Biggest horse breeds in the world: terrifically tall equines you should know

The biggest horse breeds are those that frequently measure over 18hh. Some of the taller individuals of these heavy horses can even measure over 20hh.

There is some debate over the largest horse ever recorded, as it depends how the horses are measured and whether the records refer to height or weight. The tallest horses on record are Shire horse Sampson, foaled in Bedfordshire in 1846, who measured 21.2½hh. Meanwhile, across the pond, Belgian Draft gelding Big Jake was measured at just shy of 20.3hh in Wisconsin, a Guinness World Record in 2010.

More recently, Shire horse Hugo has been assessed by Guinness World Records to be the world’s tallest living horse. Hugo, who lives in Northamptonshire, stands at 19.2hh at just four years old. We’ve heard of horses who are taller, but until they’re measured by Guinness World Records, Hugo is officially the tallest.

Biggest horse breeds

The five breeds that tend to produce the largest horses are Shire, Clydesdale, Belgian Draft, Percheron and Suffolk. Three of these are also British horse breeds.

Shire horse

Renowned for its height and strength, Shire horses have held various records for largest and tallest horse. They are a fantastic draught horse, and were traditionally used for farm work, pulling brewers’ drays and towing barges.

The breed, which originated in Britain and cultivated by crossing British horses with stock from the Netherlands, is still used for forestry and as draught horses for a some traditional breweries as well as a leisure horse for riding.

Tallest Shire: the 19th-century giant Sampson, 21.2½hh, who was renamed Mammoth as a four-year-old.

Clydesdale

Typically measures at least 17hh, but is lighter than the other large breeds due to its slighter frame. The Clydesdale is known for its height and strength, but it is also elegant, with a high-stepping showy action.

Although the breed originated in Scotland, they are famous in America due to featuring in the Budweiser commercials.

You might see them undertaking heritage, exhibition and conservation work. They are also commonly seen in ridden heavy horse showing classes.

Tallest Clydesdale: Digger, a 19.2hh, who was rescued as a foal and trained as a drum horse for royal parades.

Belgian Draught

While a Belgian Draught holds one of the records for the world’s largest horse, more typically they are a maximum of 17hh. The Belgian Draught is particularly known for its capacity to pull great weights and have won championships in this sphere.

Belgian Draught horses were exported throughout Europe and to the US, where it is now known as the American Brabant. Across the pond it is still one of the biggest horse breeds, but is typically slightly more compact than the European version.

While they can be ridden, they are particularly popular in forestry and farm work, and even pulling sledges.

Tallest Belgian Draft: Big Jake, measuring 20.2¾hh.

Percheron

Perhaps a surprising inclusion in this list as this French-bred draught horse can be as small as 15.2hh. However, most are much taller and have at times held biggest-horse records.

Percherons are also among the strongest in terms of their pulling power. They were traditionally used for transport – whether artillery and soldiers during wars, or stagecoaches during peacetime – as well as for agricultural work.

Nowadays, they are used for conservation and forestry work, and also as a riding and driving horse.

Tallest Percheron: Dr Le Gear was recorded in 1915 as the world’s biggest horse, standing 21hh and weighing 2,995lb (1,359kg).

Suffolk or Suffolk Punch

Always chesnut (and spelt without the T), Suffolk Punches are another of Britain’s established heavy-horse breeds and originated in the East Anglian county of Suffolk. Traditionally used for farm work as well as transporting artillery in the wars, they are nowadays used for riding as well as driving. They are also a rare horse breed.

A little more compact than the Clydesdale and Shire, they typically stand at 17hh max, although there are instances of individuals exceeding 17hh, and they are particularly powerfully built. They might not be the very tallest, but they are said to be the oldest heavy horse breed in Britain, dating back to the 16th century.

Tallest Suffolk: We couldn’t find an official record, habitat management and conservation charity The Otter Trust’s Colony Alfie is said to stand at over 18hh.

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