18 Hand Horses Large Draft Breed Examples
- 1.
Is 18 Hands Big for a Horse?—Or: “Blimey, Does That Thing Come With Its Own Zip Code?”
- 2.
The Anatomy of Height: Why 18 hand horses Don’t Just Look Tall—They *Carry* It Differently
- 3.
How Tall Are 17 Hands on a Horse?—The “Almost Giant” Zone (Where Elegance Meets Heft)
- 4.
Breeds That Regularly Hit 18 Hands—The Gentle Giants of the Equine World
- 5.
Up Close & Personal: Meet an 18 hand horses in the Flesh (Spoiler: It’s Humbling)
- 6.
How Tall Is a 20 Hand Horse?—When Equine Meets Mythical
- 7.
Practical Realities: Living With (and Loving) 18 hand horses
- 8.
Myth-Busting: “Big Horses Are Clumsy, Lazy, or Hard to Train”
- 9.
Why We’re Still in Love With 18 hand horses—A Cultural & Emotional Hold
- 10.
Want More? Dive Deeper Into the World of Giants (Our Favourite Corners)
Table of Contents
18 hand horses
Is 18 Hands Big for a Horse?—Or: “Blimey, Does That Thing Come With Its Own Zip Code?”
Ever stood next to an 18 hand horses and felt like a hobbit who wandered into the wrong pub? Aye—18 hands is *big*. Proper big. We’re talkin’ 72 inches. That’s **6 foot**—taller than the average bloke, taller than most doorframes in a 1920s terrace, and just shy of needin’ planning permission. For context: the *average* riding horse sits around 15.2–16.2 h. So 18 h? That’s like meetin’ a human who’s 7 foot tall—impressive, slightly intimidating, and guaranteed to make ye crane yer neck. But here’s the kicker: in draft horse circles, 18 hands isn’t “gi-normous”—it’s *solidly standard*. Think Clydesdales pullin’ brewery wagons down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile—not freaks of nature, just… proper working folk, with hooves.
The Anatomy of Height: Why 18 hand horses Don’t Just Look Tall—They *Carry* It Differently
It’s not just the withers—it’s the whole *package*. An 18 hand horses doesn’t just stretch up; they *expand*. Bone density? Heavier. Leg circumference? Wider than yer thigh (no offence). Heart girth? Big enough to hug (and ye *will* want to). Their stride? Covers ground like a metronome set to “majestic”. And yet—here’s the magic—they move with this *quiet dignity*, like a headmaster who knows ye nicked a biscuit but respects yer effort. Unlike tall, *rangy* sport horses (looking at you, 17-hand Dutch Warmblood), 18 hand horses are built for *power*, not pace—broad backs, deep barrels, feathered ankles, and necks like tree trunks. It’s architecture, not aerodynamics. And every inch of that height serves a purpose: leverage, load-bearing, and lookin’ absolutely regal at county shows.
How Tall Are 17 Hands on a Horse?—The “Almost Giant” Zone (Where Elegance Meets Heft)
Before we fully dive into the 18-hand stratosphere, let’s pause at *17 hands*—68 inches, or 5 foot 8 inches. Still tall—taller than 65% of UK adults—but not *quite* draft-territory. This is the sweet spot for heavy sports horses: Hanoverians used in advanced dressage, Irish Draughts in eventing, even some Thoroughbred crosses built for polo or showjumping. A 17-hand horse turns heads without clearin’ low-hangin’ branches. You *can* mount from the ground (if ye’ve got springs in yer legs). Tack’s still off-the-shelf (just—check the girth length). But crucially: **17 hands on a horse** is where ye start feelin’ the *presence*. That deep *thump* of hoofbeats vibrates yer ribs. Their breath fogs the air like a steam engine at rest. And they look at ye—not down, not up—*level*, like an equal who’s just chosen to indulge yer whims. Respect, earned by inches.
