'A Gentle Giant': World's Tallest Horse Dies

Milwaukee WI

06 July, 2021

1:28 PM

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POYNETTE, WI — "Big Jake," the world's tallest horse, has died. The beloved equine died in recent weeks at Smokey Hollow Farm in Poynette, Wisconsin, where he had lived for the last few years. He was 20. "Jake was a superstar, and I'm not just saying that because he was ours," Smokey Hollow Farm owner Jerry Gilbert told WMTV. "He was truly a magnificent animal. He was extremely talented." He was also extremely tall. The tallest, actually. At 6 foot, 10 inches — not including his head and neck — Big Jake was certified in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest living horse in the world in 2010. Measuring in 2.75 inches taller than the previous record-holder, it's a title he held until his death. "Jake was just a special horse," Gilbert said. "He was truly a gentle giant. He knew he was special; and whenever we would show him, people would be taken aback by him by his size and everything." Big Jake's size made dogs look closer to the size of ants, and he easily dwarfed an ordinary-size adult man standing next to him in a YouTube video shared by Equestria World in 2016. The Gilbert family says it's not the same on the farm since Big Jake has been gone. "It's very quiet," Gilbert told WMTV. "The other horses know. I think they have their own grieving time because Jake was the center of attention around here." Lines would often form outside Big Jake's stable with horse lovers and tourists eager to meet the record-holder. Now, Big Jake's memory will be kept alive with his Smokey Hollow stall remaining empty, Gilbert told WMTV, and with a brick with his picture and name inserted outside the stall.