Before internal combustion engines were invented, most mechanical work was done by horses. They were also pack animals, they were used for riding food and for transporting people.
At the end of the 19th century, in large cities around the world, from 200 to 500 thousand horses were employed in transport, which is a lot. They also created certain problems, because... the cities were filled with horse manure.
But the smallest horses in the world could not do such work due to their miniature size. There are certain breeds that are distinguished by their small size, as well as certain representatives of this genus that were born small. For example, a horse is only 36 centimeters tall; you will see its photo in our article.
Pinto, up to 140 cm
The name of the horses comes from the Spanish word “pintado”, which means “painted”. This is not a breed, but a certain type of color. In America, all pinto horses and ponies are called " Pinto ". Among them there are large horses from 142 cm at the withers and above, as well as ponies whose height is from 86 to 142 cm, and miniature horses whose height is from 86 to 96 cm and less.
To register a horse under this name, the total area on the legs or head must be at least 10 cm² for horses, 7.5 cm² for ponies, and 5 cm² for miniature horses.
Many people like these horses with unusual colors. They are often used in attractions for tourists and in the circus. They are especially loved by Americans. In the United States, any horse other than draft horses with this coloring is considered a Pinto, while to register with Paint Horse the horse must be a Thoroughbred Saddlebred or Quarter Horse.
Scope of application
Despite its charming appearance and tiny stature, a miniature horse not only pleases with its appearance, but also brings benefits by participating in treatment programs and entertainment events. Small horses are used for the following purposes:
- For children's horse riding lessons , this mini-animal with a gentle disposition is an ideal mount for kids.
- In driving competitions , dwarf horses energetically participate in competitions, easily carrying a person in a harness.
- In hippotherapy , small and affectionate pets help people with cerebral palsy and autism cope with diseases through tactile contact.
- As guides for blind people , in the West horses replace guide dogs. According to the owners, mini-horses are calm and reliable, and easily remember the route.
Little horses are adorable creatures that can easily become a person's best friend and companion. Despite the high cost, maintaining and caring for mini-horses is no more difficult than caring for a dog, and their life expectancy is much longer.
Mini Appaloosa, up to 86 cm
mini-Appaloosa
horses is up to 86 cm. The color can be any, but the animal must be covered with special patterns inherent in this breed. The mini appaloosa resembles a regular sport horse, but only in a small size. They are very popular in Germany, the USA, and the Netherlands, but for us they are rather exotic.
Where is the breed used?
These small horses belong to the decorative category. They are not suitable for riding. The miniature horse is capable of pulling a cart in which 2 children or 1 adult are sitting. More often they are used as a pet. Horses look fragile and graceful, so they should not be used on the farm. Animals also often participate in circus performances. They are easy to train. These horses happily perform in front of a wide audience.
Miniature horses often help people with disabilities. This is due to the calm nature of the animals. In addition, they have a good life expectancy. She often reaches 35-40 years.
Falabella horses are small in size and graceful. They are often raised as pets. Such animals are popular among breeders because they require little care. At the same time, it is worth taking care of the prevention of major pathologies.
American miniature horses, up to 86 cm
Despite the name, they did not originate in the United States, but in Europe. Breeders sought to create a breed with a pleasant appearance, small stature and docile character. And they succeeded.
The American Miniature Horse must be no more than 34 inches tall, i.e. about 85 cm, weigh from 50 to 70 kg. In the USA and Canada, these horses participate in various shows, where there are more than 250 of them. They ride children, overcome obstacles, and sometimes races of these mini-horses are held.
These little horses make good guides for the blind. Very friendly, intelligent, well trained - these are the main advantages of American miniature horses.
Panda
The little pony reaches 70 cm in height. She lives with her owner in New York and also plays the role of a guide. Interestingly, she is very playful and spends her free time with her toys. The pony got her nickname for her black and white coloring. Panda's owner is very pleased with her and claims that she copes better than previous guide dogs.
