“Falabella Miniature Horses” is considered a breed in
Argentina as is the Quarter horse or Clydesdale in the USA.
Some of the earliest photos of miniature horses in the world
are the Est. Falabella dating back to 1905.
Outside breeds are no longer used.
Maria Louisa de Falabella owns and operates Est. Falabella
in Argentina and Maria Angelica Falabella owns a farm in both Argentina
and the USA. Falabellas are being produced from these sources
today as well as worldwide by breeders interested in preserving this
unique and rare breed.
Horses in Argentina are subject to “inspections” for type as
many of the warmblood horses of today.
The main registries for Falabella are the ACCF and FMHA
which must provide proven pure lines to be registered and documented as
pure Falabella.
Falabellas range from average 28.5 in Argentina to the
larger “B” (38”) sizes here in the USA.
All colours available with particular popularity of
appaloosa and pintos.
The name “Falabella Mini Horse” was selected due to the
origin of the family who researched and developed the breed almost 150
years ago.
Falabellas in the Public Eye
Regina
Winery in CA, imported Falabellas in the 1960’s; 8 - 10 of these horses
were
used to pull a miniature stage coach to promote their Winery. The
known horses used in the Winery hitch
were, Senor, Grenache, Chianti, Regina, Sherry, Champagne, Barberra,
Seniorita
and Burgendy.
Falabellas
were the first mini horses used by the Kilverstone Stud in England for
their
Zoo exhibit. The most famous being a loud leopard appaloosa stallion
named Menelek.
The
famous Regina Winery import, Chianti owned by Dixie Blasingame, was a
multi
halter and performance champion and was featured on the cover of the
AMHR Journal. (Nov 1978)
Little
Man was once an attraction at the Oklahoma Zoo.
Flaby’s
El Tigre and Grosshill’s El Rey were both AMHA National Top Ten Senior
Stallions.
Kristina,
a Falabella mare from the Land of Little Horses in Gettysburg, PA, had
a talent
for counting. She traveled to Hollywood
to appear on the popular TV show “Those Amazing Animals”.
Kristina was promoted as “the horse with the
human brain”.
Toyland
Domino was filmed (1998) demonstrating his jumping and driving skills
at
Strongs Miniature Horses in ON. Canada, by Pet Project, a LIFE TV
network and
the segment was broadcast several times.
Famous
people that have owned Falabellas include; Frank Sinatra, the Kennedy
Family
1963) Wayne Newton, