The smallest horse in the world

The Falabella horse and its origins

What is known about the origin of the Falabella horse is that it comes from Argentina. The Falabella horse owes its name to the family of the same name in which it was first bred. The Falabella family's grandfather, an immigrant from Ireland named Newton, found a very small horse on his land. He kept the animal for his daughter and continued to breed the mare; the gene for short stature took hold. This is how the Falabella horse came into being. Despite its small size, the Falabella horse is not a pony, but a horse. The proportions are identical, except that everything is much smaller than that of large horses or ponies.

The physical characteristics of the Falabella horse

The Falabella horse reaches a maximum size of between 65 and 90 cm, making it smaller than a Shetland pony. All colors are allowed in breeding, so the Falabella horse can be a chestnut, a black horse or even a gray horse. It can also be a piebald one fur have in different colors.

The small size makes it clear that the Falabella horse is not an option as a riding horse.

Nature and character of the Falabella horse

Falabella Horses are considered patient, gentle and downright affectionate towards their people. They are also curious, open and intelligent; they like to learn new things quickly. Despite its small size, the Falabella horse is full of energy. Anyone considering a Falabella horse as a pet must definitely take this into account. In this case, the following should also be noted:

Even a horse that is barely larger than a German Shepherd cannot be kept in an apartment or house. As a herd animal, it needs the company of other horses or ponies, as well as a pasture and constant access to fresh air. Nevertheless, it needs a stable in which it is protected from all kinds of weather influences. An airy yet protected open stable is ideal, preferably with adjacent pasture. Like any other horse, even the smallest of all horses needs a certain amount of exercise and activity.

Utilization and employment: How can this be achieved with the Falabella horse?

Falabella horses are becoming increasingly popular as visiting animals in care facilities for seniors or in... They are used in daycare centers, where they are welcome guests due to their compact size and their personality traits are. Falabella horses are also used in the area of ​​animal-assisted therapy. Since they are very open to people, they can make a valuable contribution here. If you, dear readers, are considering a Falabella horse as a pet, we recommend working with an experienced horse trainer. This is how you find out what suits you best as a human-horse team.

Diseases typical of the breed

It should not be ignored that the Falabella horse has to struggle with one or two limitations. Since the breed is intentionally bred to be so small, incestuous matings occur again and again with the corresponding consequences. These can be found, for example, in the musculoskeletal system: The Falabella horse sometimes suffers from joint problems, a head that is too large, bow legs and problems with the spine. For pregnant mares, there is no way to avoid a caesarean section after 13 months of pregnancy, as the mare cannot give birth to the foal naturally. This is also due to their small height.

Falabella horses are fascinating animals with impressive abilities. Above all, she is characterized by her friendly, open-minded nature, as well as her curiosity and intelligence. Like most horses, the Falabella horse has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. These are the facts about the smallest horse in the world - now you are well prepared for discussions in expert circles.