Tall horse breeds in the world
Horse length
The length of a horse's horizontal is measured from the nose to the end of the tail, and it is usually approximately 2.4 m, while its vertical length is measured from the bottom of the hoof to the highest point in the hoop, and it is used to express this unit of hand, as one hand equals about 10.2 cm The vertical horse length (it will be referred to by the word length) varies from one type to another, but its average is generally 154.4 cm, and it is worth noting that the horse continues to grow and increases in length until it reaches the age of about four.
Read : How much does a horse weigh
Horses have been our allies and acolytes for millennia. They have been with us throughout our history and have been carefully reproduced in order to become faster, stronger and bigger . Nowadays, there are more than 350 breeds of horses in the world, which have all their particularities !
In this article we will focus on the tallest horses in the world. Those who helped us to move around, to build our monuments or to plow our fields when there were no machines yet. But what you need to know is that the horses have grown well. Indeed, while the first ancestor of horses was the size of a poodle, some of the current horses exceed 2 m at the withers nowadays !
As an anecdote, the withers is the part located at the base of the neck , at the level of the shoulders of the horse. We measure horses at the withers to see if they fall into the pony category or not. As a reminder, a horse that measures less than 1.50 m at the withers (not shod) is almost always classified among ponies !
The biggest horse in the world
It is with a horse that bears its name very well that we open this article: Big Jake. Because yes, from the top of its 2.10 m at the withers , it is very tall! According to the Guinness Book of Records, Big Jake is officially the tallest horse in the world to be alive. This immense Belgian trait has held this record since 2012, the year in which it celebrated its 10th anniversary !
What you need to know about great horses is that they don't have the same daily life as others. Indeed, everything must be adapted for Big Jake . Its box has been enlarged to 6x6 meters, it eats twice as much as other horses and its owner has had to invest in a large truck to be able to transport it. After all, who says extraordinary horse, says extraordinary lifestyle !
Big Jake may seem impressive at first. It is true that its large size is scary. But it is a real cream according to its owner! According to him, it would be a very gentle and very kind horse. He wouldn't hurt a fly and even less a human, towards whom he has a lot of affection !
The biggest horse in history
Even though Big Jake is already very tall, he has existed much taller throughout history. The largest horse of all ages was called Sampson and measured 2.19m at the withers . This impressive size has forged the legend of this Shire with a light gray coat. Over time, Sampson was renamed "Mammoth" because of its large size and especially its weight which could amount to more than a ton and a half. What a big man !
To conclude this little passage on the greatest horses in history, we can also talk about a Made in France gem : Dr LeGear. Indeed, this Percheron measured 2.13 meters at the withers . It is the third largest horse in history and the largest Percheron that has ever existed. He did not live in France, but the Percherons are from there !
Now, let's get to the heart of the matter by moving on to the 7 Greatest Horse Breeds in the World !
7- The Dutch trait
Size : 1.60m to 1.75m
Weight : 750 kg to 1000 kg
Origin : Netherlands 🇳🇱
That's it. We are finally at the top of the 7 largest horse breeds in the world. We are also starting very strongly with the Dutch trait which, as its name suggests, comes from the Netherlands. However, don't get me wrong, despite being last, the Dutch trait can still measure up to 1.75m at the withers ! Besides that, he is also considered one of the heaviest horses in the world , weighing up to a ton!
The Dutch trait is a rather recent breed with a studbook created in 1914. It is believed to have been created around WWI for use in farm work and in pulling very heavy loads. Very close to the Belgian trait and the Ardennes at the genetic level, the Dutch trait would be a cross between the two horses . It is especially popular in the province of Zeeland and Groningen, in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the Second World War greatly affected the herd. Currently, the Dutch trait is a rare horse that must be preserved at all costs !
6- The Belgian trait
Size : 1.68m to 1.73m
Weight : 820 kg to 1000 kg
Origin : Belgium 🇧🇪
Let's go to sixth place in this top with the Belgian trait. Although it is not necessarily obvious in terms of numbers, its size is on average larger than that of the Dutch trait ! The Belgian trait is also a fairly recent breed. It would come from a mixture of several breeds of horses originating in Flanders during the 1900s. It is a very heavy horse for its size, which has very great strength!
At the physical level, it is one of the most imposing horses that can exist. He has enormous musculature compared to that of other equines. Although its Belgian version has a size between 1.68 m and 1.73 m at the withers, some Belgian features originating in America are much larger, even being able to exceed 2 m at the withers (like Big Jake)!
5- The Australian trait
Size : 1.60 m to 1.80 m
Weight : 600 kg to 900 kg
Origin : Australia 🇦🇺
So ! For fifth place in this top , we continue with a very big fellow coming from a large island located between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean: the Australian line. The funny thing about this horse is that it comes from a mix between all the other breeds in this top (except the Dutch trait). Because yes, as for American horses, Australian horses were created from crosses between European horses.
As with the two previous breeds, the Australian trait is very recent. It was formalized in 1976. Strength, endurance or size, the Australian trait has inherited all that is best from its ancestors. However, he is only in fifth place. Indeed, he was also mixed with saddle horses which are significantly smaller than the average draft horse. This tall man still measures 1.80 m at the withers for a weight of up to 900 kg, so he is already doing very well !
4- The Suffolk Punch
Size : 1.65m to 1.78m
Weight : 680 kg to 1100 kg
Origin : England 🏴
We go directly with the Suffolk Punch, a horse that would probably have a hell of a grip if he had hands! Because yes. In addition to being one of the tallest horses in the world, it is also one of the heaviest and one of the strongest. In truth, it is very close to the Australian line which can reach 1.78 m at the withers , but we place it in front because it is on average taller and heavier (therefore more imposing) !
