Miniature horses

Miniature horses are horses defined by their small height - usually less than 34–38 inches. They can be found in many nations, particularly in Europe and the Americas, and are the result of centuries of selective breeding.

Miniature horses were first developed in Europe in the 1600s, and by 1765 they were seen frequently as the pets of nobility. Others were used in coal mines in England and continental Europe because they were small enough to fit in the small mine shafts.

The first small horses in the United States date to 1861, when John Rarey imported four Shetland ponies, one of which was 24 inches tall. Additional small British horses, as well as small Dutch mine horses, were brought to the US throughout the late 1800s. In the 1960s, public appreciation for miniature horses began to grow, and they were increasingly used in a number of equestrian disciplines.

Miniature horses are generally bred to be friendly and to interact well with people. For this reason they are often kept as family pets, though they still retain natural horse behavior, including a natural fight or flight instinct, and must be treated like an equine, even if they primarily serve as a companion animal. They are also trained as service animals, akin to assistance dogs for disabled people. Miniature horses are also trained for driving, equine agility, and other competitive horse show type events.

Miniature Horse Fun Facts:

- The oldest living horse on record was a miniature horse named Angel who lived with the Horse Protection Society of North Carolina and lived to be over 50.

- The current record holder for the world’s smallest horse is Thumbelina, who is fully mature but stands 17 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds. She was born in 2001 and lives on Goose Creek Farm in St. Louis, Missouri.

- Their average lifespan ranges from 25 to 35 years, meaning they often live longer lives than their full-sized counterparts.

- Average-sized horses eat approximately 15 to 20 pounds of food per day whereas mini horses eat between two and four pounds, with a diet consisting primarily of grass, hay, and grain.