There’s no denying that horses are pretty big animals. But depending on their breed and the country they come from, they can vary a lot in height and weight. The smallest horses are known as miniature horses and the largest ones are draft type horses. But what exactly are the worlds largest horse breeds? We'll take a deeper look at this question below.
How Do You Measure a Horse?
Horses are traditionally measured in hands (h) and one hand equals four inches. This measuring unit comes from a time when farmers would use the palm of their hand to measure livestock.
In the UK, Australia and the USA, using hands is the standard way to measure a horse. But often in a European country, they will measure horses in centimeters.
You measure a horse from the bottom of its front hoof, up until its withers. This is the area where the horse's neck meets its back. So you only measure the horse's body, not including its neck and head.
When we measure an equine, depending on its height it will be classed as a horse, pony or miniature horse. Anything that measures over 14.2h is a horse.
An animal that measures between 14.2h and 9.2h is considered to be a pony. And anything smaller than this is a miniature.
Learn more in our article about average horse heights and how to measure.
How Tall is the Worlds Tallest Horse?
According to the Guinness World Records, Big Jake was the most recent tallest horse in the world. And he was a Belgian Draft horse and measured 20.2 and 3/4 hands and weighed 2600 pounds. But unfortunately, Big Jake lost his life in June 2021. And Guinness have yet to announce the successor of Big Jake.
The biggest horse in the world ever was a Shire breed named Samson. He was around in the mid-1800s and he measured 21.2 and a half hands and weighed 3360 pounds. Samson still holds the record for being the largest horse that ever lived.
What’s the Biggest Horse Breed?
On average, the largest horse breed is a Shire horse, and the second-largest horse breed is the Clydesdale. And these are both types of draft horses.
Most of the largest horse breeds in the world are draft type horses. This is because these types of horses have been specifically bred for their strength and power to enhance human life on earth.
What's a Draft Horse?
Many draft horses usually come from a country with a cold climate. They’re big, muscular and powerful and they have a placid, almost docile temperament.
And as well as this, draft horse breeds are sturdy and have a sensible attitude to life. So this makes them the perfect horse breed for pulling carts and heavy loads and pulling plow.
Overall, these horses are used for general farm and country work as well as for pulling carts and transportation.
Are Draft Horses Good For Horseback Riding?
Even though draft horses have been selectively bred for pulling carts and farm work, most of them also make fantastic riding horses. Draft horses were often used in war, and they make a great mount for heavy riders.
Some draft breeds are more energetic and forward going than others. So if you want a draft horse for riding or to use this breed for horse shows then make sure you choose one of the more energetic breeds.
10 of the Worlds Largest Breeds
Below, we’ll take an in-depth look at the worlds largest horse breeds. We'll reveal their average size and average weight, as well as their country of origin.
1. Shire
The Shire horse breed is native to Great Britain and they're famous for their farm work as well as for being fearless war horses. They’re generally considered to be the largest horse breed on average and they have a very ancient history. Shire's measure between 17 and 19 hands and they weigh between 1,800 and 2,400 lbs.
As well as being one of the largest breeds, Shire's have also been bred to be one of the strongest. And they have a super laid back attitude, making them perfect for pulling carts and for assisting with heavy farm work.
Shire's are tall, with long legs that are covered in distinctive long hair known as feathers. They have a long neck and head and you’ll find them with a bay, black, grey or chestnut coat. They’ll usually have some kind of white markings on the lower legs and face too. They make some of the most stunning black and white horse breeds.
Unfortunately, just like a lot of draft breeds, Shire horses are becoming rarer. But luckily, there are Shire horse associations, in the USA and UK, that are working hard to preserve the breed.
2. Clydesdale
The Clydesdale breed is considered to be the second-largest draft breed in the world. These gentle giants come from Scotland and they measure between 16 to 18 hands. And they can weigh between 1800 and 2000 lbs.
Clydesdales are long-legged and look very similar to Shire horses but they’re a bit smaller and have thinner coats. They’re easy-going and comparative and they have a high stepping gait. Clydesdale's are one of the more energetic types of draft horse.
A typical Clydesdale will be bay with some white face and leg markings. But they can also come with black, gray or chestnut coats.
3. Percheron
The history of the Percheron horse can be found dating back to the 17th century in France. It was once considered to be the tallest breed in the world.
And another record holder for the world's tallest horse title was a Percheron called Dr LeGear. He measured 21 hands and weighed 2995 lbs.
Percherons are large horses that can grow between 15 and 19 hands and they’ll typically weigh between 1900 and 2000 lbs. They’re strong, forward going and willing to work and they’re a hardy horse for cold climates.
The Percheron is often cross-bred with Arabian horses to give them a finer appearance. And the coat of a Percheron will usually be black or gray. In fact, it's listed as one of our favorite black horse breeds.
After world war 2 and the invention of tractors, the Percheron almost became extinct. But they became popular riding horses in the 60's and their numbers have massively increased since then.
4. Belgian Draft
The Belgian draft horse breed is also known as the Flanders horse and they've had a lot of influence over many modern-day draft breeds such as the Suffolk Punch. These Belgian draft horses measure between 15 and 18 hands and weigh between 1800 and 2200 lbs.
