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Many people have probably noticed the small Falabella horse because of their cute appearance. Their size and exterior make most people smile and go “Aww”. But how has the breed actually evolved, and what do you do with such a small horse? These are some of the aspects this article will look into.
Just like there are many different kinds of riders, there are also so many different kinds of horse breeds. All of them being unique and fascinating. In our previous magazine, we took a closer look at the biggest horse breed in the world, the Shire. In this issue, we will have a look at the smallest horse breed – the Falabella.
The Falabella horse is known as the first and original miniature horse breed. The breed originally came from Argentina and is named after the Falabella family. There are many myths and stories about how the Falabella breed has emerged and become the horse we have today. The International Falabella Miniature Horse Association tells the following story of a family named Falabella. The Falabella horse is said to be descended from Andalusian and Spanish Barb horses, which were brought to Argentina in the 15th century when Spain was trying to conquer the country. However, after this, the horses were left to roam free in Argentina. During the next centuries, the harsh environment and inbreeding caused a reduction in the horse’s size, and they became naturally small horses.
In the 1840s, these small horses were discovered and taken in by a man called Patrick Nutall. He took care of these small horses, and in his breeding, he made sure to sustain their small size. He later passed on his horses and his knowledge to his son-in-law, Juan Falabella. Juan continued to breed the small horses, and the family started the Falabella Farm.
During the breeding process, they made sure to use the smallest horses, but they also focused on a variety of colors. This is the reason why, the Falabella we see today, comes in so many different colors.
When the Falabella family had made a pure and consistent breed, they decided to share it with the rest of the world. As soon as they showed the cute and beautiful breed to other countries, people fell in love. The small breed made headlines in many magazines – even National Geographic Magazine wrote about it.
The breed became very popular and some of the richest and most famous people bought the small horses. The horses were for instance bought by kings, princes, presidents, and movie stars.
The breed was shown to the world in the 1960s, so it is still a fairly recent registered breed.
One of the reasons why the Falabella became so popular is its beautiful exterior. Most horse lovers think that the Falabella’s small size makes them look cute and adorable. Adding to their cuteness factor is their elegant exterior, which makes them beautiful. The many wonderful color options make this breed exciting and attractive.
In addition to their lovely looks, the Falabella keeps impressing people with their temperament and personality. It is a kind and intelligent horse that is easy to work with. That is why they are suitable for both children as well as adults. Besides this, the Falabella is typically very affectionate and loyal, and they seem to really enjoy being around humans.
The Falabella breed is categorized as a rare horse breed as there are not many of them worldwide. It has been estimated that we only have a few thousand Falabella horses. Supporting the fact that being a rare breed has become one of the most common reasons to breed this unique, little horse.
On their website, The Falabella Miniature Horse Association, states that because of the rarity of the breed, the primary reason to own and breed Falabella is to protect and preserve the breed. This is done through dedicated breeding and keeping the bloodlines pure, by not cross-breeding.
The small horses are not commonly used for riding because of their size. The only people who can sit on them are small children. Instead, they are primarily used for driving, liberty dressage, agility, for shows, as therapy horses, or just as pets.
SOURCES
Falabella miniature horse association & the European Falabella studbook
