Worlds Smallest Horse

[1 morejump]

she is so cute! Her name is Thumbelina and is the world's smallest horse for 2007 standing in at 4.1hh at the whithers.  When she was born she weighed 8 lbs. Thumbelina survives on a cup of grain and handful of hay, served twice-a-day. If you go the site and see the pic of her sitting up she has little orthopedic shoes on because of her body porportions.


http://www.worldssmallesthorse.com/

[Torsornin]

My mum was telling me about her. She is so totally cute! I want one!

[MostlySunny]

I hate to put a downer on this but Thumbelina is a dwarf miniature and there is a lot of controversy esp in the US about the breeding of miniature horses predisposed/carrying the dwarf gene. It causes all sorts of health issues for the ponies and high mortality rates.

"Many brachiocephalic dwarfs suffer from crooked legs and numerous orthopedic malformations.  In some cases  corrective farrier work can be performed using glued hoof extensions to force the dwarf to stand flat.  In other cases, surgery is required to correct leg deformities.  These surgeries might include: Contracted tendons , Locking stifles , Shoulder dysplasia. Many also suffer from restricted breathing and painful arthritis."

Accidents do happen but I think its highly irresoponsible for breeders to knowingly breed from ponies with this condition in their lines.

http://www.mini-horse.org/menu_dwarfism.html

[ambatt]

I have seen this poor animal on other forums and expressed my opinion. I think she is a travesty and must be in constant low grade pain, poor poor little thing.

From what I remember the breeders will not repeat that particular mating again, and are at least being responsible. Then again you wonder how many people would deliberately mate to produce a dwarf and then command a premium price for it.

Make me feel    

[Ebyss]

I must agree with dwarfism comments here, to deliberately breed for it is wrong. That they are taking care of the pony they've bred is great though, there are many breeders who would destroy the animal. I hope they will do the right thing if the pony starts to suffer.

[1 morejump]

I don't think that specificaly breeding for dwarfism is a good things at all with all the medical problems they have.  

She was a fluke, her breeders didn't expect this at all when she was born and didn't think she would make it.  

Her owners asked if they would ever breed her to try for another dwarf-mini and they are firmly against it.

[Wally]

It is a problem and a lot of breeders are breding FOR dwarfism because of the cute factor.

They are sweet looking, but have so many problems, constant low grade pain and as mentioned all sorts of other problems.

[cirocco]

:( I first saw this picture in the newspaper and didn't get further than the horse wearing harness.  so much here to comment on.   :(  
 

[Romany]

Shocked!

I wont even start on this one!        

[Sundance]

She is indeed cute in a "I feel sorry for her" sort of way. I personally do not know any miniature horse breeders that breed for the dwarfism and I'm familiar with many mini breeders across North America. Although there will always be the bad apples. There are of course many people who breed horses that are (to be polite) not breeding material at all. This seems to happen a lot with miniatures which is rather frustrating.