Miniature horse: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m per User:Citation bot#Stopping the bot from editing, "To prevent Citation bot from editing a particular page, add the following text anywhere on the page {{bots|deny=Citation bot}}" |
|||
| (903 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Very small horse}} |
|||
[[Image:Blueklhs.JPG|thumb|AMHA Registered Pinto Miniature Mare. Image courtesy of Key Lypso Horse Stables.]] |
|||
[[File:Miniatuurpaardje.jpg|thumb|At the Agriflanders [[agricultural show]] in [[Ghent]] in 2009|alt=a very small pale chestnut horse]] |
|||
[[Image:Jazz_wiki.JPG|thumb|Minatures Possess Great Strength and Agility]] |
|||
[[ |
[[File:Miniature Horse Show.jpg|thumb|At Agriflanders in Ghent in 2007]] |
||
A '''miniature horse''' is a [[list of horse breeds|breed]] or [[type of horse]] characterised by its small size. Usually it has been [[selective breeding|bred]] to display in miniature the [[morphology (biology)|physical characteristics]] of a full-sized horse, but to be little over {{convert|100|cm|-1|abbr=on}} in height, or even less. Although such horses have the appearance of small horses, they are genetically much more similar to [[pony]] breeds such as the [[Shetland (pony)|Shetland]].{{r|cabi|p=486|}} They have various colors and coat patterns. |
|||
[[Image:Peo3a.jpg|thumb|Dwarfs Inside A Home]] |
|||
[[Image:Twink2a_web.jpg|thumb|Miniature Guide Horse]] |
|||
'''Miniature Horses''' are found all over the world and come in various colors and styles. |
|||
The Miniature [[Horse]] is a "height" breed; consisting of a mix of bloodlines that have been bred down over a number of years. |
|||
Miniature horses are present in several countries, including Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Namibia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States.{{r|dad}} In some countries they have the status of a [[breed]]; these include the [[Falabella]] of Argentina, the [[Dutch Miniature]] or {{lang|nl|italic=no|Nederlands Mini Paard}}, the South African Miniature Horse and the [[American Miniature Horse]]. |
|||
Traditionally, there are two classes: ''A'' for horses under 34 [[inch]]es and ''B'' for horses between 34 and 38 [[inch]]es in height. |
|||
They are commonly kept as [[companion animal]]s, or for sporting activities such as [[driving (horse)|driving]] or other competitive [[horse show]] events. A few have been trained as [[guide horse]]s for [[blind people]]. |
|||
Due to their size and stature, miniatures are completely separated from the hunter-jumper world. They compete in their own horse shows which include categories: conformation, in hand hunter, jumper and obstacle; and cart pulling, endurance, and obstacle. Miniature horses also make wonderful domestic pets. Sometimes refered to jokingly as "yard ornaments." |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Miniature Horses and Horses commonly live to be 25 - 35 years old, and on-average, Miniature Horses may live one-third longer than large horses. This size-longevity relationship is the same for dog breeds. For example, a Rottweiler may live to be 12, while a Chihuahua may live to be 18 years old. |
|||
[[File:Mini-ponei(REFON).jpg|thumb|At a show in [[Avaré, São Paulo]], Brazil]] |
|||
Miniature horses originated in Europe, where there is written and [[iconographic]] documentation of them from the late eighteenth century.{{r|dutson|p=168|imh}} In the first half of the twentieth century small horses were bred in England by Lady Estella Mary Hope and her sister Lady Dorothea.{{r|dutson|p=168}} |
|||
The [[Falabella]] was developed in [[Argentina]] in the mid-1800s by Patrick Newtall. When Newtall died, the herd and breeding methods were passed to his son-in-law, Juan Falabella. Falabella added additional bloodlines including the [[Welsh Pony]], [[Shetland pony]], and small [[Thoroughbreds]]. With considerable inbreeding he was able to gain consistently small size within the herd.{{r|hendricks|p=183}} |
|||