Miniature Shetland ponies, up to 86 cm
These horses appeared on the islands of the Shetland archipelago. Local residents knew about them for a long time, but in the 19th century in miniature Shetland ponies . These animals were used in English mines because... They were distinguished by great endurance and exported a huge number of different breeds. At the end of the 20th century, they moved to America, where they are still universally loved.
They can be found in zoos, circuses, various parks and farms. Now Miniature Shetland ponies are one of the most common breeds. These are small horses with short legs and fluffy, thick hair, which saved them from strong winds.
It is distinguished not only by its beauty, excellent health and endurance, but also by its flexible character. Color may vary.
Origin of small horses
The appearance of small representatives resembling their relatives of normal growth is due to genetic changes. This phenomenon has nothing to do with dwarfism. Biologists believe that in rare cases, large horses may also produce miniature offspring.
Such individuals have appeared before: there is a portrait of Louis XIV, where he is depicted next to a small horse. But they did not take part in breeding and existed only as rare wonders. Targeted selection began in the middle of the last century. The first mention of the systematic development of a new breed was recorded in 1975.
According to the Falabella family's own legend, they found their first mini-stallion at a watering hole on the river. He became the ancestor of the first recorded variety of small horses. Unlike ponies, which have existed for many hundreds of years, the miniature horse has the appearance of a riding animal and is harmoniously built.
In addition to mini-horses, there are specially selected small representatives of Shetland ponies. They have the exterior characteristic of these animals and are very different from small horses.
Falabella, up to 80 cm
Miniature horses are often confused with ponies, but in fact they are a rather rare but independent breed. It got its name from the Argentine farmer Falabella . He was the first to breed miniature-sized horses.
According to one version, a herd of ordinary horses could not get out of the canyon, because... a landslide blocked their way. The animals ate cacti and, due to lack of food, became smaller with each generation. A farmer discovered the unusual horses, and despite the fact that he fed them well, they remained the same miniature size.
Falabella very rarely gave away his horses, but even if he agreed to a deal, he first castrated the stallions. Only in 1977, one English lord was able to purchase several horses, and they began to spread throughout the world.
Falabella horses are friendly and good-natured, and are distinguished by their intelligence. They jump well and can overcome various obstacles. Their height is up to 86 cm, but there are much smaller horses. They weigh from 20 to 65 kg.
Where are the abilities of crumbs used?
Breeds of dwarf horses are successfully used as guides for the blind. In this matter, they even surpassed guide dogs. Today, rules have been developed for the use and training of horses specifically for this purpose. The main advantage of a horse in such a difficult task is its life expectancy. For all its sickness, a baby horse lives on average 30 years, and with good maintenance - all 50. The horse is easy to train, and you can train it throughout your life, and accordingly, improve your abilities.
Another very big advantage is the viewing angle. Dwarf horses have a vision range of 360°. They are perfectly oriented in space at night. Among other things, they have a balanced character, so they cannot be distracted from their main occupation.
Due to the fact that horses are herd animals, they have a special subordination, therefore, in a relationship, a person must position himself as a leader, and only then as a friend and partner. Only in this case is it possible to get a loyal and obedient animal. Such an unusual guide will have to wear special shoes in the apartment so that the hooves do not slip on the parquet or linoleum.
Tambelina, 43 cm
The Goessling family, living near St. Louis, breeds mini-horses. In 2001, they had a very small foal, weighing only 3.5 kg. The weight of an adult horse was 26 kg. The farmers did not hope that she would survive, because... Tambelina or Thumbelina looked weak and sick. In the first year she grew to 44.5 cm and stopped. Most likely, this is due to disruption of the endocrine glands.
She has disproportionately small legs, which is not good for her health. Tambelina sleeps in a kennel, not a stable, and travels in it. All day long she frolics on the lawn with other animals. In 2006, she became the smallest horse in the world, but in 2010 a new record holder appeared.
Thumbelina is not a pony, she is a miniature dwarf horse. Representatives of this breed look the same as ordinary horses, with correct proportions. If desired, it would be possible to get offspring from Tambelina, but her owners did not want to risk the health of their pet.
