 1,600-1,800 lbs (725-816 kg), while stallions and geldings can range up to 2,000 lbs (907 kg).
While they are not the tallest breed of draft horse, they are known for their refined heads, wide chests, sloping shoulders, and short, strong backs. They have well-muscled hindquarters and strong, well-proportioned legs that are set well apart, making them sure-footed with strong hooves.
The American Cream Draft is characterized by the cream or “gold champagne” color of its coat, and all American Cream Draft horses descend from a cream-colored mare named Old Granny. They are known for their good disposition, willingness to work, and free and easy movement.
Australian Draught
According to the search results, the Australian Draught horse is not the tallest horse in the world. The Australian Draught horse is a breed of draught horse that was developed in Australia by crossbreeding the Clydesdale, Percheron, Shire, Suffolk Punch, and Belgian breeds.
Here are some key facts about the Australian Draught horse:
– The Australian Draught horse comes in several types, and ranges in height from around 16-17.3 hands high.
– The average height of an Australian Draught horse is about 16 hands high, or just under 5 feet tall.
– The breed has evolved from four different draught horse breeds and occasionally some light horse bloodlines.
– The Australian Draught horse is known for its strength, hardiness, and good temperament.
– The Australian Draught horse is a heavy draft breed that is used for farm work, forestry, and leisure riding.
– The Australian Draught horse Stud Book Society was founded in 1979 to protect and document the breed.
While the Australian Draught horse is not the tallest breed of horse, it is still a large and powerful breed that is known for its strength and work ethic.
Boulonnais
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According to the search results, the Boulonnais horse is not the tallest horse in the world. Here are some key facts about the Boulonnais horse:
– The Boulonnais horse is a French draft horse breed that stands from 14.3 to 16.3 hands (59 to 67 inches, 150 to 170 cm) or more.
– The average height of an adult Boulonnais horse is between 14.3 to 16.3 hands.
– The Boulonnais horse has a short, elegant head with a broad forehead and a short, muscular neck. Members of the breed have full chests, rounded rib cages, and sloping shoulders. The legs are fairly short but robust and strong.
– Unlike other draft breeds such as the Shire or Clydesdale, the Boulonnais horse has no heavy feathering on its lower legs.
– The Boulonnais horse is generally branded with a small anchor mark on the left side of the neck.
– The Boulonnais horse was once a popular workhorse in France, with an estimated population of over 600,000 in the early 1900s. World War I and World War II almost destroyed the breed, as its home country was devastated by the wars.
– The Boulonnais horse is known for its powerfully built, friendly, and lively aptitude for physical tasks.
– The Boulonnais horse is typically grayish-white in color, although it can also be chestnut or black.
– The Boulonnais horse is used for jumping, dressage, eventing, endurance, and meat.
– The American Boulonnais Horse Association was founded in 2003 to promote and protect the breed in the United States.
In summary, while the Boulonnais horse is a powerful and elegant breed of draft horse, it is not the tallest horse in the world.
Jutland
According to the search results, the Jutland horse is not the tallest horse in the world. Here are some key facts about the Jutland horse:
– The Jutland horse is a Danish breed of draft horse that generally stands between 15 and 16.1 hands (60 and 65 inches, 152 and 165 cm) tall.
– The average weight of a Jutland horse is between 1,430 and 1,760 pounds (650 and 800 kg).
– The Jutland horse is typically chestnut in color, but may also be bay, gray, black, or roan, and frequently has white markings.
– Although compact in size, the Jutland horse is a strong and powerful breed that was used for transportation of carriages and heavy goods.
– The Jutland horse has a quick, free action and is known for its good temperament.
– The Frederiksborg horse, another Danish breed, influenced the Jutland during the 18th century.
– The Jutland horse is still used today for farm work, forestry, and leisure riding.
– The Jutland horse is considered to be a national treasure in Denmark and is protected by law.
In summary, while the Jutland horse is a strong and powerful breed of draft horse, it is not the tallest horse in the world.
FAQs
1. What is the tallest horse in the world?
Until his death in June 2021, Big Jake of Poynette, Wisconsin was the world’s tallest horse as proclaimed by the Guinness Book of World Records. In hands, he measured 20 and 2-3/4″ tall, equivalent to 6 feet 10 inches. Big Jake, a red Belgian, weighed over 2500 pounds.
2. What are the top 10 tallest horses in the world?
The top 10 tallest horses in the world include Jutland, American Cream Draft, Boulonnais, Dutch Draft, Australian Draught, Shire, Clydesdale, Percheron, Belgian Draft, and Suffolk Punch.
3. What is the average height of the Jutland horse?
The Jutland horse generally stands between 15 and 16.1 hands (60 and 65 inches, 152 and 165 cm) tall.
4. What is the average weight of the American Cream Draft?
The average weight of an American Cream Draft is between 1,600-1,800 lbs (725-816 kg), while stallions and geldings can range up to 2,000 lbs (907 kg).
5. What is the tallest horse breed?
The tallest horse breed is the Shire, which can stand up to 18 hands (72 inches, 183 cm) tall.
6. What is the Clydesdale breed known for?
The Clydesdale breed is known for its size, strength, and distinctive feathering on its lower legs. They are often used for pulling carriages and in parades.
7. What is the Percheron breed used for?
The Percheron breed is used for farm work, forestry, and leisure riding. They are known for their strength and work ethic.
8. What is the Belgian Draft breed known for?
The Belgian Draft breed is known for its kind temperament and is easy to handle. They are still used today for farm work, forestry, and leisure riding.
9. What is the Suffolk Punch breed known for?
The Suffolk Punch breed is known for its massive size and strength, with an average weight of 2000 to 2200 pounds. They are known for their hardy constitution and endurance.
10. What is the Boulonnais breed used for?
The Boulonnais breed is used for jumping, dressage, eventing, endurance, and meat.
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