World's tallest horse visits Missoula today

The Missoulian ^ | May 8, 2005 | VINCE DEVLIN

[Bear_Slayer]

I won't be able to get there until the late afternoon, so I probably won't have them posted until Wednesday morning.

[Bear_Slayer]

My wife drove through Paradise once. That's east of Plains, no?

She thought it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen and suggested we move there. I haven't seen it yet, but I've been to Plains and places west. Is it anything like Plains?

[Lockbar]

Now thats a cool looking horse!

[mikrofon]

Quite a perch Ms. Fish has atop that steed.

(That's not a draft horse, that's a jet-stream horse ;)

[Beaker]

*ping*

[ShakeNJake]

Mount Pleasant is a bit of a drive for tuffydoodle. It is about 2 hours from where I live and tuffydoodle is probably 1 to 1 1/2 hours from me. Hey Tuffy, maybe we could get together for a day trip when Goliath gets back home and go see him!

[tuffydoodle]

Absolutely! Is Mount Pleasant his home base? I didn't read the entire article, I was looking for pictures.

[Lady Jag]

There must have been two Goliaths.

GOLIATH THE TALLEST HORSE IN THE WORLD DIED TODAY Goliath, perhaps the most famous Shire Horse that ever lived died today the 20th July 2001. A huge black horse of immense character, he travelled the Country for ten years as the senior members of Young and Co's Brewery, team of show horses. During this time he was found to be the tallest horse in Great Britain and in fact featured in the famous Guinness Book of Records for over eight years.

.

Goliath did not have an easy life and because of his size he was mistakenly put to work at the age of two. For this, the horse had to pay a high price in his old age and suffered from arthritis and rheumatism in his joints.

In 1981 he found favour with another remarkable character, Harry Ranson, who was for many years the head Horseman at Young's in Wandsworth. Harry "found" Goliath very down on his luck. The horse was still only four years old and in very poor condition but some sparkle was still there and Harry took a gamble by introducing Goliath into the world famous team of black shire horses. This gamble paid off and Goliath dazzled the crowds wherever he went.

Goliath was six feet five inches tall to his shoulder and although he had his cantankerous moments, a more placid and gentle giant never lived. The average weight of a Shire horse today is about 16 to 17 cwt. Goliath was one of those exceptions, the One Ton plus Shire horse. Although his four white feet gave him the necessary credentials to join the Youngs team, because of his difficult early year his conformation was far from perfect. He made up for this with his outstanding character and amazing memory.

Goliaths last years have been at the Northcote Heavy Horse Sanctuary, Nr Spilsby in Lincolnshire where they care for horses with big problems!

When he began falling over in 1992 his original retirement home in Sussex found it too much of a problem and Goliath went north. The falling down problem was something he often brought on himself and frequently happened when he was minding someone elses business! It did not affect his general health; it was just that his back legs had lost their bendyness!

The centre is operated by volunteers and funded by public subscription and one of the stalwart supporters, Andy Oughton from County Durham built a special crane to cope with Goliath's problem.

While in Lincolnshire he brought joy and happiness to thousands of visitors; particularly those in wheelchairs. We earnestly believe he honestly thought those unfortunate folk were in a similar situation to himself.

Goliath had the same veterinary surgeon all the time he lived in Lincolnshire. He never ceased to amaze Julian and his careers with his resilience and fortitude, his stamina and resolve.

Through the Northcote Centre, Goliath has hundreds of "adopted family" throughout Britain and even in Spain and France.

Goliaths year of adulation occurred in 2000 when the Guinness World Records people realised he was still alive and after six month's research found him to be the TALLEST LIVING HORSE IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

He appeared in numerous national and international publications and many television programs.

Goliath was not one of those very pretty horses that grace the show rings and add glamour to the day. He was the most down to earth, gentle, hardworking and genuine character. Truly one in a million. He will be greatly missed. k.s.

[Beaker]

Hmm.. interesting.

