Page 91 - The Mini Horse Magazine 2023 No 1
P. 91
The small horse breed has been appreciated TODAY
by kings like Louis XIV of France and was There are many different types of Miniature horses
thought to be an Eohippus. The ancestor to all since the breeding regulations mostly focus on
horse breeds has been the Eohippus, the first their size and legs, rather than coat colours or
horse on Earth. The Eohippus was also called patterns. The mini horses appear in all shades and
the dawn horse and was an extinct group of colours but have limited uses for riders since they
mammals. They flourished in North America cannot be ridden. The modern miniature horse is
and Europe during around 56 million to 33.9 mainly kept as a pet and can be used for driving
million years ago. Many thought, due to as well. They are a popular pet for many people
their tiny size, that Miniature horses might and children adore them. Mini horse breeding has
be directly related to the Eohippus, but this become popular worldwide since the 1900s. There
has been proven wrong by science. Louis are two main breeding associations: the AMHA (The
XIV of France contributed a lot to Miniature American Miniature Horse Association) and the
horse history since it is documented that AMHR (The American Miniature Horse Registry).
the French king kept mini horses in his The AMHA was founded in 1978 and the AMHR
menagerie at Versailles during the 1650s. a little earlier in 1972. Miniature horses breeding
He is a great example of a person of novelty focuses on the size and height of the horses.
who was keen on miniature horses that have According to the AMHR breeding regulations,
been bred specifically to be kept as pets. “Miniatures are between 34″ and 38” tall. Unlike
the majority of most equine breeds, miniature
STARS horses are measured at the last hair of their mane
Nowadays many Miniature horses have rather than at their wither. Miniature horses come
become social media stars. Anyone who in a full spectrum of coat colourings and patterns
has been to the Oprah Winfrey Show can and (unlike Shetlands), a spotted appaloosa is an
be considered a celebrity and so can the accepted and popular colouring in the American
Miniature Horse Einstein. Einstein is an itsy- Miniature Horse Registry.
bitsy horse with a height of standing 20
inches tall. He weighs roughly 47 pounds The American miniature horse is a cute and great
and became a social media celebrity due to companion for Young and Old. Even though, riding
his cuteness. a Miniature horse is not possible since the tiny
equines cannot carry most children and never an
Pea is the smallest horse in the world and he adult, owning a Mini horse can be a delight. The
is a rescue Miniature horse. He is only 16.5 Miniature horse makes a wonderful pet and can be
inches tall and was born with dwarfism. a kind-hearted addition to your family. They need
He was so small, that he couldn’t reach his all the care a tall horse needs as well, so anyone
mother’s udder and was supposed to be keeping a Mini horse needs a lot of time and must
euthanized due to his several health issues. be able to afford the regular expenses. If you are
Pea was rescued by a kind-hearted soul and looking for a horse that will be held as a pet, the
lives a happy life now. mini horse is a great choice.
Miniature Horse Magazine • Issue 1/2023 | 91