Breeds That Regularly Hit 18 Hands—The Gentle Giants of the Equine World
So which breeds wear 18 hands like a well-fitted flat cap? Let’s run through the usual suspects—with stats pulled from studbook averages and our own soggy field notes:
| Breed | Avg. Height Range | Typical Weight | Key Trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shire Horse | 16.2–19+ h | 850–1,100 kg | World’s tallest breed; legendary for strength & calm |
| Clydesdale | 16–18.2 h | 700–1,000 kg | Feathered legs, high-stepping action, iconic in parades |
| Percheron | 15.1–18.1 h | 700–1,250 kg | Grey/black gloss coats; agile for size, used in logging |
| Belgian Draft | 16–18 h | 900–1,200 kg | “Most massive” title contender; broad, muscular, docile |
Notice a pattern? These aren’t weekend hackers—they’re *professionals*. Historically, 18 hand horses pulled ploughs, barges, and brewery drays across cobbles and clay. Today? They star in commercials, pull royal carriages at Trooping the Colour, and win “World’s Largest Horse” titles (looking at you, *Big Jake*, the 20.2 h Belgian). But don’t mistake size for slowness: an 18-hand Clydesdale can *trot* faster than ye can sprint. Power and poise—never mutually exclusive.
Up Close & Personal: Meet an 18 hand horses in the Flesh (Spoiler: It’s Humbling)
Stand beside one. Go on. Feel the *shadow* fall over ye like a friendly eclipse. Run yer hand down their neck—warm, thick, pulsing with quiet power. Their eye? Dark, liquid, and unnervingly intelligent—like they’ve seen three centuries of harvests and still fancy a sugar lump. That’s the real magic of 18 hand horses: they’re colossal, yet never *threatening*. It’s as if nature built them extra-large just so they could be extra-gentle. We once watched a 6-year-old girl feed an 18.1 h Shire named *Magnus* a carrot—and he lowered his head, *slowly*, until his muzzle brushed her palm, eyes half-closed in bliss. That’s not instinct. That’s *choice*. That’s trust. That’s why we keep ‘em—not for size, but for soul.
How Tall Is a 20 Hand Horse?—When Equine Meets Mythical
Twenny hands. Eighty inches. **6 foot 8 inches**. At this height, the horse’s withers are level with the top of a standard doorframe—and their *head* clears it by a good foot. A 20 hand horse doesn’t just walk into a stable—it *announces* itself. The *only* recorded horse to hit—and exceed—this mark was *Mammoth* (formerly *Sampson*), a Shire born in Bedfordshire in 1846. He stood **21.2½ hands** (86.5 inches, or 7 ft 2.5 in) and weighed over 1,524 kg (~3,360 lbs). To put that in perspective: he’d tip the scales like *three* average family cars. Today, 20 hand horses are vanishingly rare—bred more for spectacle than work—but when one appears at a show? Silence falls. Even the crows shut up. That’s the awe of extreme 18 hand horses pushed to its limit: nature flexing, just ‘cos it can.
Practical Realities: Living With (and Loving) 18 hand horses
Right—let’s get *real*. Fancy bringin’ home an 18-hand giant? Here’s what ye’re signin’ up for:
- Tack costs: A bespoke saddle? £1,200–£2,500. Bridle? £300+. Girths longer than yer arm? Standard.
- Fuel intake: 25–30 lbs of hay *daily*. Plus 8–10 lbs hard feed. That’s £8–£12/day—before supplements.
- Housing: Stalls need 14×14 ft minimum. Doorways? 8 ft high. No low-hangin’ lights, pipes, or over-enthusiastic tree branches.
- Farrier visits: Shoeing an 18-hander takes 90+ mins. Charge? £90–£130. And *good* luck finding someone with arms long enough to reach the front feet.
But—and this is key—they *repay* it tenfold. Calm in storms. Patient with kids. Unflappable at fireworks. An 18 hand horses isn’t a pet. It’s a guardian. A companion who makes ye feel safe just by *existing* nearby.