The oldest living horse on record was a Dwarf named Angel who lived with the Horse Protection Society of North Carolina, who lived to be over 50. She was just a shy under 2 feet tall! Dwarfs are a special breed of Miniature Horses that are typically classifed as being under 28 - 25 inches. ''Different assoications' views vary.'' They typically require more needs than normal Miniatures. This may include having to keep them inside for periods of time and having them wear specially modified "diapers." According to Del Tera Miniature Horse Farm of Inman South Carolina , the smallest miniature horse in recorded history was a stallion named "Little Pumpkin." He stood 14 inches tall and weighed only 20 lbs. However, the Guinness Book of World Records lists Black Beauty as the worlds smallest miniature horse at 18.5 inches tall. According to the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA), the smallest miniature horse breeding stallion in America was Bond Tiny Tim. In the AMHA Online stud book, Bond Tiny Tim is listed as a miniature horse stallion measuring only 19 inches tall. Bond Tiny Tim was a dwarf horse who was bred extensively and appears in the pedigrees of hundreds of miniature horses in America. Bond Tiny Tim sired numerous national champions and lent his dwarf genes to generations of his descendents. |
|||
The South African Miniature Horse was bred in South Africa from about 1945, when Wynand de Wet of [[Lindley, Free State|Lindley]] began [[selective breeding]] of Shetland stock. In 2011 there were about 700 of the horses in the country. [[Morphology (biology)|Morphology]] is variable: some have an [[Arabian horse|Arab]] appearance, while others have the [[equine conformation|conformation]] of a [[draft horse]]. A [[breed association]] was established in 1984, and in 1989 the South African Miniature was recognized by the national [[South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association]].{{r|samh}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Miniature Horses originally The first true Miniature Horses originated in Europe. As early as the sixteen hundreds, these tiny equines were being bred as pets for the European nobility. Paintings and articles were featuring the Miniature Horse by 1765. Lady Estella Hope and her sisters carried on the original English lines into the mid-nineteen hundreds. Many of the smallest Miniatures in the United States are from the Hope line. Unfortunately, not all early Miniatures were pampered pets of kings and queens. Some were used to work in the English Midlands and Northern European coal mines. These "working blood lines" give us today's stockier miniatures, or ones who more resimble a Draft Horse. |
|||
== Characteristics == |
|||
The [http://www.guidehorse.com Guide Horse Foundation] was founded in 1999 as an experimental program to access the abilities of miniature horses as assistance animals. There is a critical shortage of guide animals for the blind. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Miniature horses are generally quite hardy. They often live for longer than is typical for full-sized horses of some breeds; the usual life span is from 25 to 35 years.<ref name=facts>[http://www.guidehorse.com/faq_horses.htm Miniature Horse Facts]. Guide Horse Foundation. Accessed April 28, 2014.</ref> |
|||
In early experiments, Guide Horses have shown great promise as a mobility option, and people who have tried Guide Horses report that the Guide Horses perform exceptionally well at keeping their person safe. |
|||
Their predisposition to disease is markedly different from that of full-sized horses. They are only rarely affected by ailments such as [[laryngeal hemiplegia]], [[osteochondrosis]] or [[navicular disease]], all of which are common in larger horses,{{r|rebecca|p=xii}} but are much more likely to develop other illnesses rare in large horses, such as [[hyperlipaemia]] — which may lead to [[hepatic lipidosis]] — or [[eclampsia]].{{r|rebecca|p=xii|ceh|p2=6}} [[Dental misalignment]] and overcrowding are more common than in larger horses: [[brachygnathism]] ("parrot mouth") and [[prognathism]] ("sow mouth") are often seen;{{r|rebecca|p=53}} retention of [[deciduous teeth|caps]] can occur, as can infection of the [[paranasal sinuses|sinuses]] associated with [[tooth eruption]].{{r|rebecca|p=55}} Poor mastication can contribute to an increased incidence of [[horse colic|colic]] caused by [[enterolith]]s, [[faecolith]]s, or sand.{{r|ceh|p=5}} |
|||
==External links== |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
== Use == |
|||
*[http://www.shetlandminiature.com/amhr.shtml American Miniature Horse Registry] |
|||
[[File:Guide horse.jpg|thumb|A miniature [[guide horse]]]] |
|||
*[http://www.lilbeginnings.com L'il Beginnings Miniature Horses Internationa] |
|||