[Luna]

What a HUGH horse!

[Rennes Templar]

Great!

We're far south of Plains, the northern corridor to Yellowstone Park at Mammoth. Paradise Valley starts at Livingston and goes south to Gardiner. I've never been to Plains, so can't compare. But this is a paradise.

[Paul Atreides]

Rather, posts 8 and 32.

[Judith Anne]

There is a fella that logs with enormous brown horses here in my neck of the woods. He has a team of two, and they do an amazing amount of work. They are incredibly beautiful, terrifically docile. I think they're Perch's.

Horse shoes as big as dinner plates.

[Bear_Slayer]

I see. I was thinking of Paradise, which is east of Plains and somewhat west of Missoula.

[ShakeNJake]

Yes, it is where he lives at the Priefert ranch. They are the ones who make the panels and other barn stuff like stall components.

LOL! So like us horse people to only look at the pictures of the horses and not read the text!

[Bear_Slayer]

After Action Report:

I was not able to get to Murdoch's until shortly before 6:00 pm.

I was not able to get any pictures as I did not have access to the digital camera, as I thought I would.

Having no pictures was no loss.

Goliath was inside the store, in the very back. He was confined by a 12x12 box coral with a bit of straw on the ground. He was also boxed in by walls on two sides, a tall store isle on a third side, and a horde of visitors on the fourth (front) side. The horde was kept at a distance by Goliath's handlers; Goliath was trying to bite everyone within reach. He was very agitated from the crowds that had gathered to gawk at him since 12:00p that day.

And gawk they did; that was all they could do - and he gawked back- when he wasn't trying to bite anyone that got to near from carelessness.

I stood around for a few minutes and watched Goliath react to the crowds. At one point I thought that he was going to break through his bars like Mighty Joe Young. He didn't; which was too bad. It would have added to the lack luster engagement.

At one point a fine fatherly figure sidled up to a handler and asked if Goliath had anywhere to stay for the night.

He was embarassed; he kept looking back at his teenage daughters who were urging him onwards.

He explained that he had horse property and that his daughters wanted to care for him overnight. The handler was to the point, "Arrangement's have already been made." She was as agitated as Goliath, though I never saw her try to bite anyone. A flurry of pictures were attempted and at this point I left.

[Rennes Templar]

Ok thanks for the report. Sheesh, you think they could have found a corral somewhere to show him in!

[Stoat]

Thank you very much for your report! I'm very sorry, however, that you went to so much trouble and made a long trip with the results being so dissatisfying. According to the Missoulian article, Goliath's owner sends him to between 100 and 150 appearances every year, travelling 40,000 miles to do so.

I'm utterly astonished, considering such a super-heavy touring schedule, that such poor arrangements were made for this event. It's sort of like The Rolling Stones' management booking the group to play in a particular city and when they arrive they find that they've been booked to play at a McDonald's. I understand that the amount of money involved with comparing these two events is of course wildly dissimilar, but Goliath's owner obviously tours the horse on a professional basis and is quite accustomed to making event arrangements. The fact that such poor arrangements were made in this case suggests to me that there is either gross incompetence on the part of the horse's owner or the owner simply doesn't care and wants the maximum exposure possible, regardless of the stresses placed upon the horse and regardless of the quality of the presentation venue.

One thing that may also be worth considering....it's possible that the owner (Bill Priefert) is in Texas and is letting someone else make all the show arrangements. It's possible that the owner is not aware of essential details such as what you mention. I'm wondering if it might be helpful for you to contact the Missoulian reporter, Vince Devlin (who was probably not at the event you attended) and inquire with Mr. Devlin as to whether he has any contact information for Goliath's owner?

It's quite possible that Mr. Priefert would be very interested in learning of your impressions, particularly if the showing of Goliath is handled by someone other than himself.

At any rate, thank you again for all of your troubles and hopefully Goliath will visit near you again one day and will be hosted at a better location.

[MissouriConservative]

bump for later reading.