Mini-Horse Breeding: Why Horses Aren't Toys

by Annie Hartnett · 2010-05-04 14:00:00 UTC
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Last week, I "awwed" along with the rest of the world at the birth of Einstein, who is likely to be the world's smallest horse. Einstein weighs in at six pounds right now, making him a full three pounds smaller at birth than the previous Guinness World Record holder.

But according to Wired Magazine's article Could a Mini Horse Be Bred Small Enough to Fit in Your Palm?, Einstein won't be the smallest pony for long. The article quotes equine geneticist Samantha Brooks of Cornell University, who says that there's no limit to how small we can breed horses.

"It takes a while," Brooks says in the article, before "you end up with a horse that not only fits in the palm of your hand but is happy and healthy."

Einstein wasn't intentionally bred for his small size. But his widespread popularity on YouTube means that there may be a market for extra-mini miniature horses. But just because we can create teacup-sized horses, does it mean that we should?

In 2007, geneticists located a gene that plays a large role in regulating the size of dogs. This gene is the reason for the large size range of dog breeds. Equine geneticists like Samantha Brooks are studying horses with similar findings, increasing the possibility of creating truly tiny horses.

The trouble is, as miniature horses are bred for decreasing size, they can be born crippled, with legs and jaws that don't work. Breeding horses for any characteristic is partly a guessing game, and sometimes the guess can end in a deformed horse. When Samantha Brooks says "it takes a while" to create a horse to fit in the palm of your hand, she means it takes many failures first, meaning many crippled horses.

The eventual promise of a horse Paris Hilton can carry in her purse doesn't justify the amount of suffering caused by the experimental breeding. It simply isn't worth it.

Yes, I'll admit there's a part of me that finds a Chihuahua-sized horse appealing. It's the same part of me that wants a unicorn. It's not the part of me that is reasonable or responsible or that truly loves animals. Responsible horse owners and responsible scientists should not continue to pursue efforts to downsize the size of our equine friends.

If you truly love miniature horses, check out Chances Miniature Horse Rescue to donate to the organization or for information on adoption.

Photo credit: smercury98

Annie Hartnett is a writer and animal advocate who has worked for several wildlife rehabilitation centers and environmental programs.
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