A red flaxen Belgian horse named Big Jake has held the title of the world’s tallest horse since 2010, when he was measured by Guinness World Records. He stood at 20 hands (6 ft 10¾ in) — not including his neck and head — and weighed 2,600 pounds. Big Jake was born in Nebraska, weighing approximately 240 pounds, which is about 100 pounds heavier than is typical for his breed. His owner, Jerry Gilbert, kept Big Jake at Smokey Hollow Farm near Poynette, Wisconsin, and soon found out how much it would cost to care for him. The gigantic horse ate 2-3 buckets of grain and a whole bale of hay daily. His stall was almost twice the size of a regular stall, and he was transported by semi-truck. Big Jake’s death was announced on July 5, 2021, with Gilbert's wife stating that the death had taken place approximately two weeks prior. Big Jake was 20 years old. The Gilberts plan to memorialize Big Jake by keeping his stall empty and inserting a brick on the outside of his stall with his picture and name.
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| Big Jake and Thumbelina, the smallest horse in the world |
