History Of Miniature Horses
The American Miniature Horse is a unique breed. It must not measure in excess of 34 inches in height, which is measured at the withers, at the last hairs of the mane.
The first true miniature horse or mini, originated in Europe. They were bred as pets for European royal families. The earliest record of miniature horses was discovered in 1650 AD in the records of the Palace at Versailles where King Louis XIV lived. He kept a Zoo of many unusual animals, including tiny horses. By 1765, miniature horses were often featured in paintings and articles throughout Europe.
In the 1700’s, miniature horses were breed to be one of two basic body types; a “draft” or work type and a more elegant “refined” type. Back then, the refined miniatures were breed as pets and the draft miniatures were created primarily to work in the coal mines of Great Britain and Northern Europe. The draft minis were beautiful and extremely powerful for their height. They were still working in some mines here in the United States as late as 1950.
The first mention of a small horse being imported into the United States was in 1888 and research shows little public awareness of true Miniatures until 1960. Popular belief is that American Miniature Horses utilized the blood of English and Dutch mine horses brought into this country in the 19th century and used in some Appalachian coal mines as late as 1950. It also drew upon the blood of the Shetland pony, several of which appear in the pedigrees of some miniatures today.
The first true miniature horse or mini, originated in Europe. They were bred as pets for European royal families. The earliest record of miniature horses was discovered in 1650 AD in the records of the Palace at Versailles where King Louis XIV lived. He kept a Zoo of many unusual animals, including tiny horses. By 1765, miniature horses were often featured in paintings and articles throughout Europe.
In the 1700’s, miniature horses were breed to be one of two basic body types; a “draft” or work type and a more elegant “refined” type. Back then, the refined miniatures were breed as pets and the draft miniatures were created primarily to work in the coal mines of Great Britain and Northern Europe. The draft minis were beautiful and extremely powerful for their height. They were still working in some mines here in the United States as late as 1950.
The first mention of a small horse being imported into the United States was in 1888 and research shows little public awareness of true Miniatures until 1960. Popular belief is that American Miniature Horses utilized the blood of English and Dutch mine horses brought into this country in the 19th century and used in some Appalachian coal mines as late as 1950. It also drew upon the blood of the Shetland pony, several of which appear in the pedigrees of some miniatures today.
How small was the smallest miniature horse breeding stallion?
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.
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 Worlds smallest horse
In the summer of 2006, Guinness World Records certified Thumbelina as the world’s smallest living horse. In fact, at 17 ½ inches tall, she is the smallest horse on record.
Thumbelina was born on May 1st, 2001 on Goose Creek Farms in St. Louis, MO. At just 8 ½ pounds and 10 inches tall, her birth was quite a shock for everyone. Because both parents were standard miniature horses, no one expected Thumbelina to be a dwarf mini.
