Last Updated on April 5, 2022
There are some pretty enormous horses out there, and even a medium-sized horse can seem like a giant to most of us! But what happens when horses get fat? And how big is the world’s fattest horse?
Let’s take a look at the size and weight of the biggest horses in the world! We will also find out what problems are caused when horses get too fat.
Why Are Some Horses Fatter Than Others?
As we all know, there are many different types and breeds of horses. These range from hot-blooded horses, such as Thoroughbreds and Arabians, through to cold-blooded breeds like draft horses and hairy ponies
Each type or breed of horse has evolved to live in very different conditions. Arabians would survive and thrive in hot desert conditions and have a thin hair coat to keep themselves cool.
Draft breeds would live on rough terrain with little food, could survive even the coldest weather conditions. Their thick coat and slow pace of life meant that they could maintain their body heat, despite the poor-quality grass available.
In modern times, domesticated horses live very different lifestyles. We keep our horses in nice cozy barns, with rugs to keep them warm at night. They are fed good quality food in large amounts and don’t have to forage and search for their daily rations.
This means that our horses are being fed a higher level of calories than they would get in the wild and are using fewer calories to survive. If the horse is not burning calories through exercise, this extra energy will turn into body fat. For this reason, weight gain and obesity is a common problem in domesticated horses. Many horse owners do not realize how harmful it can be for a horse to become fat.
Who Was The Biggest Horse Ever?
The title of the world’s tallest horse is a matter of dispute. There are two main contenders:
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Samson (Mammoth)
Samson, later renamed Mammoth, was a Shire gelding from the UK. Born in 1846, Sampson was an enormous 21.2½ hands high – that is 2.19 meters! Samson is recorded as the tallest documented horse in the Guinness Book Of Records. Many people argue that, due to the fact it was so long ago, this record may not be accurate.
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Big Jake
Big Jake was a Belgian gelding who measured 20.2¾ hands high, equivalent to 210.2 meters. In 2010, Big Jake was officially measured as the tallest living horse by the Guinness Book Of Records. Unfortunately, Big Jake passed away in 2021, so he is now regarded as the second-tallest horse on record behind Samson.
Other horses reported having reached a great height are King LeGear (20.5 hands high), Dr. LeGear (21 hands high), Lubber (21 hands high), and Morocco (21.2 hands high). However, none of these heights were ever verified, meaning that Samson and Big Jake claim the top two spots for the biggest horse ever.
Who Was The World’s Heaviest Horse Ever?
There is not much data available about the world’s fattest horse, but there are some records available about the weights of our tallest horses.
Samson was said to have weighed 1,524 kg. However, the accuracy of this claim has never been verified.
Big Jake tipped the scales at 1,133kg, which is considerably less than Samson. However, this is still an impressive weight – as much as 10 miniature Shetland ponies combined!
How Much Would The Worlds Fattest Horse Eat?
Keeping a large horse, such as Big Jake or Sampson, fed would not have been an easy task. A horse at a healthy weight would need to eat around 2% of its body weight daily in hay.
So, for a giant like Sampson, he would need to eat 30kg of hay per day! Big Jake would have eaten over 22kg of hay every day. If you’ve got a giant horse, you certainly need a big hay barn!
Why Is Fat A Problem For Horses?
You must ensure that your horse is at a healthy weight. Obese horses are at risk of many health conditions, some of which might be life-threatening. Fat horses are much more likely to contract long-term medical conditions such as laminitis and insulin resistance.
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But what is the best way to monitor the weight of a horse? The easiest way is to weigh your horse on scales, but they can be difficult to find.
Luckily, there are some other ways to check the weight of a horse:
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Weigh Tape
This is a specialized measuring tape, gives you an estimation of the weight of the horse based on the girth measurement.
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Measuring Tape
a normal measuring tape is used to take a specific set of measurements. These measurements are then used to calculate the bodyweight of the horse.
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Body Condition Scoring
This method helps horse owners to identify if their horse is the right weight. It does not give you the actual weight of your horse but instead checks if they are too fat or thin.
