When small is beautiful
VIMALA MURTHY
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Miniature horses descended chiefly from Shetland ponies and were probably first bred in Europe in the mid-19th century.
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Photo: Vimala Murthy
Pretty mini: Small is beautiful.
Miniature horses are fascinating creatures. With miniatures riding the crest of popularity in the U.S., the number of miniature horse breeding farms is growing. Officially, miniature horses are acknowledged as miniatures only if they are no more that 34” at the base of the mane. As pets and investments even 30” miniatures are considered ‘tall’.
How are miniatures different from the regular horse apart from being ‘minis’? They display all the qualities of normal horses except that their end use is different. They are either bought for breeding or as pets. As pets they can be delightful creatures. As a miniature horse breeder says, “Miniatures are horses first and miniatures second. They come in all horse colours and mostly in two general varieties — sturdy draft-horse type and a more elegant fine-boned type.”
How it all began
A visit to a miniature horse farm in Brenheim, Texas, proved to be interesting, informative and exciting too, as we had never seen miniatures before. Inside the farm, tiny horses crowded around, arching their necks and tossing their heads, looking at us curiously. One frequent question all visitors ask is: “What good is a mini?” One breeder says, “What good is a diamond ring?”
How and when did the minis originate? Myths and stories apart, it is widely believed that minis descended chiefly from Shetland ponies, and were probably first bred in Europe in the mid-19th century. Small horses were used for work in the coal mines in Europe and Appalachia and also to entertain European royalty. Minis were probably brought to the U.S. in the mid-20th century when many breeders took to it as a hobby. Real interest in minis boomed in the 1970s, when people from all over the world showed interest in owning minis, either as pets or for breeding.
They are also used in research as they are easier to manage and less expensive to feed than full size horses.
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