Gentle giant

Oden the horse may make it into the record books

By Eileen Persike

Editor

What weighs 2,460 pounds and stands 21.2 hands tall? Anyone who has been to Holiday Stables east of Rhinelander knows the answer is a horse named Oden. And the percheron may very well be the largest horse in the world.

“The biggest one we know of right now is 20 hands,” said Montana native and head cowboy at Holiday Stables, Steve Krier. “My wife Jen found him on the internet, and she wanted a big horse to ride so I went and bought him.”

Oden is 14 years old, which puts him at middle age for his breed. The Kriers contacted the Guinness Book of World Records and someone from the organization is expected to come to Rhinelander to weigh and measure him within the month. Steve bought the horse near Milwaukee.

“Some people had a six-horse hitch of black percherons, and he was so much bigger than the others that they didn’t want him,” Krier said. “Now Jen rides him all the time on the trails; he’s a good horse, just as gentle as can be.”

Eight-year old Zoey, who lives down the road from Holiday Stables would agree with that.

“I’m not scared of any of ‘em,” she said while tugging on Oden’s bridle, guiding him into his stall. As he munched on hay and oats, it was hard to believe he has any idea the notoriety that may soon befall him. But if his easy going manner is any indication, the gentle giant will likely take it all in stride.