Miniature horses are commonly kept as companion animals. They are often too small for any but the smallest riders to ride, but are well suited to [[driving (horse)|driving]]; some may participate in other [[horse show]] events.{{r|dutson|p=170}} A small number have been trained as [[guide horse]]s for [[blind people]], particularly for those who consider dogs unclean, as is common in [[Muslim]] cultures.{{r|dutson|p=170|imh|nbc}} |
|||
*[http://www.minihorseworld.com Mini Horse World - International Miniature Horse Community] |
|||
*[http://www.chancesminihorserescue.org Chance's Miniature Horse Rescue] |
|||
==See also== |
|||
*[http://www.guidehorse.com The Guide Horse Foundation - A non-profit charity dedicated to providing free guides for visually impaired individuals] |
|||
* [[Miniature cattle]] |
|||
*[http://www.alhmba.org.au/ Australian Little Horse and Miniature Breeds Association] |
|||
*[http://www.angelfire.com/al4/keylypsohorsestables/home.html Key Lypso Horse Stables | Miniature Horse Information and Care Tips] |
|||
==References== |
|||
{{reflist|45em|refs= |
|||
<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.it/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ&hl=en ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{isbn|9781780647944}}.</ref> |
|||
<ref name=ceh>[s.n.] (December 2012). [https://web.archive.org/web/20131206151406/http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ceh/docs/horsereport/pubs-Dec2012-sec.pdf The Miniature Horse: More Than Just a Smaller Horse!]. ''CEH Horse Report''. Davis, California: UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Archived December 6, 2013.</ref> |
|||
<ref name=dad>[https://www.fao.org/dad-is/browse-by-country-and-species/en/ Browse by species and country]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2022.</ref> |
|||
<ref name=dutson>Judith Dutson (2005). ''Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America''. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. {{isbn|9781580176132}}.</ref> |
|||
<!---ref name=ghf>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130127013333/http://www.guidehorse.com/horses_house.htm Horses in the house]. Guide Horse Foundation. Archived January 27, 2013.</ref---> |
|||
<ref name=hendricks>Bonnie Hendricks (2007). [https://books.google.it/books?id=CdJg3qXssWYC&pg=PA183&hl=en ''International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds'']. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. {{isbn|9780806138848}}.</ref> |
|||
<ref name=imh>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150323212116/http://imh.org/exhibits/online/american-miniature-horse American Miniature Horse]. Lexington, Kentucky: International Museum of the Horse. Archived March 23, 2015.</ref> |
|||
<ref name=nbc>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210801125000/https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/seeing-eye-horse-guides-blind-muslim-woman-flna1c9465263 Seeing-eye horse guides blind Muslim woman]. ''NBC News''. Archived August 1, 2021.</ref> |
|||
<ref name=rebecca>Rebecca L. Frankeny (2008). [https://archive.org/details/miniaturehorsesv0000fran/page/n12/mode/1up ''Miniature Horses: A Veterinary Guide for Owners and Breeders'']. North Pomfret, Vermont: Trafalgar Square Publishing. {{isbn|9781570763984}}.</ref> |
|||
<ref name=samh>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110814042428/http://www.saminiaturehorse.co.za/index.php?p=2 History]. Bloemfontein: The South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association. Archived August 14, 2011.</ref> |
|||
}} |
|||
==Further reading== |
|||
{{commons|Miniature horse}} |
|||
{{refbegin}} |
|||
* R.L. Blakely (March 1985). Miniature Horses. ''National Geographic'' '''167''' (3): 384–393. {{issn|0027-9358}}. |
|||
{{refend}} |
|||
[[Category:Horse breeds]] |
[[Category:Horse breeds]] |
||
[[Category:Types of horse]] |
|||
[[de:Falabella]] [[sv:Falabella]] |
|||
{{bots|deny=Citation bot}} |
|||
Latest revision as of 19:18, 20 November 2024
A miniature horse is a breed or type of horse characterised by its small size. Usually it has been bred to display in miniature the physical characteristics of a full-sized horse, but to be little over 100 cm (40 in) in height, or even less. Although such horses have the appearance of small horses, they are genetically much more similar to pony breeds such as the Shetland.[1]: 486 They have various colors and coat patterns.