Belgian drafts are famous for their kind temperaments, they’re laid back and easy to handle. and as well as being good working horses, they work well under the saddle too.
Belgian draft horses are generally compact and muscular with a short, wide back. And they have short, strong legs with some feathers. Belgian drafts will usually have a bay roan, sorrel or chestnut coat.
5. Dutch Draft
The Dutch draft comes from Holland and is also known as the Nederlands Trekpaard. And it’s a cross between two large horses, the Belgian draft and the Ardeneese horse. The Dutch draft will usually measure between 15 to 17 hands and they weigh between 1500 to 1700 lbs.
Dutch draft horses are intelligent, calm and very strong and they’re fairly easy to train. The Dutch draft will often work at a slightly slower pace but they can work for longer periods.
This large breed is heavy-set with muscular hindquarters and a strong, wide chest, They have a short neck and a wide head, with short, feathered legs.
Dutch drafts will usually be bay, gray or chestnut coated. If you want a slow and sturdy, sensible draft, Dutch is the one to go for.
6. Suffolk Punch
The Suffolk Punch is another large horse breed from England and it’s considered to be one of the oldest native breeds. They have a long history as their bloodline is thought to go back as far as the 16th century. They measure between 16 and 18 hands, and their typical weight is between 1900 and 2220 pounds.
The Suffolk Punch was bred for farm work, they’re easy keepers, quiet and docile, and willing to work. However, due to the rise of modern farming machinery, the Suffolk Punch almost became extinct in the 1950s. And their numbers are still critically low today.
The heavy-set Suffolk Punch has an arched neck, muscular shoulders and a short but wide back. They're one of the most distinctive heavy horse breeds because they’re always chestnut coated. But sometimes they can have white markings on their face and legs.
7. American Cream Draft
The American Cream Draft is a very special large breed because it’s the only native American draft breed left in existence. The American Cream draft measures between 15.1 to 16.3 hands and they typically weigh between 1600 and 1800 lbs.
These horses are very distinctive with a cream coat, and amber eyes. They also have pink skin and a bright white mane and tail. They’re one of the shorter draft breeds but overall, they're very strong and muscular.
The American Cream Draft is a very calm and reliable horse. But unfortunately, just like several other breeds on this list, the American Cream is in danger of becoming extinct.
8. Australian Draught
The Australian draft is a mix between four draft horses, the Shire, Clydesdale, Percheron and Suffolk punch. They typically measure between 17.2 and 18 hands, and their average weight is between 1300 and 2000 pounds.
These horses are strong and hardy, have a moderate temperament and are a bit more forward going than other draft horses. They have strong, muscular shoulders and a medium neck, and they’ll usually have some feathering on the legs.
The Australian draft comes can come with a range of different coat colors. And in recent years, the Belgien draft has been added to the bloodline to give the breed more variation.
9. Boullanaise
The Boullanaise is a heavy horse breed from France and is an exceptionally elegant type of draft horse. This is because it is related to the Arabian horse, the Spanish breed Andalusian and the Spanish barb horse. They measure between 15.1 and 17 hands and they weigh between 1259 - 1600 pounds.
The Boullanaise is quite distinctive due to its short head and wide forehead and they have a thick, muscular arched neck.
These horses are very sociable with humans and they’re forward going and easy to train. And this makes them one of the best largest riding horse breeds.
The Boullaniese is also known as a white marble horse because traditionally these horses are gray. But on rare occasions, they can be found with black or chestnut coats.
And just like a lot of the large horse breeds on this list, the Boullanaise almost faced extinction after world war two. And even though their numbers have improved, they're still considered a rare breed.
10. Jutland
And no list of the biggest horse breeds would be complete without the Jutland horse from Denmark. Jutland's measure between 15 to 16.1 hands so they’re one of the shorter large breeds. But even though they’re short, they typically weigh between 1400 to 1700 pounds.
Jutland horses are famous for their calm temperament and willingness to work. They have a very distinctive convex face and low, flat withers, and they’re very compact and heavy.
Jutland horses are mostly chestnut, and they look a lot like the Suffolk Punch. This is because the Suffolk Punch is one of their closest ancestors. But you can also find gray, bay, black and roan coated Jutland horses.
Biggest Horse Breeds - Frequently Asked Questions
What's the biggest horse breed?
The Shire horse from England is considered to be the worlds largest horse breed. This type of heavy draft horse can measure up to 19 hands tall on average.
What’s the second tallest horse breed?
The Clydesdale from Scotland is the worlds second tallest breed of horse. These are heavy draft horses and are very similar to Shires.
How tall is the tallest horse?
The tallest horse that ever lived during the history of records was a Shire horse called Sampson and he stood at 22.2 and a half hands tall and weighed 3360 pounds. He lived in the mid 19th century and no horse has yet stolen his title.
What horse is bigger than a Clydesdale?
A Clydesdale is a pretty big horse, but they're not the biggest horses. The Shire horse is considered to be the biggest breed of horse, so these are generally larger than Clydesdales.
How long do large horse breeds live?
On average larger horse breeds live a shorter live than smaller breeds of horses. Read our article exploring how long horses live, which gives examples of the average lifespan ranges for different breeds.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a comprehensive list of the largest horse breeds in the world. Now you know your Shire horse from your Jutland, you're on your way to becoming a horse pro.
