October 13, 2006: World's smallest horse

Undertoad · 10-13-2006, 12:03 PM

Daily Mail via Spluch.

Meet Thumbelina, the world's smallest horse. She's just 17 inches tall despite being an adult horse, 5 years old.

I want one!

She was born at an American horse farm that specializes in tiny horses; normally the tiny beasts are twice Thumbelina's size.

That means Thumbelina is not really a freak of nature. My high school biology teacher used the local miniature horse farm as an example, when explaining genetics. Part of the theory of evolution is that genetic mutations happen and the new changes are accepted or rejected over time, slowly leading to improvements and adaptation. The mini horse tells us that you don't necessarily need mutation to vastly change a species.

It was a good explanation, but I would have used dogs as an example. The teacup Chihuahua, the Great Dane, the English Bulldog and the Russian Wolfhound, all are the same species. We have bred them specifically for genetic variations, and created dogs that wildly vary, to the point where most of the variations would not even continue to exist without human intervention.

Emrikol · 10-13-2006, 12:18 PM

That's cute. I heard them talking about thumbelina on Fox and Friends (via Sirius Radio)...now I know

SMALL!

Shawnee123 · 10-13-2006, 12:22 PM

I...must...have...small...horsey!

How cute is that?

HOOF? YOu need to check this out!

Elspode · 10-13-2006, 12:40 PM

Wow. A house horse. I mean, one that doesn't require reconstruction of the house in order to accomodate it.

Flint · 10-13-2006, 12:43 PM

Poor thing looks horribly deformed.
Probably has numerous health issues related to it's being a genetic novelty item.

Undertoad · 10-13-2006, 12:47 PM

Having a tail so long it hangs at your feet would be a pain in the ass.

Saknussem · 10-13-2006, 01:11 PM

omg, that is SO damn sweet my pancreas is hurting. Seriously though; where do we GET ONE? I want one to give to my wife -- a palomino one. It would be cool to see it kick the cat around the house. I would gladly trade one of my kids for one of those horses.

Name it Epony (pronounced Ee-pon-ee pun on Celtic horse goddess).

Spexxvet · 10-13-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

... My high school biology teacher used the local miniature horse farm as an example, when explaining genetics. Part of the theory of evolution is that genetic mutations happen and the new changes are accepted or rejected over time, slowly leading to improvements and adaptation. The mini horse tells us that you don't necessarily need mutation to vastly change a species.
...

Ahem.... Don't you think it's just intelligent design?

I wonder if she wears tiny little horeshoes. And how much weight can she carry?

dar512 · 10-13-2006, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

I wonder if she wears tiny little horeshoes.

I saw a program a while ago where these really small horses are used like guide dogs. The horses in question wore sneakers so that they wouldn't make too much noise indoors.

pegusitas · 10-13-2006, 01:50 PM

Check out my screen name. My friend and I made it up because we thought of the ultimate pet that we could design and breed: a dog-sized flying horse. A "pegusita"!

Now that half of the work has been done, we just need to add wings to the sucker. And then soon all the world will revel in taking their pegusitas for a walk/fly.

/Yes, it's stupid, but the story behind the name is true.

Elspode · 10-13-2006, 02:02 PM

Does the little horsie remind anyone of else of human dwarves? Normal, *but*, stuff is sort of out of proportion...they aren't just shrunken photocopies of the so-called "normal" examples of their species?

Griff · 10-13-2006, 02:16 PM

She doesn't look half bad compared to a lot of them. Some you wouldn't even consider throwing on the barbie.

bigw00dy · 10-13-2006, 02:25 PM

I do not see porn in this horses future!! Looks like seeing-eye horse it is.

glatt · 10-13-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Some you wouldn't even consider throwing on the barbie.

Speaking of that, has anyone here ever had horse meat? Is it used in dog food? I wonder how it tastes. I know horses are rendered into glue and such and maybe even into jello, but is there any place you can get horse meat for consumption?

These little guys look like they might be tender.

Griff · 10-13-2006, 02:30 PM

Its illegal some places, isn't it?

10-13-2006, 12:03 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	October 13, 2006: World's smallest horse Daily Mail via Spluch. Meet Thumbelina, the world's smallest horse. She's just 17 inches tall despite being an adult horse, 5 years old. I want one! She was born at an American horse farm that specializes in tiny horses; normally the tiny beasts are twice Thumbelina's size. That means Thumbelina is not really a freak of nature. My high school biology teacher used the local miniature horse farm as an example, when explaining genetics. Part of the theory of evolution is that genetic mutations happen and the new changes are accepted or rejected over time, slowly leading to improvements and adaptation. The mini horse tells us that you don't necessarily need mutation to vastly change a species. It was a good explanation, but I would have used dogs as an example. The teacup Chihuahua, the Great Dane, the English Bulldog and the Russian Wolfhound, all are the same species. We have bred them specifically for genetic variations, and created dogs that wildly vary, to the point where most of the variations would not even continue to exist without human intervention.

10-13-2006, 12:22 PM	#3
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I...must...have...small...horsey! How cute is that? HOOF? YOu need to check this out! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

10-13-2006, 12:40 PM	#4
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Wow. A house horse. I mean, one that doesn't require reconstruction of the house in order to accomodate it. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

10-13-2006, 12:43 PM	#5
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Poor thing looks horribly deformed. Probably has numerous health issues related to it's being a genetic novelty item. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

10-13-2006, 02:02 PM	#11
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Does the little horsie remind anyone of else of human dwarves? Normal, but, stuff is sort of out of proportion...they aren't just shrunken photocopies of the so-called "normal" examples of their species? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

10-13-2006, 12:18 PM	#2
Emrikol Compatriot-at-Arms Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 107	That's cute. I heard them talking about thumbelina on Fox and Friends (via Sirius Radio)...now I know SMALL!

10-13-2006, 12:47 PM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Having a tail so long it hangs at your feet would be a pain in the ass.

10-13-2006, 01:11 PM	#7
Saknussem Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 93	omg, that is SO damn sweet my pancreas is hurting. Seriously though; where do we GET ONE? I want one to give to my wife -- a palomino one. It would be cool to see it kick the cat around the house. I would gladly trade one of my kids for one of those horses. Name it Epony (pronounced Ee-pon-ee pun on Celtic horse goddess).

10-13-2006, 01:50 PM	#10
pegusitas Writer of Writings Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 14	Check out my screen name. My friend and I made it up because we thought of the ultimate pet that we could design and breed: a dog-sized flying horse. A "pegusita"! Now that half of the work has been done, we just need to add wings to the sucker. And then soon all the world will revel in taking their pegusitas for a walk/fly. /Yes, it's stupid, but the story behind the name is true.

10-13-2006, 02:16 PM	#12
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	She doesn't look half bad compared to a lot of them. Some you wouldn't even consider throwing on the barbie. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

10-13-2006, 02:25 PM	#13
bigw00dy I'm here once in a while Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 458	I do not see porn in this horses future!! Looks like seeing-eye horse it is. __________________ flickr®

10-13-2006, 02:30 PM	#15
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Its illegal some places, isn't it? __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

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