Miniature horses are present in several countries, including Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Namibia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States.[2] In some countries they have the status of a breed; these include the Falabella of Argentina, the Dutch Miniature or Nederlands Mini Paard, the South African Miniature Horse and the American Miniature Horse.
They are commonly kept as companion animals, or for sporting activities such as driving or other competitive horse show events. A few have been trained as guide horses for blind people.
History
[edit].jpg)
Miniature horses originated in Europe, where there is written and iconographic documentation of them from the late eighteenth century.[3]: 168 [4] In the first half of the twentieth century small horses were bred in England by Lady Estella Mary Hope and her sister Lady Dorothea.[3]: 168
The Falabella was developed in Argentina in the mid-1800s by Patrick Newtall. When Newtall died, the herd and breeding methods were passed to his son-in-law, Juan Falabella. Falabella added additional bloodlines including the Welsh Pony, Shetland pony, and small Thoroughbreds. With considerable inbreeding he was able to gain consistently small size within the herd.[5]: 183
The South African Miniature Horse was bred in South Africa from about 1945, when Wynand de Wet of Lindley began selective breeding of Shetland stock. In 2011 there were about 700 of the horses in the country. Morphology is variable: some have an Arab appearance, while others have the conformation of a draft horse. A breed association was established in 1984, and in 1989 the South African Miniature was recognized by the national South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association.[6]
Characteristics
[edit]
Miniature horses are generally quite hardy. They often live for longer than is typical for full-sized horses of some breeds; the usual life span is from 25 to 35 years.[7]
Their predisposition to disease is markedly different from that of full-sized horses. They are only rarely affected by ailments such as laryngeal hemiplegia, osteochondrosis or navicular disease, all of which are common in larger horses,[8]: xii but are much more likely to develop other illnesses rare in large horses, such as hyperlipaemia — which may lead to hepatic lipidosis — or eclampsia.[8]: xii [9]: 6 Dental misalignment and overcrowding are more common than in larger horses: brachygnathism ("parrot mouth") and prognathism ("sow mouth") are often seen;[8]: 53 retention of caps can occur, as can infection of the sinuses associated with tooth eruption.[8]: 55 Poor mastication can contribute to an increased incidence of colic caused by enteroliths, faecoliths, or sand.[9]: 5
Use
[edit]
Miniature horses are commonly kept as companion animals. They are often too small for any but the smallest riders to ride, but are well suited to driving; some may participate in other horse show events.[3]: 170 A small number have been trained as guide horses for blind people, particularly for those who consider dogs unclean, as is common in Muslim cultures.[3]: 170 [4][10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ Browse by species and country. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2022.
- ^ a b c d Judith Dutson (2005). Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. ISBN 9781580176132.
- ^ a b American Miniature Horse. Lexington, Kentucky: International Museum of the Horse. Archived March 23, 2015.
- ^ Bonnie Hendricks (2007). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806138848.
- ^ History. Bloemfontein: The South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association. Archived August 14, 2011.
- ^ Miniature Horse Facts. Guide Horse Foundation. Accessed April 28, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Rebecca L. Frankeny (2008). Miniature Horses: A Veterinary Guide for Owners and Breeders. North Pomfret, Vermont: Trafalgar Square Publishing. ISBN 9781570763984.
- ^ a b [s.n.] (December 2012). The Miniature Horse: More Than Just a Smaller Horse!. CEH Horse Report. Davis, California: UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Archived December 6, 2013.
- ^ Seeing-eye horse guides blind Muslim woman. NBC News. Archived August 1, 2021.
Further reading
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miniature horse.