A Falabella is a miniature horse that is known for its small size and gentle disposition.
They are often kept as pets, but they can also be ridden.
If you’re curious about these enchanting creatures, read on to learn more about them!
Falabella Breed Info
Here are some of the key things you need to know about the Falabella:
| Height (size) | Up to 8.0 hands high |
| Colors | All solid colors, and spotted patterns |
| Country of Origin | Argentina |
| Common Uses | Driving, as a pet, shows, liberty work, small children mount |
Falabella Facts & Information (Breed Profile)
The Falabella is a breed of miniature horse that stands around 7 hands high on average, but may grow to a maximum height of 8 hands.
The Spanish are thought to have brought the ancestors of the Falabella to Latin America, where they formed large wild herds that roamed the vast pampas and gave rise to many breeds, including the Criollo.
Natural selection shaped them to be very resilient and hardy, but often shorter than their Iberian ancestors.
This, in conjunction with the practice of inbreeding, resulted in the production of a number of unusually small horses.
A breeder named Patrick Newtall began consciously developing the Falabella from Criollo blood in the late 19th century.
His goal was to create a miniature horse breed with the proportions of big horses.
Newtall accomplished his objective via extensive inbreeding, and when he died, he handed on the breeding program’s secrets to his son-in-law, Juan Falabella.
To further lower the size of the breed while preserving the required physical characteristics, Fallabella introduced additional bloodlines, including the Shetland Pony and several small Thoroughbreds.
A breed registry was created in the 1940s.
Originally, the horse had to be less than 39 inches (100 cm) tall to be classified a Falabella, but current efforts have decreased this to 30 inches (75 cm).
If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating breed, keep reading!
Alternative Names
n/a
Temperament/Personality
Gentle, friendly, easy to train
Physical Characteristics
The head is elegant, with mid-sized ears and intelligent eyes.
The neck is muscular, well attached to the strong, but short back.
The shoulders are sloping, and the legs are stout.
The body of a Falabella is compact and small.
Despite its smaller stature, the breed’s proportions are similar to those of a horse, not a pony.
They are bred for their hardiness and consistency in passing on traits including size, conformation, and personality.
Colors
All solid colors, and spotted patterns
Height (size)
Up to 8.0 hands high
Stallions
n/a
Mares
n/a
Weight
n/a
Blood Type
Warm
Common Uses
Driving, as a pet, shows, liberty work, ridden by small children
Health
Very hardy, no specific health conditions
Popular Traits
Miniature horse, it is not a pony
Feeding/Diet
n/a
Country of Origin
Argentina
Ancestors
Argentine Criollo, Welsh Pony, Shetland Pony, small sized Thoroughbreds