Last updated: November 5, 2026
Stand next to a big draft horse and you’ll find yourself looking up at his shoulder. But height is only part of what makes these horses so big.
Here’s how the five breeds compare in height and weight, followed by the record holders and a comparison with Thoroughbred racehorses.
Table of Contents
Largest Horse Breeds by Height and Weight
Heights are in hands, measured at the withers. One hand is four inches, and the number after the period is extra inches, so 17.2 hands means 70 inches.
| Breed | Height | Weight | 2026 U.S. conservation status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shire | Averages 17.2 hands; tall individuals reach 19.2 | Up to about 2,200 lbs | Critical |
| Belgian | About 16 to 17 hands | About 1,800 to 2,200 lbs | Not listed |
| Clydesdale | About 16.2 to 18 hands | About 1,600 to 2,000 lbs | Threatened |
| Percheron | 15 to 19 hands; most 16.2 to 17.3 | Averages about 1,900 lbs; some reach 2,600 | Not listed |
| Suffolk Punch | About 16 to 17+ hands | Averages about 1,800 lbs | Critical |
These figures describe the breeds, not their record-setting individuals, and the sources report a mix of averages and ranges, so the table isn’t a strict ranking. Height and weight come from The Livestock Conservancy’s Shire, Clydesdale, and Suffolk profiles, Horse Canada for the Belgian, and the Percheron Horse Association of America. Status is from the 2026 Conservation Priority List, and “not listed” means the breed doesn’t appear on that list.
The Shire generally wins on height, but size isn’t just about how tall a horse stands. A Belgian is shorter on average, yet he’s built wide and heavy and can weigh as much as a much taller horse. Two horses the same height can look completely different once you see the depth of their body and the size of their bone.
The Biggest Horses Ever Recorded
Sampson (later called Mammoth). A Shire gelding foaled in 1846, Sampson stood 7 feet 2.5 inches at the withers in 1850. He was later said to weigh about 3,359 pounds. Guinness World Records lists him as the tallest and heaviest horse ever documented, though his measurements date to the 1800s and his weight comes from a historical report.
Brooklyn Supreme. A Belgian stallion foaled in 1928 on a farm near Minneapolis, Brooklyn Supreme stood 19.2 hands and weighed about 3,200 pounds. He died in 1948, according to Cowgirl Magazine.
Big Jake. A Belgian gelding from Wisconsin, Big Jake was measured by Guinness at 210.19 centimeters, or 82.75 inches (20 hands 2.75 inches), in 2010. He held the tallest-living-horse title until he died in 2021.
Hugo. The current tallest living horse is a Shire named Hugo, measured at 199 centimeters, or 19.2 hands, on December 2, 2025, at age four, on a farm in Northamptonshire, England, according to Guinness World Records.
Shire: The Tallest Horse Breed
The Shire is probably the breed most people picture when they think of a giant horse. It’s named for England’s rural shires, or counties, and is believed to descend from the medieval “Great Horse.” Shires average about 17.2 hands, with unusually tall individuals reaching 19.2, and they’re most often bay, black, brown, or gray, according to the Livestock Conservancy.
The population fell after farming and transport were mechanized following World War II and hit its low point in the early 1960s. It has slowly recovered, but the Shire is still listed as Critical. For its history, temperament, and care, see this Shire horse breed profile.
Belgian Draft
Belgians are generally shorter than Shires, but they’re built wide, muscular, and heavy. Most stand about 16 to 17 hands and weigh about 1,800 to 2,200 pounds, and many are chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail, according to Horse Canada. Brooklyn Supreme and Big Jake were both Belgians.
Clydesdale
Clydesdales originated in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and take their name from the River Clyde. Today’s Clydesdales stand about 16.2 to 18 hands and weigh about 1,600 to 2,000 pounds. Bay is the most common color, usually with white markings and feathered legs, according to the Livestock Conservancy, which lists the breed as Threatened.
Percheron
Percherons come from the Le Perche region near Normandy in northwest France. They range from 15 to 19 hands, though most are 16.2 to 17.3, and they average about 1,900 pounds, with some reaching 2,600. Most are black or gray, according to the Percheron Horse Association of America. They pull farm equipment, carriages, and parade wagons, and plenty of them are ridden. This Percheron horse breed profile goes deeper.
Suffolk Punch
The Suffolk Punch isn’t the tallest horse here, but it’s heavily built, standing about 16 to 17-plus hands and averaging about 1,800 pounds. Every Suffolk is chestnut, and the studbook accepts no other color. The breed nearly died out in the 1950s, and the Livestock Conservancy estimates there are about 600 in the U.S. and 200 in England. It lists the breed as Critical.
The Suffolk is considered the oldest British heavy horse breed still in existence in its present form. Every Suffolk alive today traces its male line back to one stallion, Crisp’s Horse of Ufford, foaled in 1768, according to the Suffolk Horse Society.
How Tall Are Racehorses Compared With Draft Horses?
The average Thoroughbred racehorse stands a little over 16 hands and weighs about 1,000 pounds, according to America’s Best Racing. That’s about the height of a smaller Belgian or Suffolk, but roughly half the weight of a big draft horse. A Thoroughbred is bred for speed, with a lighter frame and long legs, while a draft horse has heavier bone, a broader body, and the muscle to pull a load. Put one of each side by side and the difference in build is obvious. For more on the breed behind American racing, see these Thoroughbred breed facts.
These horses were bred to work, and even though tractors have replaced them on most farms, it’s good to see people still raising, showing, and working them. Some of these breeds are rare, and keeping them around means preserving an important part of farming history.
About Miles Henry
Racehorse Owner & Author | 30+ Years in Thoroughbred Racing
Miles Henry (legal name: William Bradley) is a professional horseman based in Folsom, Louisiana. He holds Louisiana Racing License #67012 and has spent over three decades managing Thoroughbreds at premier tracks including Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, and Evangeline Downs.
Expertise & Hands-On Experience: Beyond the track, Miles has decades of experience in specialized equine care, covering everything from hoof health and nutrition to training protocols for Quarter Horses, Friesians, and Paints. Every guide on Horse Racing Sense is rooted in this “boots-on-the-ground” perspective.
30 of their last 90 starts
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