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The World's Biggest, Tallest, Largest Horses

by Annamaria Tadlock
Do you own or know someone who has an exceptionally tall horse? Can you provide photos of the listed horses? We'd love to hear from you-- please email ultimatehorse@gmail.com

A roundup of the world's largest, tallest, and biggest horses.

The world record largest horse of all time:

Sampson, a Shire Gelding that stood 21.2 1/2 hands tall, born in 1846.

(for conversion see the horse hands conversion page).

 

 

2008 Tallest Horses

Luscombe Nordram, aka "Noddy", a Shire, as a five-year-old was measured by his owners to be 20.1 hands tall. He lives in Australia. "It sounds like a mountain moving when he gallops across the paddock to come and get his breakfast," says his owner, Jane Greenman.

Digger, a Clydesdale gelding was measured at just over 19 hands high at the age of four! Digger resides at the ILHP farm in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Digger with his friend and smallest ILHP resident, Sweep. Thanks to The International League for the Protection of Horses for allowing us to use photos of Digger.

2007 Current Guinness World Record holder:
Jenson’s Diplomat Tina, aka Tina, 20 hand Shire mare. She was measured barefoot at the age of 3. Her sire was 19.3 and her dam was over 18 hands tall. She was bred by Jenson Shires and is currently owned by Jim & Marge Williams in Niota, Tennessee.

"In order to obtain size in a horse of any breed you must start with the genetics. You have to have two parents that have size bred into their genetic make up. Then you have the potential for a large horse. Feed, health conditions and general care all contribute to the ultimate size that a horse will attain.

Tina may actually have another 3 years of growth ahead of her. Sometimes a shire will get most of its growth by the time they are 3 but will continue to grow till they are 6 years old. We may actually be witnessing a horse that will continue to grow for another 3 years."

- Clark Jenson of Jenson Shires

Thanks to Jenson Shires for the photos and information on Tina!

Clark of Jenson Shires also owns Tina's father, 19.3 hand Diplomat.

2006 Guinness World Record holder:
Radar - 19.3 1/2 hands Belgian Draft 2,400 pounds
Radar was the Preifert company "mascot"

2005 in Britain, A Shire horse named Cracker was measured at 19.2. One of our readers emailed this pic, if you have credits/info about the photo, please email us:

2003 Guinness World Record holder:
Goliath - 19.1 hand Percheron 2,200 pounds

 

Previous Tall Horses

 

2004 Jigs stood 19hh and weighed 2,800 lbs.

1990's a Shire named King stood 19.2hh and weighed 2,205lbs

1957-1979 A horse of unknown breed , named General was claimed to be 19.2 hh and wiegh 2,850 pounds.

1970s a horse named Firpon of unknown breed stood 21.1hh and weighed 2,976

1960's: in the 60's a horse of unknown breed and unknown name was claimed to be 20hh and weigh 2,800 pounds.

1938, a horse of unknown breed named Pat stood 19.3hh and 2,800 lbs.

Brooklyn Supreme:

1930-1948 Brooklyn Supreme, a Belgian Draft stood 19.2hh and weighed 3,200 lbs. It took 30" of iron to make one shoe for him.

1930 a Suffolk horse who's name is not knows was reported to stand 21hh and 2,810 lbs.

At an unkown date a Clydesdale named KingLeGear was claimed to b 20 1/2hh and to weigh 2,950

Morocco

1904 - Morocco, a Arabian/Percheron cross stood 21.2 hh and weighed 2,835lbs.

In 1903 a Percheron named Dr. LeGear was claimed to be 21hh and 2,995lbs.

1850 Samson stood at 21.2 ½ hh and weighed 3,360 making him the largest horse to ever live in the history of large horses.