Is "Le Grand Cheval" (bay H 1979) the tallest Thoroughbred?
Is this equine: http://www.pedigreequery.com/le+grand+cheval
the subject case?
http://www.christopherewing.org/Horses.htm
Is Le Grand Cheval the tallest TB
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster
You've found him! This is the horse I was talking about in that old thread about the Australian giant Holy Roller. I don't think Le Grand Cheval ever raced like Holy Roller did, but he certainly appears to be bigger than him. I've seen only one other TB listed as 19 hands, but he didn't seem to be as heavy in body as both Le Grand Cheval and Holy Roller. I just wish I could find him again. Good find Jorge.
Nu
Just for the sake of trivia and how close a TB came to eclipsing the ultimate record: it seems that the current world's tallest horse, a 4 year-old Shire filly from TN named "Tina" that stood 20HH, died recently after some sort of orthopedic surgery at Auburn University.
I can't recall whether she was really the record-holder as the tallest horse or was shy an inch or so shy of the mark and--at somewhat less than 4 years at her last official measure--was marked for glory that surely coming in the next year or so of growth that could be expected of a young draft horse of this age.
Too bad about her sudden death at 4 years. She was such a large horse and, for what it's worth, the bigger they are, the harder they fall, as they say...it is risky business laying a horse this large down for surgery, something to avoid at almost all costs.
Anyway, it is interesting that the TB gelding "Le Grand Cheval" came so very close at 19.2HH. Considering a 20HH Shire draft horse, it makes the TB even freakishly taller--one expects only the giant drafts to get near that mark.
I can't recall whether she was really the record-holder as the tallest horse or was shy an inch or so shy of the mark and--at somewhat less than 4 years at her last official measure--was marked for glory that surely coming in the next year or so of growth that could be expected of a young draft horse of this age.
Too bad about her sudden death at 4 years. She was such a large horse and, for what it's worth, the bigger they are, the harder they fall, as they say...it is risky business laying a horse this large down for surgery, something to avoid at almost all costs.
Anyway, it is interesting that the TB gelding "Le Grand Cheval" came so very close at 19.2HH. Considering a 20HH Shire draft horse, it makes the TB even freakishly taller--one expects only the giant drafts to get near that mark.
"I'll lay me down and bleed a while, and then I'll rise and fight again." Sir Barton
