World's Tallest Horse

Big Jake was a red flaxen Belgian gelding that lived from March 2001 to June 2021 and was renowned for his enormous height. When Big Jake was measured in 2010, he reportedly broke the record for the tallest living horse in the world, and he kept that record for the rest of his life. In their hands, he measured 20 and 2-3/4″ tall, equivalent to 6 feet 10 inches. He is the second-tallest horse ever recorded behind Sampson (foaled 1846 in Toddington Mills, Bedfordshire, England; 21.25 hands).

At birth, Big Jake weighed roughly 240 pounds (110 kg), which is about 100 pounds (45 kg) more than is average for his breed. He was born in the American state of Nebraska in 2001. He was not especially tall for a foal, but he was taller than his parents, who were average in height. When it became clear that Big Jake would grow to be quite huge and require special housing, Jerry Gilbert, the horse's future owner, took over ownership. Smokey Hollow Farm made the announcement of Big Jake's passing on June 27, 2021, with Gilbert's wife indicating that the death had occurred roughly two weeks before but failing to provide the media with a specific date. Jerry Gilbert hailed Big Jake as a "gentle giant", and stated that he intended to keep his stall empty as a memorial.