Shire

First up is the Shire, a breed that truly deserves the title of the biggest horse. Hailing from England, these majestic giants typically stand between 16 and 18 hands, with some exceptional individuals soaring past the 19-hand mark. Known for their gentle disposition and incredible strength, Shires were historically used for heavy draft work. Today, many Shires play vital roles in therapeutic programs, proving that the biggest horses can also have the largest hearts.

Clydesdale

Next on our list is the iconic Clydesdale. When most people think of the biggest horses, these Scottish beauties come to mind. Standing between 16 and 18 hands tall, their distinct bay coats, white markings, and feathered legs make them easily recognizable. Originally bred for agricultural work, Clydesdales have become cultural icons, especially through their famous association with Budweiser.

Belgian

Among the biggest horses, the Belgian is another standout. Typically measuring between 16 and 17 hands tall, these muscular horses were bred for farm work and are known for their calm demeanor. Often weighing in at over 2,000 pounds, they embody the term “gentle giant” and make wonderful family companions as well as hard-working farmhands.

Percheron

Bringing a touch of elegance to the list, the Percheron is a French breed that generally stands between 16 and 18 hands tall and can weigh up to an astounding 2,600 pounds. Known for their versatility, Percherons excel in various disciplines, from draft work to riding. Their calm nature and strong build make them favorites among horse enthusiasts looking for a reliable partner.

Suffolk Punch

Don’t let its lesser-known status fool you, the Suffolk Punch is a true giant among the biggest horses. Typically standing between 16 and 17 hands, these sturdy, chestnut beauties are recognized for their heavy build and friendly demeanor. Originally bred for agricultural work, they shine in various equestrian activities today, showcasing their remarkable strength and adaptability.

Boulonnais

Meet the Boulonnais, a hidden gem in the world of big horses. This French breed, often called the White Marble Horse, stands between 15 and 17 hands and is known for its agility and strength. While they may not be as widely recognized, their impressive size and versatile capabilities make them extremely valuable to any equestrian program.

Australian Draught

The Australian Draught is a versatile breed that stands between 16 and 17.2 hands tall.  Originally developed for heavy draft work, this draft evolved from crossbreeding four of the above breeds—the Shire, Clydesdale, Percheron and Suffolk Punch—after those horses were imported into Australia. To this day, these sturdy horses are recognized for their adaptability and excellent temperament.

Brabant

Renowned for its immense strength and solid build, the Brabant is a significant contender among the largest horse breeds. Typically measuring between 15.2 and 17 hands tall, this Belgian breed is not only notable for its size but also for its gentle temperament and versatility in various equestrian activities.

American Cream Draft

While the American Cream Draft may not be the tallest breed on our list, it is among the biggest in terms of weight and overall build. Typically standing between 15 and 16.3 hands high and weighing between 1,600 and 1,800 pounds, these horses are cherished for their impressive strength and distinctive creamy coat. Originating in the United States, the American Cream Draft is known for its gentle temperament, making them ideal companions for families and suitable for various work and leisure activities.

Jutland

Finally, we have the Jutland, named for the Jutland Peninsula in the breed’s home country of Denmark. Typically chestnut in color, the Jutland only stands between 15 and 16.1 hands high but is so powerfully muscular that the breed weights anywhere from 1,400 and 1,860 pounds. Originally used for hauling brewery wagons, these big horses are known for a gentle, willing temperament.

The Legacy of the Biggest Horses in the World

From the majestic Shire to the iconic Clydesdale, each horse on this list has carved out significant roles in agriculture, sport, and companionship. These giants remind us that horses, regardless of size, share a common bond with humans. They are not just athletes, but partners in life. As the equine world continues to grow, the legacy of these biggest horses will endure, inspiring future generations of horse lovers and riders.

This article about the biggest horse breeds in the world is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Although machines have mostly replaced horsepower, draft horses are still valued and admired today. They are imposing, usually standing over 16 hands high. These heavy horse breeds feature massive bone, large hooves, and incredible strength.
Along with these powerful physical characteristics, draft horses have another quality in abundance: gentleness, which is another reason they have been beloved family horses for generations.

Let’s meet six fabulous draft breeds!

Belgian

We all know draft horses are impressive in size, but one towers above the rest. Big Jake, a Belgian gelding who stands just under 21 hands high, currently holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest living horse.

Belgians have earned a reputation for being gentle giants thanks to their kind dispositions and imposing size. They originally came from Belgium, and they’ve been used as farm horses in the United States since the early part of the 20th century. They are easily recognized by their chestnut coloring and flaxen manes and tails.

Clydesdale

If you’ve ever tuned in to watch a Super Bowl game, then you’ve seen the beautiful (and oh-so-famous) Budweiser Clydesdales. They have been a staple of Super Bowl commercials for many years, and the horses draw crowds at appearances all across the country.

Clydesdales originally came from Scotland in an area called Clyde (hence the name). The breed is known for its eye-catching appearance: usually bay, brown, or black, with extensive white markings that include tall stockings and wide blazes.

Shire

The word “shire” means county, and England is dotted with places like Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Hertfordshire. England is also the birthplace of shires of another kind: Shire horses.

Shires are tall—over 16.2 hands—and are found in bay, brown, black, gray, and occasionally chestnut. But while extravagant white markings are desirable in Clydesdales, they aren’t considered ideal in Shires.

While Big Jake the Belgian may hold the record for the tallest living horse, a Shire horse named Sampson (born in 1846) still holds the distinction of being the tallest horse ever recorded, at 21.2 1⁄2 hands high—that’s 7 feet, 2 1⁄2 inches at the withers!

Percheron

The Percheron is a French breed (its name comes from the La Perche region of France), and it’s usually black or gray. Their versatility and strength make them a top choice of draft enthusiasts. The Percheron is said to have been influenced by the Arabian at some point in its history.

