Top Small horse breeds
Horses are among the impressive animals that have been taken by many through the ages as a symbol of strength and speed in their various breeds. There are about 400 breeds of horses and ponies. Horses belong to the class of mammals of various sizes, so the Shire horse is the largest member of the horse family in terms of size.
As for the smaller horses, they are a descendant of the Falabella horses.
There are small breeds of horses, including the small Shetland filly and also the Falabella breed, which is one of the unique breeds that originated in Argentina when Joan Valabella and his son Julio crossed the Shetland pony with several small horse breeds that they carefully selected to produce more of that strain Hybridized across several generations and this was done in the year 1900 and the result was the emergence of a new breed of horses whose height ranges between about 24 and 34 inches, the breed of Falabella horses is characterized by strength, flexibility and various colors, and young children can ride the breed of Falabella horses and can also be taken as a pet.
Read : Fastest horses in the world
Miniature horse
The miniature horse is one of the smallest horse breeds. Includes two height sections, which are not to exceed 9.5 hands (38 inches). Miniature horses are often too small to ride. But they can pull carriages, compete in hurdles and jump tournaments, and act as healing animals.
Overview of the breed
Height: Typically under 8.5 hands (34 inches) to 9.5 hands (38 inches)
Weight: 150 to 350 pounds
Physical characteristics: Small muscle building. Similar proportions for large horses.
The American Miniature Horse (AMHA / AMHR)
They are the most famous miniature horses, the AMHA being the most represented. At the end of the 19th century, English miniatures, Dutch Pit ponies and Falabella were exported to the United States. They were used in coal mines until the 1950s. Since the opening of the Stud Book in 1978, the model has evolved into a very refined horse that resembles a purebred Arabian in miniature.
The Belgian Miniature Horse
(BMP or CMB)
It is the Belgian miniature horse stud book created in 1994. Its object is the reproduction of the miniature horse by gradually reducing the size in order to obtain the most perfect horse from the point of view of symmetry, agility and liveliness. The stud book is divided into two sections. Section A includes horses not exceeding 86.5cm and section B includes horses taller up to 106cm.
The Dutch Miniature Horse (NMPRS)
The Dutch miniature horse, created in 1993, is made up of two sections. The Basis type is composed only of horses whose bloodlines are 100% Shetland and the Luxe type is composed of horses that have at least 12.5% other blood than Shetland. It is in this second type that we find the finest horses.
The English Miniature Horse (BMHS)
It comes from the crossing of Shetland ponies with Dutch mining horses. The English Miniature has been around for a very long time in Great Britain. It is indeed found at the Royal Court of England, in the 16th century, where it was used for the pleasure and pleasure of little princes. Then in 1865 in an English newspaper, the "Gentleman's Magazine", where one speaks about the arrival of a small black stallion of 76 cm from Bengal.
Shetland Pony
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Don't let its small size fool you. Shetlands are strong, intelligent, and brave horses. But they are also cute and often great with kids. Descending from the Shetland Islands in Scotland, these horses were used for agricultural work and for transporting coal in the mines. Their thick coats help them withstand the harsh winters.
Overview of the breed
Height: 7 hands (28 inches) to 11.5 hands (46 inches)
Weight: 400 to 450 pounds
Physical characteristics: compact body, broad head, short legs; Mane tail and fertile.
Noma
The Noma is the smallest horse breed indigenous to Japan. These horses were developed during the 17th century primarily to serve as pack animals on steep terrain and remote islands. Today, they are an endangered horse breed but still a great attraction in Japanese zoos and farms.
Overview of the breed
Height: 10.75 hands (43 inches) to 13.75 hands (55 inches)
Weight: 450 pounds
Physical characteristics: cylindrical body, oblique buttocks, slender legs; Solid hooves.
Yonaguni
The Yonaguni is another endangered Japanese horse breed. He hails from Yonaguni Island in Okinawa. The breed was initially used for agricultural work and transportation. Today, it is often used for educational purposes in local schools and for recreational riding. As of 2019, there were around 100 Yonaguni.
Overview of the breed
Height: 11.5 hands (46 inches) to 11.75 hands (47 inches)
Weight: 460 pounds
Physical characteristics: large head; Short neck; Long, sloping back.
In short, the small horse breeds are :
-Falabella
-American miniature horse
-French miniature horse
-Dutch miniature
-South African miniature
-Mini-Shetland
-Toy Horse
The smallest horse in the world
Comes from a very specific breed : the Falabella. It is a breed of miniature horses that are the size of a dog. These very small horses make young and old alike smile. Some equestrian clubs have even made this miniature horse their mascot.
Say hello to the falabella !
This breed is originally from Argentina, hence its Hispanic name.
Average height : 75 cm
Average weight : 75 kg
How to distinguish between a horse and a pony
Horses and ponies are related animals, but they are not exactly the same. Fortunately, if you are unable to determine whether you own a horse or a foal, there are certain ways you can distinguish which species the animal you are raising belongs to. You will need to assess the animal’s size, breed, age, and body dimensions and decide if it is a horse or pony.