To carry out a body condition scoring assessment, you will need a chart that shows different parts of the horse’s body. Each area has a visual guide to show a horse that is too fat, too thin, or just right.
You compare each part of your horse’s body to the chart and assess what score they would get. The overall score then tells you if your horse is underweight or overweight.
Based on your weight assessment, you can then adjust your horse’s feed and exercise regime accordingly.
Summary – Worlds Fattest Horse
So, as we’ve learned, the world’s fattest horse could have weighed over 1,500kg and would have eaten over 30kg of hay per day. Luckily, our domesticated horses weigh a third of this amount, and are much cheaper to feed! It is important to keep your horse at a healthy weight to avoid serious health problems.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about the world’s fattest horses. Have you ever met one of these giants of the horse world? Or maybe you struggle to keep your horse at a healthy weight? Please add a comment below and we’ll get back to you!
What does an overweight horse look like?
If you can see fat pads on a horse’s shoulders, then he’s most likely overweight. Even though the ribs shouldn’t be very visible on a horse, you should easily be able to feel them when you run your hands along his body. If you have to push to be able to feel your horse’s ribs, this is another sign that he’s overweight.
The ideal weight for your horse depends on his breed, age, activity level, and other factors. If your horse is overweight, you should consider reducing the amount of hay and grains he eats. If you are feeding your horse a grain-based diet, it is best to avoid feeding corn. Corn is high in sugar and has been associated with obesity and dental problems in horses. You can also decrease the amount of time he spends grazing in pasture and try to keep him more active instead.
Where do horses store fat?
Fat pads develop over many areas, but the most common locations are behind the shoulder, atop the ribcage, over the loin and croup, and around the sheath. The neck fat pad is the most common, and likely the largest, of the fat pads in the body.
A horse’s body fat composition is determined by taking several measurements. These include body weight, body condition score (BCS), and the percentage of body fat. The most common site for measuring body fat is the neck region, because it is easy to access and measure. It is also a good site to measure at regular intervals to determine if your horse is gaining or losing fat. It can be measured with a caliper, which is a very precise tool for measuring the thickness of a horse’s neck fat.
How do you get rid of grass belly in horses?
Hay belly describes the physical appearance of a distended abdomen on a horse. The belly area looks puffy and round, sticking out to the sides and hanging low. If your horse has a big belly and little muscle, it is likely the hay you provide is of poor quality and is contributing to his belly condition.
There are many high-quality diets available that your veterinarian will be able to recommend. For example, if your horse is on pasture, your vet might recommend supplementing its grazing with high-quality hay and a protein supplement in the form of a concentrated feed. If you are feeding your horse a combination of grain and hay, your vet can suggest a diet containing a certain ratio of each to improve the condition.
How much exercise does a horse need to lose weight?
Exercise is essential. You can get a good start by taking just 30 minutes of walking and trotting. Working under saddle burns even more calories as the horse has to work more when carrying extra weight. But only exercise is usually not enough, you will also have to adjust your horse’s diet to efficiently loose weight. A horse’s diet should be based around its specific needs. This means that the correct food should be fed at the correct time and in the correct amount.
Kate Chalmers is a qualified veterinary nurse who has specialized in horse care for the vast majority of her career. She has been around horses since she was a child, starting out riding ponies and helping out at the local stables before going on to college to study Horse Care & Management. She has backed and trained many horses during her lifetime and competed in various equestrian sports at different levels.
After Kate qualified as a veterinary nurse, she provided nursing care to the patients of a large equine veterinary hospital for many years. She then went on to teach horse care and veterinary nursing at one of the top colleges in the country. This has led to an in-depth knowledge of the care needs of horses and their various medical ailments, as well as a life-long passion for educating horse owners on how to provide the best possible care for their four-legged friends.
Kate Chalmers BSc (Hons) CVN, Dip AVN (Equine) Dip HE CVN EVN VN A1 PGCE