Wizard of OZ - mini's?

[jbrat]

We're watching the Wizard of OZ (FYI on tbs channel right now).

And my son asked me if I realized they used mini's in the movie. They probably won't show them again but in the beginning when the munchkins all come out they drive Dorthy around in a carriage pull by 2 black mini's. They sure looked small enough to be mini's, not sure if ponies were even recognized as mini's when the movie was made.

So I was just curious if by chance anyone here knew anything about them.

I often wonder about horses I see used in movies. Bet they aren't normally pampered like the actors.

 

[TTF]

LOL, I was watching that too and screamed "Oh My God! Minis!" OH! Not sure if they are or even, as you said, recognized, but I think it'd be a neat fact to know.

 

[Dona]

More than likely, they were very small Shetland ponies....as there were no such thing as "Miniature Horses" (at least not "officially") back when that movie was made. The Miniature Horse registries here in the States didn't organize until many years later. Back in the, 50s & early 60s when I was a child, the Shetland ponies that were being bred in our area actually WERE very small & DID look like the Minis of today. Then some breeders started calling the smallest ones "Midget Ponies".

Technically....the ones you see in the Wizard of Oz, probably were small enough to be considered Miniatures if they were around today.

 

[jbrat]

Funny you should mention "Midget ponies" I was just reading a web page that talked about that breed. Here's a interesting link for anyone interested. http://www.mini-horse.org/mini_horse_breeds.html

 

[Dona]

Funny you should mention "Midget ponies" I was just reading a web page that talked about that breed. Here's a interesting link for anyone interested. http://www.mini-horse.org/mini_horse_breeds.html

Nope....not even going to go there!

 

[Reble]

You can buy a musical with the horses.

I am thinking not mini either

Judy Garland stared in 1939

 

[REO]

What I've always wondered about is the little carriage! I LOVE it! I look close at it each time and note how well it was made. I wonder where it is now. Wouldn't be awesome to own it and show in it at World or Nationals?

 

[TinyMiteVillage]

OMG.............OMG......................I was thinking the same thing................I would love to have that musical box or whatever you want to call it...........That is amazing. I was always amazed how the horse in the Oz Castle changed colors......................LOL