Determine the age of the animal. If the horse is young, then it is small in size and can be confused with a pony. However, a pony is not a young horse. It is another type of horse family.
Usually a horse is fully grown when it is between five and seven years old, however the horse grows rapidly in its first year and reaches about 90% of its full growth length in that year.
A horse's age is usually determined by examining its teeth. To break the uncertainty about determining the exact age of the horse, take it to the veterinarian and the doctor will determine the age of the horse by examining its teeth.
Select the size of the animal. One of the biggest differences between horses and ponies is size. Animals of the horse family are measured from the withers to the ground. Horses and ponies are measured by hand, each hand is about 10 cm, which is the approximate size of an adult's hand. It is called hand length. Specifically, a horse must be 14 hands or longer in full growth to be considered a horse, and any length shorter than that is a pony.
To measure a horse's length, place the tip of the tape measure on the ground along the horse or pony, extend the tape to the level of the withers, once you get a measurement from the tape, divide the length by 4, this will give you the length measured (the length of the hand) of your horse or pony.
The withers are the separating area that connects the neck to the back of a horse or pony.
Determine if a young horse is a horse or not. Some small horse breeds are exceptions to the rule of horse size compared to pony size, the best example being dwarf mares. Dwarf mares were initially crossed as pets when they were very young and are still categorized as horses. The dwarf mare is no longer than 86 cm from the ground to the hair of the neck. These horses come in Arabian form or closer to the American Quarter Horses.
Additionally, they feature a wide variety of colors, such as the American mare and spotted horse, just like the non-dwarf horse.
Pay attention to the breed. Usually if you get to know the breed you will be able to differentiate between what you own, whether it is a horse or a pony. Some breeds have the word "pony" in their name, such as Shetland ponies, which means that all horses in this breed are ponies, even if some are longer than 14 hands.
All quartier horses are horses, even if some are shorter than a normal horse should be.
Knowing the breed can be very easy by asking the breeder about the strain, and you can also ask your veterinarian.
Rate the animal's body size. A pony tends to be fatter than a horse. A fatter body usually means that foals have more endurance than horses for work tasks. Their bones are thicker, their necks are shorter and wider, and they have thick heads with broad foreheads.
Check the animal’s fur and neck hair. Ponies usually have thicker coats than horses. Thicker fur makes ponies more resistant to cold weather.
Additionally, horse's neck hair is usually relatively soft and fluffy, while the hair on the neck and tail of a pony is usually thick.
Learn about animal natures. Spend some time with him, either walking him or patting and combing him. Foals are usually quieter than horses, and they are just as intelligent as ponies, and perhaps this combination of calm and intelligence is the reason they are so good with babies.
Appreciate the animal's strength. Horses differ from ponies in their practical qualities, foals - because of their strength and courage, as well as their strong physical build - are good at working on the farm; As it can drag twice its weight, on the other hand a horse can usually pull half its weight. On the other hand, horses can work on the farm, but their strength lies in carrying people. Horses are not as strong as foals, but they have good stamina and can be more skillful.
Helpful Ideas
You can estimate the length of the horse compared to your height, compare your shoulder position to the animal's shoulder as the comparison is made while standing. A 14-hand gauge is equivalent to 1.2 meters, which means that if you know your height is 1.5 meters and the animal's withers roughly adjacent to your shoulder, it is most likely a pony.
Since most ponies cannot be comfortably ridden by adults because they are too young, or a person's feet will not touch the ground, you can be sure that a very short horse is a pony. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, but chances are it is a dowry.
Horse length and height
The horse takes its shape from its skeleton and the surrounding muscles, and the Arabian horse is the most beautiful type of horse. Due to the apparent homogeneity between its body parts, as the height of the light horse ranges between 150 cm to 170 cm, the height of the heavy horse may reach 180 cm, and the weight of the purebred Arabian horse ranges between 350 kg to 400 grams, and the horizontal length of an adult horse often reaches 2.4 meters, but it is common practice for horses to be distinguished by their height and not by their height.
Horse colors
Horses are generally distinguished by their different colors. You find dunce, blond, red, honey, black, bald, and white, and the beauty qualities in it are the presence of white over the hoof, the presence of the forehead, which is the white in the forehead, the breadth of the eyes, the nostrils and the forehead, the straightness of the back, the regularity of the legs, and the strength of the muscles.
Horse food
Horse food concentrates on weeds; Where his intestines digest feed, he needs one kilogram of dry food for every 50 grams of his weight, and from here it is possible to know the daily needs of the horse for food.
Horse breeds
Major breeds
Horse breeds can be divided into three main breeds; Depending on their size and shape, they are: light breeds, heavy breeds, and dwarf breeds.
