The biggest horse in the world is Radar, a Belgian Draft Horse living in Texas. He is 1.99 meters from the bottom of his leg to the tip of his shoulder and weighs just over 1200 kilograms. He is the record holder for 2007 at the age of 9.
The Shire horse is the largest breed of horse. The Shire horse is also a type of draught horse and was used to pull heavy weights before the invention of the car. Their ancestor, a medieval Great Horse was brought to England by William the Conqueror in 1066. Traditionally, their role was to deliver ale from the breweries to the pubs around England. Because the car is arguably more efficient that the horse, the need for the Shire horse declined and their population declined along with it.
Today, Shire horses can be seen in an annual Royal Procession in England known as Trooping the Color. They are the mount for the drummer in the procession. They are a breed that is easy to recognize and are probably best known for the “socks”, a fluffy white hair that extends from their knees to their hooves. They are a strong, sturdy looking horse with straight, muscular legs.
Their breed is making a comeback with a few breeders in the US, Canada, and the UK. The Shire horse is being crossbred with other breeds. Again, the Shire horse is revisiting its heritage; a few breweries in the UK are using them to make ale delivers within a 10 kilometer radius.
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