Moreover, it also turns out to be one of the oldest draft horses still in operation today. The first traces of Suffolk Punch date back to 1586. It is a large horse with a chestnut coat, with a broad and fairly short head. In terms of his character, he tends to be pleasant and hardworking. The funny thing about the Suffolk Punch is that it is said to have close ties to ponies like the Fell, the Dales or the Haflinger. Of course, he is very far from being considered a pony… Ahah !
3- The Clydesdale
Size : 1.63m to 1.83m
Weight : 820 kg to 930 kg
Origin : Scotland
That's it. Here we are on the podium! We are starting very strong with the Clydesdale! It is not really known how long this breed has been around, but it is one of the most popular workhorses around the world. He became known in particular for his appearances in advertisements and events for the Budweiser beer brand. Although his height often fluctuates between 1.73m and 1.83m at the withers, it is common to see Clydesdales exceed 1.90m at the withers.
Fun fact: One of the tallest horses in history was a Clydesdale. Indeed, King LeGear , from the same owner as Dr Legear, measured 2.08 m at the withers for 1338 kg. This big bitch has been featured in ads for its owner, Mr. LeGear, and his Missouri-based veterinary medicine company a lot!
The Clydesdale is very easy to recognize at first glance. It very often has a bay coat, with large balzanes and a broad head on a straight or slightly convex muzzle. His biggest trademark is still the very abundant hairs he has on the baleen , which gives the impression that he is wearing cowboy pants from the best old school turnips in American cinema!
2- The Percheron
Size : 1.60m to 1.85m
Weight : 500 kg to 1200 kg
Origin : France 🇫🇷
We talked a little bit about it at the start of this article with Dr LeGear, but it's time to talk about the Percheron again . Our great national horse stands in second place on the podium with a height which generally rises to 1.85 m at the withers . So yes. It is far from the 2.13 m of the doc, but there remains an exception!
As its name suggests, Percheron comes to us from the former province of Perche, located at the level of present-day Normandy. He would mainly descend from Arab horses that the Norman nobles brought back from their victory at the Battle of Poitiers opposing the Franks to the Umayyad invaders. His greatest peculiarity, which has made him the ultimate transport horse , is that he is able to tow very heavy loads while trotting.
There are two types of Percherons . First of all, the draft Percheron who is tall, heavy and very muscular. It is able to tow large loads slowly. Then the Percheron diligencier who is less tall with a more slender and athletic physique. It is this one which is able to pull less heavy horse-drawn vehicles, but quickly. It is considered to be the most popular draft horse in the world, especially thanks to its rare elegance among horses of this type!
1- The Shire
Size : 1.73m to 1.93m
Weight : 800 kg to 1100 kg
Origin : England
There you go. It's time to end this ranking with the Shire. Because yes. Besides being the most popular draft horse in the world after the Percheron, it is also the tallest horse. His courage and perseverance have enabled him to excel in forest work, on the farm or even to tow boats on the canals. It is usually black, bay, or chestnut and can have the same barnacles as the Clydesdale!
The Shire measures an average of 1.80 m at the withers. Most of the tallest horses in the world are of the Shire breed with sizes that can easily exceed 2m at the withers!
Sadly, the Shire is threatened with extinction like almost all breeds of draft horses. During WWII, gasoline was requisitioned and all draft horses were used on the farm. Except that at the end of the war, farmers invested heavily in motor vehicles , which quickly replaced work horses ... The number of Shire horses has been increasing gradually in recent years.
How to measure horse length
To accurately measure the length of the horse, make sure that it is standing on a flat ground, then place the tip of the measuring tape at the base of the front hoof for it, and extend it to the top of the hoof (the area between the shoulders), taking into account that the horse's head is not counted within its height, and the horse's length can also be measured using Thread or chain, mark it, then measure the length of the thread or chain with a ruler.
The best breeds of horses
Arabic horse
It is one of the oldest and most famous breeds of horses in the world and was used in most regions of the world, not only in its origin in the Arab region. Because of its strength, activity and endurance it was used extensively in battles, mobility and commercial activities.
Arabian horses are known for their long, drawn, and smooth tails in addition to the distinctive head shape from other breeds. And today it is used to improve other breeds of horses in terms of strength, ability and speed.
Morgan horse
One of the first breeds to be improved in the United States, so it is affected by other breeds of horses in America. It was used in several things, including for training, racing, sports, riding and mobility, in addition to its use during the American Civil War.
And at the beginning of the twentieth century, many of the horses of this breed were exported to various countries, including European countries, especially England. And many organizations began to take care of the horses of this breed and improve them, and the number of horses belonging to this breed in 2005 reached more than 175 thousand horses.
Gypsy horse
A horse that has its origins in different breeds that have been crossed between them and resulted in the Gypsy horse, and despite this, the most prominent breeds that resulted from it have their origin in the British Isles. And often it is either white or black in color.
Among his most prominent characteristics are his large body, short limbs, and thick hair that often covers his head and neck and the tail that touches the ground. Strong in structure and solid torque, which made it suitable for working and towing vehicles. It is also very suitable for training, especially for those beginners in riding horses, because of its calm and agility, as well as its beauty and elegance.
The best horse in the world
The horse Frankel, which is the property of Prince Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman, is considered a legendary horse, which has reached the list of the five largest horses in the world, and its price is estimated at two hundred million dollars . It is one of the horses that does not lose in any race at all, since its first participation in New Market race in 2010 AD.
