Horses, whether wild or tame are fascinating animals that never fail to capture our attention. Many of you must be greatly attracted by these large,sturdy animals and even dreaming of riding them if you get the opportunity to do so someday..Even though we do not encounter horses much in our day- to- day lives the way we do many other domesticated animals, horses have managed to somehow win our affection, especially because we have virtually read so much about them them in storybooks.We have encountered wonderful, intelligent and loyal horses in many a western story, fairytale and folk tale.

So ,what do you think about having a horse in your home one day the way you would have a pet cat or a dog?Another dream? Perhaps not, because miniature horses are rather common today and there are many who own them. Just imagine having a cute baby horse that you could carry about and play with the way you do with your beloved pet dog or cat? Wonderful, isn’t it? Well ,with this new breed of miniature horses called minis,it is a strong possibility.

In case you are wondering whether there has been a mix -up between ponies and horses (going by the pictures ) the answer is no. Even though ponies are a particular species of horse that is very much smaller than a normal riding horse, the ones we feature today are real horses and not the same as ponies.

Miniature horses are definitely not ponies.There are many kinds of ponies, some taller than others.Typically, ponies are shorter than 58 inches at the top of the shoulders and have wide, strong bodies. Their necks too are usually muscular while their legs are comparatively short for their size. The Welsh pony for instance can be 58 inches tall but the American Shetland may not grow taller than 46 inches. They are no doubt small but minis are even smaller.

The miniature horse is shorter than the smallest of ponies. A mini cannot be taller than 34 inches, measured at the top of the shoulders, where the mane ends. A full-grown mini weighs between 150 and 250 pounds. Minis are specially bred horses even though some may strongly resemble ponies.The aim of these miniature horse breeders is to create a tiny horse, which is the same as a full-sized horse.Therefore minis should not have short legs, thick necks or big bellies like some ponies do.These cute minis come in a variety of colour too unlike the average sized horses . Some colours that are rare in other breeds are common in minis, such as dark bodies with white or cream manes and tails.Minis may have Appaloosa spots, pinto patches, solid colours or beautiful tan buckskins with dark legs, manes, and tails. They have dainty hooves and soft noses that can easily fit into your hand.

Miniature horses became popular in the late 1970s. When they were first introduced , some looked like riding horses while others resembled draft horses.However,both these types were popular. At the early stages though the most important factor was its small size.

A horse that was small was valuable, even if its legs were too short or its belly was too big.It is not the case today because a well-proportioned body and a beautiful head are just as important as size. And so thousands of beautiful minis are bred today.Unfortunately many pet minis which are abandoned by owners are also put to death in large numbers.

Breeding of miniature horses which has become more organised and popular since about three decades ago is nothing new as various attempts have been made even as far back as the 1950s to breed small horses.

Like their bigger family members minis too like to stay outdoors, grazing in pastures .The mini babies which are called foals are said to be real cute as they are so tiny ;weighs about 20 pounds and stands between 16 and 21 inches tall.

The female minis usually have their babies in the springtime after an eleven month gestation (pregnancy) period.The newborn miniature foal which you can pick up and carry like a human baby or a puppy is still all horse. Because, like with the foals of typical horses the mini foals too can stand on its own four feet and nuzzle its mother, looking for milk, soon after birth.Would you believe that in a few hours, it can dash around the pasture and buck and jump just like any other horse baby?

The young horse stays with its mother for a few months and grows in size. However,, it cannot surpass the stipulated size if it is to be classed as a mini. When it is a year old, it can’t be more than 32 inches tall. It also has to be well proportioned just like the sturdy big horses and not end up with short legs and a big belly resembling Shetland ponies.

But these good looks matter only when it comes to horse shows and not when looking for mini pet horses. Who would not love to have a tiny horse that follows you around like a puppy even if it has stumpy legs and a pot belly ?A horse is a horse, after all.And what is most important is that miniature horses are a gentle,friendly breed and easy to handle and maintain than fully grown horses. Unfortunately, miniature horses are very expensive.

The best show horses sell for thousands of dollars, with stallions being the most expensive. But a miniature horse breeder often has horses that are not perfect enough to be champions or to use as breeding stock. These animals may be bought for a few hundred dollars.The least expensive and best miniature horse for family fun is a gelding. Geldings are male horses that are not perfect enough to be used for breeding.

Facts and pix: Internet

Is Einstein the world’s smallest living horse?

Recently a horse from New Hampshire, USA, has been receiving an incredible amount of media attention regarding his size. The horse is called Einstein and is said to be 14in (35.6cm) tall, and weigh 6lb (2.7kg). This has led to speculation that Einstein is the world’s smallest living horse.

The Guinness World Records will only consider a claim for this record category when the animal is at least 4 calendar (not equine) years old. As has been widely reported Einstein is only a few week old; and therefore the title of “smallest living horse’ is retained by Thumbelina.

Thumbelina, a miniature sorrel brown mare, measures 44.5 cm (17.5 in) to the withers and is owned by Kay and Paul Goessling who live on the Goose Creek Farm Inc, St Louis, Missouri, USA.

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Fact file

* The American Miniature Horse Association, which keeps track of most of the minis in the world, began in 1978. . Only horses that stayed small - no more than 34 inches by the time they were five years old - were allowed to be called miniatures.
* The American Miniature Horse has become a true breed, a special new kind of horse.
 

* Minis are popular in many countries in addition to the United States - Canada, England, Holland, Japan, Australia, and several South American countries especially.
* Small horses and ponies had been used to work in coal mines in England and Holland. Some of these were brought to the United States in the nineteenth century.
* A miniature horse stallion may challenge other big males by whinnying and prancing about with his neck arched despite its own small size.
* Young children up to 60 pounds can ride a mini .A trained miniature driving horse can pull two adults for ten miles with no difficulty.
* Vet care for a miniature horse is comparable to that of a dog. Yearly immunizations are required, and bi-monthly de-worming is required to keep the miniature horsehealthy and protected from disease.
*Some miniature horses are chosen for Guide Horse training. But they must weigh approximately 55-100 pounds.
* Because Guide Horses are usually smaller than miniature horses, they are called pygmy horses, both out of respect for the miniature horse registries and to ensure that the Guide Horses are not confused with any one of the numerous registry standards for miniature horses.
* Miniature horses possess amazing vision. With their eyes mounted squarely on the sides of their heads, they possess nearly 350 degree vision.

The miniature horses are alsoextremely sensitive to motion in their field of vision and often detect a potential hazard before their sighted trainers. Guide Horses also have excellent night visionand can see clearly in almost total darkness.