World’s Tallest Living Horse: Hugo, the Shire Giant
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‘He’s massive!’ Meet Hugo, the World’s Tallest Horse
Image source: GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2027
Image caption: One of Hugo’s owners, Lisa Masters, said he was "a big softie, like an oversized dog"
By Alex Pope
Published 1 hour ago
A Shire horse that has entered the record books as the world’s tallest living horse could exceed his height as he is still growing, his owner has said.
Hugo, who lives in Towcester, Northamptonshire, has already reached an "abnormal" 199cm tall—about 6.5ft to the withers.
Guinness World Records said the four-year-old’s stature was officially assessed by a vet and he was measured without shoes to ensure an accurate result.
Owner Brett Masters said Hugo received "a huge amount of care" from a chiropractor, dentist, vet, and masseuse, meaning he lived a "five-star lifestyle."
Shire horses are known for their height and their large stature… meaning they are able to pull heavy weight.
The tallest and heaviest horse ever documented was a Shire gelding named Sampson (later renamed Mammoth) bred by Thomas Cleaver of Toddington Mills in Bedfordshire, which stood at 2.19 metres—or 7ft 2.5in—in 1850.
Image source: Tove Valley Shire Horses
Image caption: Hugo has his teeth checked twice a year by his dentist, Hannah.
Masters, from Tove Valley Shire Horses, said the breed was his passion. He was approached by officials from Guinness World Records as Hugo was "locally famous," and they had been told: "There is this really big horse, you need to speak to these guys."
He added that when he acquired Hugo at the age of 18 months, he had no idea he was "very tall, abnormally tall."
He’s still got three years of growing left… It will cause issues, so we have to be very careful with him.
Hugo is kept busy by taking part in demonstrations and showing people what shire horses would have done "back in the day, by pulling agricultural implements, driving wagons," and is now learning to have people ride him.
