Scottish Daily Mail

The biggest horse in the world? Neigh bother!

- By Bart Dickson

HE weighs in at more than 140st, eats at least 50lb of food every day and stands almost 6ft 11in tall.

Lincoln is clearly a high horse – the joint tallest in the world, in fact.

The Shire was rescued from the slaughterh­ouse three years ago by Ruth Blair, who paid £450 for him.

Today the seven-year-old measures 6ft 10¾in from the withers (just above the shoulders) to the ground, without shoes, and is just under 21 hands high.

Lincoln’s growth spurt puts him at the top of the height charts for any horse in the UK and Europe and on an equal footing with Belgian draft horse Big Jake, who is kept on a farm in the US state of Michigan.

Mrs Blair, 5 , of Cumbernaul­d, Lanarkshir­e, said Lincoln’s future

‘His condition was really poor’

seemed bleak when she was convinced to buy him.

She added: ‘His condition was really poor. There weren’t many options for him. He was underweigh­t and carrying illness and was an expensive prospect to nurse back to health. It took six months to turn him around.’

Now Lincoln is being cared for at the farm of fruit and vegetable tycoon James Mackie in Inchinnan, Renfrewshi­re, where each day he munches his way through 26lb of carrots, 24 apples, 11lb of spinach, four or five cabbages plus snacks.

Mrs Blair said: ‘James is more than happy to be feeding him up. I am very glad we have put his life on the path it is now.’

 ??  ?? High horses: Lincoln, right, with stable manager Michelle Cannery, shares the world record with US-based Belgian draft Big Jake, inset
High horses: Lincoln, right, with stable manager Michelle Cannery, shares the world record with US-based Belgian draft Big Jake, inset

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