|
|
Learn about Miniature Horse History and the Falabella Horse. |
|
The History
of the American Miniature Horse Developed from multiple sources, Miniature Horses were bred from many different pony breeds. They were purposely breeding for the small size of the fastest growing equine breed today.  Miniature
horses were bred as pets for Europe's Hapsburg nobility in the 17th Century.
However, not all early miniatures were pampered pets of kings and queens. In
the 19th Century, they were used as work horses in Wales, English Midlands
and Northern European coal mines as pit ponies until the 1950's.The Falabella Miniature Horse was originally developed in Argentina in 1868 by Patrick Newell. The Falabella Horses are the smallest breed of the equine world, reaching around 30 inches in size or smaller! They were descended from Andalusion horses brought by early immigrants to the pampas of Patagonia. After failed colonization attempts, the original Adalusian horses were often left to roam free resulting developed characteristics suitable to the landscape and climate, as well as genetic mutations caused by a small gene pool. The Falabella developed great stamina by traveling long distances and withstanding the strong sun and winds. Genetic changes resulted in the smaller size. When Patrick Newell, the original developer of the Falabella Miniature Horses, died, the herd and breeding methods were passed to Newell's son-in-law, Juan Falabella. Additional bloodlines which include the Welsh Pony, Shetland Pony, and small Thoroughbreds were added by Juan. With considerable inbreeding he was able to gain consistently small size within the herd. The breed was reined throughout the 20th century in the United States. Miniature horses in the USA added additional lines from sources that included the Hackey Pony and the Pony of the Americas. The Shetland pony registry opened the first American registry, a special division for Miniatures, in 1972. The American Miniature Horse gives the impression of strength, agility, and alert intelligence and is available in all possible colors. The American Miniature Horse as a breed is currently being standardized. The American 
Miniature Horse Association was organized and incorporated in July of 1978
to maintain a registry and stud-book. A Standard of Perfection was adopted
in 1978 and that two basic body types, a "draft" type and a fine-boned
"refined" type, were present in the existing foundation stock, the Standard
called for a blending of types into an elegant little horse.
|
