A Clydesdale from Princeton, Texas, may soon take on the mantle of tallest horse alive.Cheryl Davis' horse Remington could set the Guinness World Record for tallest living horse, after he is measured by Guinness officials on Friday, the Dallas Morning News reported.
The record is currently held by another Texan: Belgian draft horse Radar, from Fort Worth. Radar boasts 19 hands and 3.5 inches, or 6 feet, 7.5 inches, from hoof to shoulder.
Though Davis told the Dallas newspaper she has never gotten Remington to stand still long enough to get an accurate measurement, she estimates he stands 20 hands tall, or 6 feet, 8 inches.
As of six months ago, according to Remington's trainer, Bunny Morrissey, the horse weighed in at 2,900 pounds at a truck weigh station. Morrissey said he has likely gained more than 100 pounds since.
Remington's impressive stature requires some adjustments from his handlers. He wears the biggest pre-made horseshoe available -- a size 10 -- and his halters and trailer were custom-built to accommodate his size.
And the animal eats like ... a horse. His daily intake comprises two bales of hay, 18 quarts of grain and 40 gallons of water.
Known affectionately as "Conan the Destroyer" and "the Wooly Mammoth," Remington has adapted to his size: His handlers say he responds when they tell him to "duck" and avoid low ceilings.
Accidents do happen, though. Davis maintains a blog on Remington's adventures, including the time he inadvertently knocked an air-conditioning unit off the house with his front feet.
"If you build it, he'll break it, and if he can't break it, he'll eat it," said Morrissey.
Imposing as Remington is, he might not even be the tallest horse out there. However, according to the Morning News, setting an official Guinness record requires a lot of time and paperwork. Most people are not willing to invest the effort for a title.
If Remington is declared the new record-holder, he can only hold the spot until someone else files the paperwork to beat him.
This doesn't bother Davis though. "If it lasts 10 minutes or 10 days, it will just be something happy to show," she said. "He draws a crowd wherever he goes."