Guinness Book of World Records holder for tallest horse
to compete in N.C. State Fair draft horse competition

RALEIGH – The Midway barkers hawking the “World’s Largest Horse” alongside the two-headed raccoon and five-legged sheep will face stiff competition when the N.C. State Fair draft horse competition gets under way. Draft horses, made famous by the pounding hooves of the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales, weigh 1,600 pounds or better and stand at least 6 feet tall.

“There’s a huge interest in these gentle giants because they’re so large,” said Glenn Petty, horse show manager. “They are really amazing to see up close.”

Radar, the current Guinness Book of World Records holder for tallest horse, came from Texas to fight for his title in the World’s Tallest Draft Horse Contest at 5:30 p.m. the first day of the competition, which runs Monday, Oct. 15, and Tuesday, Oct. 16, in and around the horse complex’s main arena.

At 20 hands tall, or 6 feet 8 inches from the ground to where his neck meets his back, Radar is just one of the draft horses taking part in 37 halter, driving, hitch, riding and cart classes starting at 5:30 p.m. Monday and running through Tuesday night. A variety of breeds and disciplines will compete.

Other featured events include Monday’s Six Horse Hitch Commissioner’s Cup at 9 p.m. and the Governor’s Cup on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. Six draft horses hooked to a cart will race their way around the main arena in a spectacular display of speed, agility and strength.

“You can actually feel the floor vibrating from the weight of these incredible animals,” Petty said. “We hope to carry the great visitor turnout we’ve had at the horse show already through the draft horse competitions.”

The draft horse competition benefited from a large resurgence of interest on the part of national and local breeders, including Dr. Tomas Vybiral, a heart surgeon and draft-horse enthusiast from Sparta. Vybiral has “taken the reigns,” according to Petty, and put the competition back on the map after a lack of interest led to its disappearance for several years.

Vybiral has even managed to bring the French, Belgian and British consulates—representatives of the three major countries where draft horses are bred—to the competition. These representatives will be at the main arena’s 5:30 p.m. draft horse presentation on Tuesday.

Judges Larry Hansberger of Ohio and Neil Sandlin of Nova Scotia, Canada, will also be on hand to judge the horses on their performance and general condition. But the horses aren’t the only ones being judged. Owners holding the reigns in the men, ladies and youth divisions will be scored on posture, whip, control and overall impression.

For more information, visit the Fair Web site at www.ncstatefair.org.

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Guinness Book of World Records holder for tallest horse to compete in N.C. State Fair draft horse competition

Guinness Book of World Records holder for tallest horse
to compete in N.C. State Fair draft horse competition