Care and maintenance
Mini-horses need to be cared for in the same way as large breeds of horses. But because of their size, they need much less food and space to live.
When keeping such a horse, you must remember:
- a room measuring 3x3 m is suitable;
- up to three small horses can be kept in one room;
- To walk them, you need a platform and a paddock, because just like ordinary horses, they need daily walking.
Some breeders keep such horses in apartments and houses, only they put special boots on their hooves.
They are fed in the same way as ordinary horses, mainly hay and grass, but vegetables, fruits and vitamin complexes should be added to the diet.
The diet and nutritional value are calculated based on the energy expenditure of the animal, but this is significantly less than that of an ordinary horse. If the horse has expended more energy than usual, then a kilogram of oats is added to the diet.
If the animal will be kept in a stable, it should be ventilated, but without drafts. The floor must be warm; sawdust or straw can be used for bedding. Many people have animals in their apartment and at the same time buy them diapers and shoes for their hooves.
But these conditions are not very good for mini-horses, since they still cause inconvenience for both the animal and the owner.
Any animal needs to be monitored, and mini-horses are no exception. They should be examined periodically by a veterinarian. Various types of vaccinations should also be carried out regularly.
Caring for mini-horses involves the following procedures:
- daily cleaning of the animal’s place of residence, that is, it is worth completely changing and cleaning the wet bedding;
- after cleaning, lay down dry sawdust or straw;
- carry out disinfection several times a year in the absence of the horse;
- The feeding area should be washed frequently and disinfected once a month;
- every day for 20 minutes you need to brush the mane, fur and tail, wash with a special shampoo;
- after walking the animal, carefully clean the hooves, using a hook for this (if the hooves are not taken care of, then after a while they will crack, and after that the animal may begin to limp);
- animals must take a shower; in summer it is necessary; in winter, dry cleaning is sufficient;
- It is worth checking your horses' teeth once every six months.
Recco de Roca, 38 cm
The birth of this horse is also connected with the surname Falabella. For more than 70 years, breeders, using inbreeding, tried to develop a new breed of horses, based on horses discovered at the beginning of the 20th century in certain areas of Argentina. The first horse appeared thanks to Julio Falabella. It was a baby named Recco de Roca . She weighed about 12 kg and was 38 cm tall.
Einstein, 36 cm
In April 2010, another record-breaking foal was born and named Einstein . He appeared in England, in the city of Barnstead, on one of the farms. He is a Pinto. At birth, he weighed 2.7 kg with a height of 35.56 cm. When the foal grew up, his weight was 28 kg.
This is not a dwarf like Tambelina, he has no growth defects, but just a small horse that belongs to the Falabella breed. His parents are also miniature in size, but not as tiny as this foal: mother Finesse is 81.28 cm, and father Painted Feather is 72.6 cm.
Immediately after birth, the foal went to Charlie Cantrell and Rachel Wanger. He participated in many television shows, his photos appeared in many media. Einstein is a friendly and kind horse that the children were delighted with. Knowing that he had won the love of a small audience, the horse's owners published a children's book about his adventures. Einstein could have entered the Guinness Book of Records, but he had grown significantly and could not be considered the smallest horse.
Gulliver in the land of Lilliput
A horse is smaller than a cat
Last summer, the world's smallest foal was born at a pony farm in Russia. The owners, undoubtedly having a sense of humor, named him Gulliver. This miracle of nature is half the size of all pony foals. Believe it or not, he is as tall as a cat. And if you scour the Internet and look at photographs of some Murkas, whom their owners feed to monstrous sizes, then, in comparison with them, Gulliver will find himself in the land of mustachioed giants. Dwarf foals are born rarely, most of them are in the USA, where breeding of cartoon horses is even cultivated, but, as a rule, sooner or later they all have physical disabilities and defects. Gulliver has neither physical nor mental disabilities. At the withers, this “giant” measures 30 centimeters and weighs three kilograms.
Gulliver will soon be included in the Guinness Book of Records
The four-legged hoofed baby has already become a popular media person. He participates with interest in filming and photo sessions, and is not afraid of camera flashes or cameras.