Myth-Busting: “Big Horses Are Clumsy, Lazy, or Hard to Train”
Nah. Stop it. That’s like sayin’ all tall people trip over their own feet. Truth? 18 hand horses are often *more* trainable than smaller, sharper types—thanks to centuries of selective breeding for temperament over temperament. Clydesdales learn voice commands faster than some dogs. Shires have been known to *open gates* with their noses (yes, really—we’ve got video). And “clumsy”? Watch an 18.1 h Percheron navigate a narrow woodland trail—hooves placed with surgeon-like precision, ears flicking, *listening* to the ground. Their size gives them *awareness*, not awkwardness. As one Devon breeder told us: “Small horses jump *over* problems. Big ‘uns? They just… walk through ‘em. Calmly.”
Why We’re Still in Love With 18 hand horses—A Cultural & Emotional Hold
It’s not nostalgia. It’s resonance. In a world of speed, algorithms, and disposable everything—18 hand horses are *enduring*. They move at the pace of breath. They remember kindness for years. They stand like ancient oaks in a field, roots deep, crown high. When ye lean your forehead against their warm shoulder, the world shrinks to heartbeat and hay-scent. That’s therapy no app can replicate. That’s why villages still hold Shire ploughing matches. Why breweries keep Clydesdale teams (even if the wagons are now just for PR). Why kids point and whisper, “Mum—look! A *dragon*!” We don’t need them to work anymore—but we *need* them to *be*. And long may they loom.
Want More? Dive Deeper Into the World of Giants (Our Favourite Corners)
Still hungerin’ for more tall-tale wisdom? We’ve got yer back: start at Riding London for the full stable of stories, wander into our ever-growing Learn section for practical guides, or go full veterinary-nerd with our deep-dive on equine health over at causes-of-horse-voice-throat-and-larynx-issues. Because size ain’t just height—it’s harmony. And harmony’s worth studyin’.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 18 hands big for a horse?
Absolutely—18 hands (72 inches / 6 foot) is considered *very large* for a horse. While average riding horses range from 14.2 to 16.3 hands, 18 hand horses sit firmly in draft territory. They’re not uncommon among Shires, Clydesdales, and Belgians—but still command awe in any setting. For perspective: only ~3% of registered horses exceed 17.2 hands.
What horses are 18 hands?
Breeds that *regularly* reach 18 hands include the Shire Horse (often 17–19 h), Clydesdale (16–18.2 h), Belgian Draft (16–18 h), and Percheron (up to 18.1 h). These are heavy draft breeds, historically used for farm work, logging, and pulling. While not *every* individual hits 18 hands, top-tier stallions and mares in these breeds frequently do—making 18 hand horses a celebrated standard, not an anomaly.
How tall are 17 hands on a horse?
Seventeen hands equals exactly 68 inches—**5 foot 8 inches**—at the withers. This height is common among large sport horses (e.g., Hanoverians, Irish Draughts) and lighter draft types. A 17-hand horse is tall enough to impress but still manageable for experienced riders. Crucially, it sits just below the typical draft threshold, meaning many 17-hand animals compete in open showjumping or dressage—where 18 hand horses would be rare due to weight and scope requirements.
How tall is a 20 hand horse?
A 20 hand horse stands 80 inches—**6 foot 8 inches**—at the withers. This is exceedingly rare; the tallest horse ever recorded was *Mammoth*, a Shire gelding at 21.2½ hands (86.5 inches / 7 ft 2.5 in). Modern 20-hand horses are almost exclusively show or promotional animals, requiring specialist care. While 18 hand horses are robust and functional, 20-handers exist at the edge of biological feasibility—magnificent, yes, but not built for daily work.
References
- https://www.shire-horse.org.uk/breed-standards
- https://www.clydesdalehorse.org.uk/about-the-breed
- https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/tallest-horse
- https://www.britishdraftsociety.co.uk/measurement-guidelines
