World's Largest Horse Breeds: Identifying The Heaviest Horses

While Secretariat is unanimously considered to be the most popular racehorse in the world, there are several other horses that have earned enormous fame owing to their special qualities.

Did you ever get the chance to go horse riding? The ride is full of fun and thrill!

Who can ever get over the alluring charm of the wild horse that featured in Anna Sewell's famous novel named 'Black Beauty'? Horses are one of the most magnificent creations of nature.

They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Humans have found great utility by taming the horses.

Horses have served mankind since historical times when they were used to traverse long distances and combat in wars. Today, they have gained a lot of popularity in innumerable games. A game of polo loses all fun without these sturdy and thrifty horses.

For entertainment, you can take your kids to the prestigious Midwest Horse Fair held in Wisconsin. Continue reading to find out more about the world's tallest living horse as well as the largest and heaviest ones.

Don't forget to peek into these amusing facts like do horses eat meat and do horses sweat while you are at it.

What is the largest horse ever recorded?

If you are a horse lover then you must be acquainted with the fastest horse in the world but are you aware of the largest one? It's time to find out!

Born in April 1928, Brooklyn Supreme aka Brookie was a Belgian stallion that is regarded as the largest horse breed as per world records. The red-roan-colored stallion stood 6.5 ft (198 cm) tall with a weight of 3,200 lb (1,452 kg).

However, the world's tallest horse, popularly called Samson, appears to have broken the record with its height close to 7 ft (213 cm) and 3,359 lb (1,524 kg) weight.

It was bred by its owner Thomas Cleaver residing in Bedfordshire, UK. Since this Shire gelding is tallest as well as the heaviest, it is currently considered to be the biggest too.

Heaviest Horse Breeds

As mentioned previously, Samson is considered to be both the heaviest and tallest horse. Nevertheless, there are some other horses that are heavier than normal horses. Here is a list of some of those heaviest horse breeds in the world.

Clydesdale - Clydesdales are large-sized equines that have been used for innumerable purposes including carriage pulling, driving, agriculture, hauling, and war. They're heavier than most other breeds measuring around 1,600-2,400 lb (726-1,089 kg).

Percheron - Percherons historically served as warhorses but in the modern world, they're draft horses. Their average weight ranges from 1,800-2,600 lb (816-1,179 kg). They possess an arched neck and a muscular body.

Suffolk Punch - Also famous as the Suffolk Sorrel, these equines are known for their strength and energy. They're engaged in agriculture as well as draught work, advertising, and forestry. The average weight of the Suffolk Punch falls within 1,950-2,200 lb (885-998 kg).

Tallest Horse Breeds

Take a look at a few of the tallest breeds of horses that have earned the limelight in the modern generation.

With their origin in Belgium, the Belgian draft horses originally aided in farming. As per the Guinness Book of World Records, the Belgian draft horses are the tallest in the entire world.

They possess beautiful feathered legs and a short yet muscular neck.

In July 2021, the announcement of the demise of the gigantic Belgian horse, Big Jake left its admirers in deep sorrow. Its owner, Jerry Gilbert, plans on memorializing Big Jake by placing a brick in front of its empty stall with its name and image inscribed on it.

The equine that was raised in the Smokey Hollow Farm, Wisconsin was officially hailed as the world's tallest horse by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010.

Its weight was about 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) while in height it measured more than 6.5 ft (198 cm) excluding its neck and head. It was maintained in the Smokey Hollow Farm with lots of attention and care.

However, currently, the world's tallest living horse is none other than the famous Samson. The mammoth stature of the breed also qualifies it to be the heaviest in the world to date.

In general, the Shire horses of Great Britain are considered to be one of the world's tallest horse breeds standing 5-6 ft (64-72 in) tall.

Before Big Jake, Goliath, the 2,500 lb (1134 kg) Percheron, was identified as the tallest among all horses. On the other hand, King LeGear, Morocco, Radar, and Remington also deserve special mention as few of the renowned tallest equines known to mankind.

Captive Horse Size Vs Wild Horse Size

A captive horse differs from a wild horse breed in several respects but the most distinct feature that sets them apart is their sizes.

Although both captive and wild horses vary in their sizes and shapes, the former is generally smaller. Most of the wild horses have an approximate height of 4-5 ft (52-60 in) while they weigh about 700-1,000 lb (318-454 kg).

Horses bred in captivity can develop a large-sized body depending on the diet and selective breeding programs. However, captive horses can also be small. Did you know that Flabella is identified as the smallest horse breed?

Effect Of Nutrition On Horse Size

It goes without saying that nutrition plays a vital role in the development and wellbeing of all animals. If you want to know about the importance of a wholesome diet in a horse's life then read along.

Horses indulge in a herbivorous diet. The nutritional requirements of horses depend on their sizes. Water is the most important. A balanced diet comprising of fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and mineral is essential for good health.

Since the gall bladder is absent in horses, a high-fat diet can prove to be injurious. Hence, fat intake shouldn't exceed three to four percent. In the absence of a proper nutritious diet, the growth process can be severely affected.

Largest Horse Size Compared To Largest Human

Horses and humans have shared a close bonding and interestingly, there's a very thin line of difference between the two.

After learning about all the large horses, a comparison between the sizes of an equine and a human sounds absurd in the first place. The biggest-sized man in the world is an American resident named Jon Brower Minnoch.

He's approximately 6 ft (72 in) tall with a weight recorded at 974 lb (442 kg). Both Big Jake and Samson are larger than the largest human.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for world's largest horse then why not take a look at the oldest horse, or horse facts.