At just 17 inches tall and weighing merely 60 pounds, Thumbelina may be small, but she is undoubtedly a horse.
As a dwarf born to a miniature horse, Thumbelina holds the official title of the world’s smallest horse.
Though she may not reach for the clouds as a champion show-jumper – her size makes even jumping over a bucket a challenge – this matters little to the spirited Thumbelina, who has been recognized as the world’s smallest horse.
In 2006, at the age of five, she earned this title when she was included in the Guinness Book of Records.
On an American farm belonging to a couple specializing in miniature horse breeding, the real-life My Little Pony came into the world.
Typically, these horses weigh around 250 pounds and stand 34 inches tall once fully grown.
However, it was evident from her birth that tiny Thumbelina would never reach such dimensions.
She came into this world weighing just 8 pounds – about the weight of a newborn baby – and eventually reached a weight of only 60 pounds.
Her remarkable size has been attributed to dwarfism, making her a miniature of a miniature.
Despite being a mini-horse, her owners, the Goessling family from Goose Creek Farm in St. Louis, believe that small is synonymous with beauty.
She prefers the company of cocker spaniels over that of other horses on their 150-acre farm.
“When she was born, we were concerned about her survival due to her size. She appeared very ill, and we feared the worst.
“Her legs are proportionately shorter than her body and head, which means she often requires orthopedic fittings to help straighten them out.
“However, we adore her and wouldn’t change her for anything,” stated Michael Goessling, whose parents Kay and Paul are the breeders of miniature horses.
Standing only up to the shins of the average-sized horses in the paddock, Thumbelina is indeed unique.
Michael’s parents have bred hundreds of miniature horses, yet none have matched Thumbelina’s size. She has gained a degree of celebrity status in her hometown.
Her diet consists of a cup of grain and a handful of hay, provided twice daily.
Due to her size, she is predicted to live up to 17 years, while standard horses typically live around 35 years.
“She was a total surprise, and we affectionately call her a mini mini. She is far too precious to sell; my parents would likely choose to sell me before parting with Thumbelina. She has that unique Wow factor, visible only when you see her diminutive size,” expressed Michael.
Although she has the capability to become pregnant and give birth, the Goessling family has opted not to pursue this route.
They believe pregnancy could pose complications for her, and they also feel it’s inappropriate for the gene causing dwarfism in horses to be passed down to future generations.
