hi this is the whole article
i rang them and asked them to email it to me.
there was also a photo of Thumbelina in it.
The Irish Field
Saturday October 21 2006
Size not important – apparently
By Nicholas O’Hare
There is growing concern among Irish Miniature horse enthusiasts about the official recognition as the world’s smallest horse of a 17-inch high mare foaled five years ago in St Louis, USA. The Guinness Book of Records has just recognised Thumbelina, who weighed eight pounds at birth and now weighs 60 pounds. The average miniature horse stands about 34 inches tall and weighs around 250 pounds.
Breeders are concerned that the highlighting of Thumbelina will encourage the pursuit of dwarfism in miniature horses. There are currently three officially recognised height levels; yearlings – 32 inches, two year olds – 33 inches, and three year olds and over – 34 inches. To offer breeders the opportunity of producing longer-legged stock, there is also a supplementary section which caters for the horses from 34 – 42 inches.
Lillian Graham of Glenhollow Stud, one of Ireland’s longest established breeders, says that dwarfism is a worrying feature of miniature horse production. “Most breeders euthanize these very small animals,†she said. “There are problems with horses which are too small, including shortness of leg, big heads, roach backs, pastern deformities and other shortcomings. It is important that people should not breed from these small animals. They are expected to exercise responsibility.â€
Kimberly Schurek of Slaneyrose Stud, who runs the Irish Miniature Horse Register, said the dwarfism was a particular problem in Ireland. “Any thing under 28 inches in height should not be bred from,†she said. “Breeders must be very careful. The miniature horse should be a perfect reproduction of a full sized quality horse.â€
She said that the register, which is currently seeking Department of Agriculture approval, was engaged in a drive to educate judges and breeders about the degenerative faults which could emerge if under-sized horses were produced. The register will stage a seminar on the breed in Monaghan on Sunday, November 19.
Michael Goessling, owner of the controversial Thumbelina, has, in fact, undertaken not to breed from this mare. He has disclosed that she stopped growing as a yearling. She wears orthopaedic fittings to help straighten out her legs, which are proportionately smaller than her body and head, bearing out the comments of Lillian Graham and Kimberly Schurek.
The official definition of a miniature horse is that it is a small version of a refined riding horse with the correct conformation and movement. The original stock in these islands came from the very best of the smallest British horse breeds – Exmoor, Dartmoor and Shetland. Later spotted ponies of imported origin were added to gibe more extravagant colours and American imports have been used to add new blood. The main organisations are the British Miniature Horse Society, which maintains a studbook, and the American Miniature Horse Society, the largest in the world.
Miniature horse breeding is big business in the United States, where the top animals can be worth up to $400,000. The average price for an ordinary animal in Ireland is from €500 to €1,200. Better quality animals in Britain and Europe can make up to £30,000.
There are now several hundred-miniature horses in Ireland and there is a growing interest, although the breed is more advanced in the north. Classes were held at around 30 shows in Ireland this year, with one practically every week in the north during the summer. At some shows entries number up to 30 animals.
In 2005, miniatures were part of the programme in ring 1 at the Dublin Horse Show and attracted a huge audience. The RDS, however, decided that they could not accommodate them this year due to programme pressure. Kimberly Schurek’s five-year-old stallion Birchwood UK Sundance, who is 31.5 inches tall, emerged as supreme champion. This year he was also awarded the supreme at the breed show at Cavan for the second time.
Lillian Graham currently has 12 miniature horses, including three stallions and the coloured four-year –old newcomer Unjenik Alfire. She launched her interest with the purchase of a 28-inch stallion in 1996 and then went to England to obtain mares. Graham says that most breeders follow guidelines for miniature horse production – height and type – with height being the main consideration.
Kimberly Schurek believes that conformation should be the main consideration. Fillies are generally more valuable than colts or geldings, while miniature horse registration covers all colours, including skewbalds, piebalds and spotted animals.
Breeders are now focusing on the development of successful bloodlines. Most enthusiasts are involved in showing. There is also a move to establish driving events for miniatures.
A series of show are already scheduled in Northern Ireland for next year. The southern organisation intends to introduce special show jumping classes and obstacle driving at shows next year in addition to breed classes.
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