The world’s tallest horse has just been crowned by the Guinness World Records in the 2027 edition, and according to his owners, he is continuing to grow rapidly.
Hugo, the horse found in Towcester, Northamptonshire, has reached a whopping 199cm tall (6ft, 5 in). Or, if you are familiar with horse terminology, 19.2 hands exactly. What is even more impressive is that Hugo is just four years old currently.
His owner, Brett Masters, said Hugo is living a “five star lifestyle” receiving frequent checks from vets, chiropractors, dentists and more to keep him healthy despite his impressive size.
The tallest and heaviest horse ever to be documented was also a shire, known as Sampson (later renamed Mammoth). He stood at 218cm (7ft 2in). That means Hugo still has a long way to go to become the tallest horse in history.
The previous living record holder, Big Jake, passed away in 2021. He reached an impressive 210cm, falling just short of Mammoth in the race for the biggest horse in the world.
What kind of horse is Hugo?
Hugo is a shire horse, a breed of horse found in England, known for their impressive pulling capability. Back in the day, they were used in yards, farms and even to tow barges on canal systems.
Shire horses are also known for their growth, becoming some of the largest horses on the planet. This explains how multiple of the record holders in the past have been shires.
Despite their large size, Shire horses tend to have a calmer temperament. Their history stretches back to the medieval era, where their strength was especially helpful when knights with heavy armour needed a horse to ride.
Included in their long history of jobs was a period of lots of Shires found in breweries. They carried heavy barrels to pubs. In rural parts of England, there is still a strong association between Shires and brewery culture.
