Adopt a gentle giant, 19hh Digger joins charity scheme
![Little and Large - Jerry and Digger[6]](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tda9ydVxxx3VEpiiQd4mCW-329-80.jpg.webp)
A gentle giant has joined World Horse Welfare’s adoption scheme as the biggest horse the charity has ever cared for.
Standing at over 19hh, Clydesdale horse Digger has been a huge hit with visitors to his home at the World Horse Welfare Belwade Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Aberdeenshire.
Digger is just four inches smaller than Europe’s largest living horse and has a bridle specially made to fit his head.
He has recently joined World Horse Welfare adopt a horse scheme in place of donkey, Whisky, who has now been rehomed.
“When we were considering potential equine candidates to replace Whisky on the adopt a horse scheme, Digger quite literally stood head and shoulders above the rest,” said Eileen Gillen, centre manager at Belwade Farm.
Eileen has been caring for Digger since he arrived in early 2008 as a four-year-old. His owner contacted World Horse Welfare to ask for help when he was growing fast and problems had started to occur with the joints in his hind legs.
The gelding received veterinary care from the charity and continued to grow — earning his title as the biggest horse the charity has cared for.
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Digger caught the attention of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and was accepted on a two-year training programme to become a drum horse.
Unfortunately, it became apparent that he was much better suited to life in the slow lane away from London, so he returned to Belwade Farm in 2012.
“He already has a huge following with visitors travelling from all over the UK to meet him and our adopters loved seeing him at the recent adopters’ day which we held to welcome him on to the scheme and say goodbye to Whisky (pictured above),” added Eileen.
“Whisky was a great character and we’re delighted that he is now in a new home, receiving the love and pampering that he deserves. I would say that Digger has some big shoes to fill but I think his shoes are plenty big enough already!”
For more information on the scheme visit: http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Adopt
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.