Big Jake (horse)

For other uses, see Big Jake (disambiguation).

Big Jake
BreedBelgian
SexGelding
FoaledMarch 2001
Nebraska
DiedJune 2021 (aged 20)
Smokey Hollow Farm
Poynette, Wisconsin
CountryUnited States
ColorRed
OwnerJerry Gilbert
Honors
Guinness World Records: Tallest horse living

Big Jake (March 2001 – June 2021) was an exceptionally tall American Belgian gelding horse.[1] From 2010 he was the Guinness World Records "tallest living horse", and also the second-tallest horse on record.

Life

Big Jake was born in 2001 in Nebraska, weighing approximately 240 pounds (110 kg), which is about 100 pounds (45 kg) heavier than is typical for his breed.[2][3] His parents were normal-sized, and he was not unusually tall as a foal.[4] He was bought as a three-year-old by the Gilbert family[5] of Smokey Hollow Farm, near Poynette, Wisconsin.[6][7][3] He ate two buckets of grain and about a bale of hay every day.[4][2] His stall was almost twice the normal size and he was transported in a semi-trailer.[4]

He became the Guinness World Records "tallest living horse" when he was measured in 2010 at 20.2 3⁄4 hands (82.75 inches, 210 cm).[A][8][4] He also became the second-tallest horse on record, after Sampson at 21.25 hands (86.5 inches, 220 cm) (foaled 1846, in Toddington Mills, Bedfordshire, England).[4]

He competed in draft horse showing competitions and was shown at the Wisconsin State Fair.[9]

He died in June 2021; his owners did not give an exact date.[10][11][5]

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ Horse heights are measured at the withers

References

  1. ^ G, Kashmira; EDT, er On 7/6/21 at 8:01 AM (July 6, 2021). "Owners of Big Jake, the world's tallest horse, pay tribute after he dies aged 20". Newsweek. Retrieved July 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Britton, Bianca (May 23, 2018). "The tallest and smallest horse in the world". CNN. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "World's tallest horse Big Jake dies in Wisconsin at age 20". The Independent. July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "On this day in 2010: Big Jake, the world's tallest horse, is measured". Guinness World Records. January 19, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Elliott, Tim (July 5, 2021). "Wisconsin family mourns the loss of 'Big Jake'—the world's tallest horse". KCBD. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  6. ^ Glenday, Craig (April 30, 2013). Guinness World Records 2013. Bantam Books. pp. 89. ISBN 978-0-345-54711-8.
  7. ^ "Meet Big Jake, world's tallest horse". TODAY. April 29, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  8. ^ "Meet Big Jake – the World's Tallest Horse". EQUINE Ink. June 6, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  9. ^ "RIP Big Jake: World's tallest horse dies at age 20, tributes pour in". Times Now. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "World's tallest horse dies on Town of Dekorra family's farm". Lodi Enterprise. July 12, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "Big Jake, the world's tallest horse, dies in Wisconsin". The Guardian. London. Associated Press. July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.