Percherons have been a very popular draft breed in the United States since the late 1800s.

American Cream Draft

An American breed, the American Cream Draft was developed in Iowa during the first half of the 20th century. The American Cream Draft Horse Association is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and the breed had its moment in the spotlight when a team of American Cream Drafts proudly participated in the Rose Parade on January 1, 2019.

As you might also guess from the name, American Cream Drafts are cream-colored (technically the color is called “champagne”), with pink skin and amber-colored eyes. The foundation of the breed was a cream-colored draft-type mare named Old Granny, and in 1946 it was estimated that 98 percent of registered American Cream Drafts traced their lineage to her. These horses are quite rare, with less than 400 registered, but efforts are underway to increase awareness for this fascinating breed.

Suffolk Punch

The Suffolk Punch has a long history in England, where it was developed as a reliable horse for farm work. The breed is still prized today for its quiet temperament and hardy nature.

In appearance, Suffolk Punch horses are a bit more compact than some of
the other draft breeds. They are always chestnut (or chesnut to the registry, who spells the color without a “t”) with minimal white markings, although the exact shade of chestnut varies depending on the individual.

As you can see, there’s a lot to love about draft horses! With their fascinating histories, record-setting size, and kind hearts, draft horses are truly awesome individuals.

This article about various draft horse breeds originally appeared in the September/October 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The Suffolk Punch is the oldest of Great Britain’s heavy breeds, dating back to at least the 16th century. The early breeding may have been influenced by the Norfolk Roadster, Norfolk Trotter or Norfolk Cob, and the breed’s size may have come from Belgian draft blood.

All modern Suffolks can trace their male line back to Thomas Crisp’s Horse of Ufford, born in 1768. Many farmers bred their mares so many times that the stallion’s influence on the breed was permanent.

The Suffolk Punch was imported to America in the 1800s to fill the huge demands of the agriculture industry.

Suffolk Punch Characteristics:

The Suffolk Punch breed exhibits seven different shades of “chesnut” (the preferred old-style spelling).

Mares are 16.1 to 16.2 hand high and stallions are 17 to 17.1 hands high. The Suffolk is a small draught horse, around three-fourths of a ton, and is without feathered legs.

The word punch was an old slang term to describe a jolly, solid, hearty character, which describes the Suffolk perfectly.

For more information:

• American Suffolk Horse Association, www.suffolkpunch.com;
• The Suffolk Horse Society (United Kingdom), www.suffolkhorsesociety.co.uk

Further Reading

• Breed Portrait: Suffolk Punch
• 10 Biggest Horses: Giants of the Equine World

This breed profile was originally published on December 15, 2006.

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Life in Tudor England wasn’t easy. Most people worked hard and ate little, toiling in fields and struggling to grow enough food to survive. Some of these poor farmers were fortunate enough to own work animals such as oxen, whose job it was to till the soil while also providing milk, and ultimately meat.

But not everyone in Tudor England was poor. A small group of elite farmers retained large tracts of land, where they grew wheat and cotton. They lived in big houses, wore fine clothes, and worked their land with the finest animals: draft horses bred for both beauty and strength.

This was life at the time of the Suffolk Punch’s creation. In a 1586 book entitled Britannia, author and historian William Camden describes a horse that sounds just like today’s Suffolk Punch. Bred from European draft horses and native British ponies, this magnificent breed was known in England, but stayed relatively isolated on farms in Norfolk and Suffolk. The word “punch” is said to be an Old English term referencing the breed’s stout, solid build.

The first breeding records ever kept on the Suffolk Punch date back to 1880, when a stallion named Crisp’s Horse of Ufford was designated as the breed’s foundation sire. The Suffolk’s first registry, the Suffolk Horse Society, was founded in England in 1877, making it one of the oldest draft breeds still in existence.

Coming to America

North American farmers soon learned of this special breed, and the Suffolk Punch was imported to Canada in 1865, and to the U.S. in 1880. Farms in Ontario, New England and the Midwest embraced the Suffolk Punch for its strength, docile temperament and rugged constitution. In 1907, U.S. breeders formed the American Suffolk Horse Association (ASHA).

After World War II, the small family farms that were common in North America began to disappear, while at the same time heavy machinery became the norm on the larger farms that remained. This trend wasn’t limited to North America; the tradition of farming with horses began to die out in Europe, too. As a result, the Suffolk’s numbers began to dwindle, and by the 1950s, the breed had become dangerously rare. In America, the ASHA ceased to function.

But those who loved this special breed did not give up, and in 1961, a group of Suffolk breeders gathered together to revive the ASHA. Ten years later, they imported some Suffolks from England to add to the American population. During the financial prosperity of the 1980s, the breed’s numbers started to increase.

The Suffolk Today

Since then, the Suffolk has steadily grown in popularity, although the Livestock Breed Conservancy still places them on the “critical” list. The organization estimates that only 600 Suffolks can be found in the U.S. Sadly, in their native country, only 200 Suffolks exist.

The Suffolk’s beautiful chesnut color (always referred to by this unique spelling variation), its smaller stature compared to other draft breeds, and its tractable nature make it an ideal horse for small farms. In fact, as the trends in sustainable farming and hobby farms continue to grow, the Suffolk Punch’s popularity is sure to grow as well.

Suffolk Punch Facts

Height: 16.1 hands or taller

Color: The breed’s signature coloring is always referred to as “chesnut,” ranging from light golden to dark liver.

Overall Appearance: Symmetrical in shape with dense bone; legs appear short and are strongly muscled, without any feathering. A powerful arching neck; and a short, strong back.

For more information, visit the American Suffolk Horse Association at www.suffolkpunch.com.

This article originally appeared in the September 2018 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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