Could This Turn into the World's Largest Horse?

Indeed, rhinos are horses' (and donkeys' and zebras', too) closest evolutionary cousins. And it appears that some horses prove this through their size.

Digger, a British Clydesdale, at its 6ft 6in (1.95 m) height at the withers, is Britain's biggest living horse. The horse is only four years old, the equine equivalent of a teenager, so the horse could grow bigger. His new owner, Lisa McFarlane, keeps the horse at the International League for the Protection of Horses' Belwade Farm in Aboyne, Scotland. His ex-owner had health issues and could not cope with such a huge animal.

"He is the largest horse we have ever had. He is the equivalent of a growing teenage boy --never out of the fridge. Heaven knows what size he is going to end up," said Eileen Gillen, farm manager.

Digger has reached now the record of Cracker, a Shire horse from Lincolnshire, which had the same height in 2005.
Still, the current Guinness World Record is held by a Belgian draft horse called Radar. Radar is about 6ft 7½in (1.99 m) tall. Radar, 9 years old, weighs 2,700 lbs (1,215 kg), as much as an average black rhino. He lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas.

Still, a Tennessee Shire horse located on a farm 65 mi (104 km) northeast of Chattanooga could be the tallest horse in the world. At an official measuring in 2007, Jenson Diplomat Tina measured 2.02 m (6 ft 8.5 in), but it had a weight of only ...1600 pounds (720 kg). Tina is a 'teenager' horse as well, and she could turn heavier.

Digger already weighs 900 kilos (2,000 pounds) and eats thrice more than an ordinary horse (which weighs 300-400 kg or 660-900 pounds), 20-25 kg (44-55 pounds), while drinking 20-25 gallons (75-100 liters) of water daily. His hooves are 15 in (38 cm) wide!

Clydesdale horses live 20-25 years.

"Because he is so large we are suspicious that he could develop some joint problems so we will get him thoroughly checked out," said Eileen.