The Tallest Horse in the World

Of all horse breeds, the draft horse remains the largest equine in the world to the detriment of the saddle horse or leisure horse or even the trotter.

Athletic and with excellent conformation, he is very appreciated by the breeder for riding linked to agriculture and traction. To obtain a more versatile horse, some breeders crossbreed with thoroughbred chestnut or French saddle mares from a stud farm.

Among the 9 draft horse breeds, there are the most impressive. To make the difference, here is a list of the largest horses in the world.

Big Jake

At 2.10 m at the withers and weighing 1,180 kilos, Big Jake remains the largest horse in the world according to Guinness World Records. This equine has held this record since 2010, despite its recent disappearance. He beat the former record holder by 7 centimeters. Its very muscular body has a broad and deep chest as well as a flared back.

Usually English draft horses of the Shire breed are the tallest, but Big Jake, a Belgian breed, made the difference. According to his owner, Big Jake was flexible and gentle. This equine behavior made his training easier. His large size took away from his abilities certain equestrian activities such as riding or riding in the saddle. On the other hand, his corpulence showed agility when galloping or trotting.

The Shire

Originally from England, the Shire (bay, black or gray) is a very powerful breed of horse, but at the same time kind, courageous and enduring. Its average height is 1.80 m at the withers with an average weight of 1000 kilos. As a result, the Shire is recognized as the largest of horse breeds.

A Shire named Mammoth, born in 1846, is the largest horse ever recorded in the studbook with a height of 2.19 m at the withers and an estimated weight of 1,500 kg. Then, the Guinness Record recognized Goliath, still a Shire horse, as the largest horse in the world until 2001.

The Clydesdale

The Clydesdale, originally from Scotland, is one of the equines with a character that is both calm and dynamic. This breed of horse has been known for its small size in the past. His stable breeding favored his good growth. Its average height of 1.75 m has allowed it to be among the largest horse breeds in the world. The Clydesdale can weigh up to a ton.

Formerly it was used by the royal cavalry British during national holiday parades. To be part of this festivity, a horse had to have endurance and be very high as well. Given these attributes, this type of horse sells at a high price today. He is also very present in the equestrian show.

The Percheron among the largest horse in France

The Percheron is a horse breed originating from Perche. This French horse is very affectionate, intelligent and also strong-willed. Its average height at the withers is 1.72 m. However, this varies from country to country. In France, for example, the Percheron measures between 1.60 m and 1.85 m and weighs between 500 and 1200 kg. Equipped with a beautiful mane, the Percheron is among the most beautiful horses in the world.

The Belgian Line

The Belgian trait, known by another horse name like Brabant or Brabançon, is a docile and intelligent horse. It comes precisely from the Brandt region of modern Belgium. This draft horse is one of the strongest among the group of heavy horse breeds. The exceptional Belgian trait Brooklyn Suprême enters the category of the largest horses in the world with a height at the withers of 1.98 m and a weight of 1,451 kg.

The Suffolk Punch

The Suffolk, also called Suffolk Punch or Suffolk Sorrel, is an English thoroughbred horse. He is sociable and courageous, giving him the equine reputation of being hardworking and energetic. On average, the Suffolk measures 1.70 m at the withers and weighs between 900 and 1,000 kg. It is suitable for a team because of its corpulent appearance and its astonishing strength. Unfortunately, the Suffolk Punk, one of the largest horse breeds in the world, is currently threatened with extinction.

The Dutch Draft stallion

Originally from the Netherlands, the Dutch draft horse also has its place in the ranking of all the large horses in the world. The Dutch trait constitutes one of the giant stallions having a cold-blooded, calm and stubborn temperament. However, he has a certain freedom in his movements and good endurance. This Dutch draft horse has an impressive morphology with a massive and muscular body. The average size of this stallion varies between 1.60 and 1.70 m. Its average weight is 700 kg.

The American cream line

The American cream draft, called American White Horse or American Cream Draft, or Champagne Gold, is a breed of horse originating from the United States. American nobles, in the 1900s, used this breed to pull carts. This made their tasks easier since the American Cream is a gentle and docile animal.

The size of the mare varies greatly: between 1.52 and 1.62 m. Its build can weigh on average 800 kg. On the other hand, the male turns out to be much larger, because he can reach up to 1.66 m and weigh more than 820 kg.

The Soviet Trait

The Soviet Draft, originally from Russia, is also one of the horse breeds recognized as the largest horse in the world. Generally called the Russian Heavy Draft, this draft horse is, in reality, a descendant of the Belgian Draft horse.

A Soviet draft stallion has an average height of 1.63 m and an average weight of 850 kg. As for the mare, she has a slightly smaller height, i.e. 1.60 m with a weight measured at 700 kg. In any case, the Soviet draft horse generally has a bay dress or chestnut or other colors that it probably inherited from its crossing with the Ardennes.