Jenny, an American Saddlebred mare living at an equestrian school in Spring Valley, Ohio, has officially secured the Guinness World Record for the longest horse tail, measuring 412.62 centimeters as of July. Owned by Mackenzie Lowe and Rachel Estes, the mare surpassed a record held since 2007 by a mare named JJS Summer Breeze, whose tail measured 381 centimeters.
A Spring Valley Mare Claims the Crown
Thirteenth Birthday Gift Becomes History
Mackenzie Lowe received Jenny as a thirteenth birthday gift in 2019, according to statements provided to Guinness World Records. At the time, Jenny’s tail already reached the ground, which is typical for the American Saddlebred breed known for long, flowing tails. Instead of trimming the hair or using artificial tail sets often seen at horse shows, Lowe decided to let the tail grow naturally to see how long it would get.
The Four-Hour Maintenance Routine
Maintaining a tail roughly the length of a Volkswagen Beetle requires extensive upkeep. Lowe and her family wash and dry the tail approximately once a month. The process of unbraiding, washing, applying conditioner, drying, brushing, and re-braiding takes between four and five hours.
To protect the hair from dirt and prevent other horses from stepping on it and pulling out hairs, the owners braid the tail loosely near the root and tighter further down, storing it inside a protective bag. Jenny wears the bag outside of wash days and equestrian exhibitions, occasionally growing impatient during the lengthy grooming sessions until rewarded with treats, according to Lowe.
Hitting the Show Circuit in Ohio
Jenny and Lowe travel to various horse exhibitions in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Spectators typically notice Jenny’s general appearance first before reacting with surprise once they observe the length of her tail, Lowe noted.
Beyond the Record Books
Beyond the record-breaking feature, Lowe describes Jenny as her “heart horse” who helped her through difficult personal periods. Alongside her kind and intelligent temperament, the mare possesses a distinct habit of licking people like a dog.
Where Jenny Ranks Among Animal Records
Other animal tail length records recognized by Guinness include a Shetland pony named Golden Shante, or Topper, whose tail measured 408 centimeters in 2010. Outside of equines, an Irish Wolfhound named Keon in Belgium held the canine tail length record at 76.8 centimeters in 2015, while a Maine Coon cat named Mr. Pugsley Addams in Minnesota recorded a tail length of 46.99 centimeters in 2025.
Keep reading