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'{{Short description|Very small horse}} {{Merge from|American Miniature Horse|discuss=Talk:Miniature horse#Proposed merge of American Miniature Horse into Miniature horse|date=October 2023}} [[File:Miniatuurpaardje.jpg|thumb|At the Agriflanders [[agricultural show]] in [[Ghent]] in 2009|alt=a very small pale chestnut horse]] [[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. 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]]. 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]]. ==History== [[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. Juan 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 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}} == Characteristics == [[File:Charming.JPG|thumb|[[American Miniature Horse]] stallion]] 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> Their pre-disposition 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}} nigger == Use == [[File:Guide horse.jpg|thumb|A miniature [[guide horse]]]] 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}} ==See also== * [[Miniature cattle]] ==References== {{reflist|45em|refs= <ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.com/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ ''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.com/books?id=CdJg3qXssWYC&pg=PA183 ''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:Types of horse]]'