1. Shire:
Traditionally, the largest horse breed is the Shire. The Shire originated in Europe, tracing its roots back to older English and Dutch breeds. It is named for the countryside “shires” where the breed originated. These horses were used primarily for plowing and farming before the Industrial Revolution and have since decreased in popularity now that their immense strength is no longer needed in agriculture.
Shires typically stand at least 16 hands tall and are traditionally preferred to be solid colors, although some white markings are possible. Possibly the most famous Shire horse was Mammoth, a gelding that stood 21.2 hands, and is the tallest horse ever recorded.
2. Largest Horse Breed-Percheron
Another famous gentle giant is the Percheron, which originated in France. The Percheron was named from “Le Perche,” the small French province where the breed was originally found. In the 1800’s, when the Percheron was first discovered, the breed was used primarily for war.
The Percheron’s brave, steady, and loyal personality made it the ideal mount for soldiers of the time. The breed stands between 16 and 18 hands today, similar to many other draft breeds, and comes in nearly all solid colors. Belgians today are used for driving as well as riding. They have made appearances as trail horses, dressage horses, and pleasure horses for riders seeking a steady, smooth mount.
A notable aspect of Percheron breeding is the Percheron sport horses, which are Percherons crossed with lighter breeds, such as Thoroughbreds and warmbloods. I can speak to the value of this breed, as my first event horse was a Percheron/Thoroughbred. “Foxy” was everything that you could want in an event horse; she was brave, strong, willing, and tolerant. She was big enough to give a new event rider security in the saddle, but light on her feet enough to clear the fences with ease.
3. Clydesdale
Of course, when you and I think of Clydesdales, the first thing that comes to mind is the famous Budweiser Clydesdales (as well as the tear-jerking Superbowl commercials that accompany them). But, there’s more to the Clydesdale than being an icon for a famous beer company. The Clydesdale is originally from Scotland, where it was named after the River Clyde, and the old district of Clydesdale in Lanarkshire. Similar to the Shire and the Percheron, the Clydesdale was used for both agriculture and war in the 1800’s. Since then, the breed’s popularity has declined, but it has found a niche that neither the Percheron nor the Shire have.
4. Largest Horse Breed-Belgian Draft
Another of the largest breeds of horses is the Belgian, also called the Brabant. As can be guessed, the Belgian originated in Belgium and was also used primarily for war and agriculture in its past. The Belgian is often confused with the Percheron, but the Belgian has a distinguishing factor that sets it apart. This is its famous “blonde” coloring, which, in more technical terms, is called sorrel. Belgians have a Chesnut coat (ranging in hues) with a very light, blonde-like mane and tail. Belgians often frequently carry the “mealy gene,” which causes their noses to be significantly lighter than normal. To you and I, their nose would look similar to that of a mule or donkey, with a much lighter gray or tan coloring than the average horse.
5. Largest Horse Breed-Dutch Draft
The last of the gentle giants to make the top five largest breeds is the Dutch Draft. Unfortunately, there are not many Dutch Draft horses left in existence today. Unlike breeds such as the Clydesdale, the Dutch Draft has struggled to find a niche in the modern world. They were first bred in Holland in the 1800’s, and were, as expected, used for agriculture and for war.
Original article: Largest Horse Breed for riding. All you need to know about horses (besthorserider.com)
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