Posts tagged "miniature horse"

Shaq Wants to Buy Smallest Horse in the World

by Jennipher Walters (Subscribe to Jennipher Walters's posts): Oct 12th 2010 11:00AM Filed Under: Pets News, Celebrity Pets

smallest horse in the world picture Jim Cole, AP

Shaquille O'Neal has expressed an interest in acquiring the smallest horse in the world, reports the Union Leader of Manchester, N.H. Shaq's interest was sparked by an article in the Union Leader that compared his 7-foot, 1-inch height to that of the tiny horse, named Einstein, which stands in at just 1 foot, 8 inches.

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Less than 7 months old, Einstein has become an international celebrity. Although Guinness World Records won't bestow the official title of "world's smallest living horse" until Einstein has celebrated his fourth birthday, many think he'll take the title. In the meantime, he certainly has captured the media's attention. The horse has been featured in numerous newspaper articles, and was recently shown on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Einstein weighed only six pounds and stood at 14 inches when he was born in mid-April at the Tiz A Miniature Horse Farm in Barnstead, N.H.

As perfectly proportioned as a regular-sized horse (just much smaller), Einstein has quite the fan base, including Shaq and Paris Hilton, who both have inquired about purchasing the small steed. The Union Leader recently reported that O'Neal learned of the wee foal during a Boston Celtics preseason trip to New Hampshire. He soon after asked about buying the horse, and recently said via Twitter, "how much I like dat horse." Hilton also left a message on her Twitter account about buying the horse, and was quoted in the Boston Herald as calling Einstein "hot."

But Einstein's owners, Rachel Wagner and Charles Cantrell, say he's not for sale. Neither O'Neal nor Hilton could write a large enough check for Einstein, Cantrell told the Union Leader. He went on to say that the horse is happy at his home. Clearly, Einstein is a star in his own right, and doesn't need to be part of a celebrity entourage. He has even inked a book deal. This spring, the Disney Book Group will publish a photo book of Einstein, and he'll go on a book tour for his first birthday.

While Einstein will stay with his original owners, that doesn't mean Shaq can't still own a small horse. Cantrell told the Union Leader that he would be happy to introduce O'Neal to a top breeder of miniature horses.

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Tiny Horse Gets Big Reaction -- And Maybe A World Record

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Apr 27th 2010 3:00PM Filed Under: Pets News, Farm Animals

miniature horse picture Jim Cole, AP

This miniature horse is just one week old and is already in the running to be the world's smallest horse. Einstein was born April 22, weighing only six pounds and standing at just 14 inches, reports Tonic. That's seven inches and 12 pounds smaller than the average, according to the Concord Monitor.

The wee little foal was born in New Hampshire, at Tiz A Miniature Horse Farm and while breeder Judy Smith knew Einstein was tiny, she was surprised to learn that he has a shot at a Guinness World Record. (The current record holder is a chestnut mare named Thumbelina, who was 11 inches tall and 8.5 pounds when she was born in 2001.)

Despite his eensy-weensy stature, Einstein appears perfectly normal and healthy. He was born three days after his due date, and, according to the Concord Monitor, is perfectly proportioned.

The folks who bought and named Einstein -- Rachel Wagner and Charles Cantrell -- did so in part to keep the petite pinto out of "some kind of circus thing," reports the Concord Monitor. They're focused on the animal's quality of life, and hope that by naming him Einstein, they can put a spotlight on the wisdom of supporting farms, such as Tiz, where the goal is a healthy horse and not on breeding the tiniest pet possible.

NOLA Dog Reunion; Cats on Campus

by Evan Jacobs (Subscribe to Evan Jacobs's posts): Feb 19th 2010 6:00PM Filed Under: Chew on This

Rounding up our favorite photos, entertaining videos and compelling animal stories from the Web this week!

Jazzy Reunion

A man lost his dog, went 1200 miles to New Orleans, and discovered that his pooch was already there. The dog's excuse? Mardi Gras! [via NOLA.com]
Mini-Horse Diaries

"What do you mean other horses don't get to sleep on the sofa?" [via People Pets]
Felinvasion!

Feral cats have taken over Penn State's campus -- soon they'll be auditing classes. [via Collegian.PSU.edu]
Happy New Year Tiger?

The New York Times' take on the Year of the Tiger. Spoiler alert: It's grim for tigers. [via New York Times]
Rye Ruv Roo

Videos of five pets saying "I love you," Were they just too cheap to buy Valentine's cards? [via People Pets]

Koda the Dwarf Miniature Horse

by Kirsten Taylor (Subscribe to Kirsten Taylor's posts): Oct 8th 2009 9:00AM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Photo Galleries

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Koda the Dwarf Miniature Horse

Nope, that's not a stuffed toy you're looking at. Koda the miniature horse was the size of a cat when he was born a year ago near Melbourne, Australia, reports Australia's ABC News Online. Today the pint-sized horse stands 23.2 inches tall, and weighs a mere 77 pounds.

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Koda the Dwarf Miniature Horse

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Miniature horses are usually the size of a small pony. Koda's parents were typical miniature horses, according to ABC News Online. But Koda was born with dwarfism, making the tiny equine even tinier. He's not the smallest horse on record, though. The Guinness Book of Records gives that prize to Thumbelina, an American miniature horse just 17.5 inches tall, reports the Diamond Valley Leader.

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Koda had a rough start in life. His dwarfism has caused a number of health problems, reports the Diamond Valley Leader. He was born with leg abnormalities that caused his stumpy legs to buckle and bend. He's already undergone surgery to repair a joint in his front leg that dislocated when he walked. The surgery was a success, and Koda now trots around much more easily. Next he'll need dental work to remove some of the large adult teeth that don't fit in his miniature mouth.

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Koda's owner, veterinary nurse Karen Stephenson, was smitten with Koda from the start. "I fell in love with him straight away," she told ABC News Online. For now, Koda is living at the Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital, where Stephenson works. After he recovers from additional surgeries, he'll move back to Stephenson's farm, where he'll have a chance to romp with her normal-sized horses.

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Koda's surgeries have cost $10,000 so far, and the bill is expected to top $30,000 before all is said and done. "But he's well worth it," Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital vet Andy Lynch told ABC News Online. Despite his early health problems, Lynch said he's hopeful that Koda will live at least a decade, if not longer. "He's very brave and he responds very well to pain relief," he told ABC News Online.

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Koda reportedly loves the attention he gets. It's a good thing. School kids and vanloads of elderly visitors have traveled to the Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital to lay eyes on the diminutive horse, reports ABC News Online. We don't blame them. Really, have you ever seen a cuter critter?

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