Light breeds
Light Horses acquired its name from its use in light work, such as riding and pulling carriages. The regions of the Middle East and North Africa are the main home for these strains, and among the light strains are the following : Arabian Horses.
Thoroughbred Horses. Turkoman horses, Akhal-Teke horses, and others. Anglo-Arab Breed Horses. American Breeds. Other horses, such as: German Holstein horses and Andalusian horses.
Heavy strains
Heavy Breeds refer to large horses. Some of these strains may reach a height of approximately 162.6 cm and more, and others reach a height of 193 cm.These strains were used in the middle ages for agricultural and loading purposes, and they were dispensed with when tractors were invented, and it should be noted that most of the horses of heavy breeds are threatened with extinction . The most famous horse of these breeds is the English Shire horse, which is considered the largest horse in the world.
Dwarf subspecies
The dwarf breeds are distinguished by their small size, with a height of less than 147 cm. They are non-Arab horses that are distinguished by their various dark skins colors, their manes, and their plump tails. , Java, Manila, and Argentina, and the most famous of them are: Welsh horses, and Dartmoor horses.
Most prominent subspecies
Among the most famous horse breeds in the world are the following : The Arabian horse: This horse belongs to the light breed, and it traces its origin to the Arabian Peninsula, and is distinguished by the shape of its head and its high erect tail, and it is often used for riding in horse dressage competitions.
The Quarter Horse: It is considered a light breed, and this horse enjoys high popularity in the United States of America, and it is one of the fastest breeds in crossing short distances; That is why it is used in various horse races, and in hunting as well.
Thoroughbred horse: It is considered one of the light breeds, and it traces its origins to England. Tennessee horse: This horse was found in the south of the United States, and it is a light breed, and it was used for agricultural purposes, and for transportation over long distances. Morgan horse: Belongs to the light breed, and is one of the oldest breeds of the US state of Vermont, and despite its small size, it is a good choice for riding and transportation.
American paint horse: It is considered a heavy American breed.
The Appaloosa Horse: It is a light breed that is distinguished by its colorful bodies, and found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, and it is a large brown horse that is strong and hard-wearing. The dwarf horse: This horse is found in Europe, it is small in size, and it is raised as a domestic pet, and it is also used in coal mines.
Warmblood: It includes a large number of breeds, such as Hanoverians, Holstein and Oldenburg, which are sport horses used in sports jumping and dressage. Andalusian horse: This horse belongs to the light breed, and it is a Spanish variety that dates back to the Iberian Peninsula, and is distinguished by its small size, thick and long tail, and it has been used since ancient times in wars due to its strength of structure. And jumping.
Hackney horse: classified by the National Hackney Horse Association as an endangered horse, it has a small head, small ears, and a graceful body, and is used in parades and trotting. Belgian horse: It belongs to the heavy breed, and it spreads in Belgium, despite its small size, but it is a strong and heavy horse, so it is used in agricultural work and loading.
Shetland horse: It is one of the oldest horses in Britain, specifically the British island of Shetland, to which it is named, and is distinguished by the thickness of its tail, and its crest, and is used for riding. Gypsy horse: It is considered one of the modern horses in the United States of America, and it is one of the largest types of horses. He is distinguished by his huge body and long, loose hair.
Friesian horse: It is famous for its black color, long tail and hair, and is used in dressage and jumping races.
Clydesdale horse: It is a heavy horse, and its origins are in Scotland, from where it was exported to America. Standardbred Horse: This horse was used to cover a record distance of 1.61 km in trotting, as it belongs to the light breeds that are used extensively in racing.
Havelinger horse: It is one of the oldest types of horses that originated in the Middle Ages. They are small horses that are distinguished by their golden color, white crests and tails, and are used in parades and dressage races.
Paso Venus horse: It is one of the fast American sporting horses, and the Paso Fino Horse Association indicated that this horse is one of the most streamlined breeds in shape and movement.
Welsh Pony: These horses originated in South Wales, then were imported by America and spread widely, and according to the classifications of the Welsh Pony & Cob Association of America, they are intelligent, kind, and trainable horses.
The smallest horse breeds in the world !
Contrary to what one might think, ponies are not the young of horses. While horses can reach 1.90 meters at the withers as adults, ponies never exceed 1.48 meters. But why are they so small ?
Ponies, descendants of wild horses
Originally, the pony developed on the fringes of herds of wild horses, mainly in the northern hemisphere of the planet. Its small size would in fact be a consequence of its adaptation to its environment : the climate is often harsh and food scarce, the small size of the pony allowed it to eat less. Its larger body and thicker coat than that of horses is also the result of this adaptation to particularly difficult climatic conditions.
Indeed, ponies were more concerned with finding food or protecting themselves from the elements rather than running away from possible predators, which is why they do not have such long legs as horses. These long legs allowed them to escape quickly in the event of an attack. From robust nature , ponies have long been used by men to rustic tasks, such as hitch. Now they are mainly used for horseback riding, especially with children.
