Believe it or not, there’s a breed of horse out there that’s shorter than you are! Rising up to just 28–34 inches at the withers (not quite three feet), the Falabella miniature horse is one of the world’s smallest breeds. Falabella foals are even smaller, standing just over a foot tall!
Despite their stature, Falabellas are proportioned just like larger horses, only on a compact scale. It’s like someone took a shrink ray to a Thoroughbred! Like Thoroughbreds, Falabellas have sleek coats and slim frames. Full-grown Fallabellas also feature some pony-like features, such as sturdy bones and thicker coats. If you remember from our last blog, common Falabella colors are bay and black, but they also come in palomino, pinto, and spotted varieties.
Obviously, the Falabellas’ size means they were not meant for horseback riding or vaulting; they can only be ridden by very young children! But Falabellas are intelligent, easily trained, and good for many other uses, including cart driving, showing, and companionship.
This tiny horse is rare, with only a few thousand living in the world today. If you’re lucky enough to see a Falabella in a horse event, remember this economy-size equine’s claim to fame as the world’s smallest horse!
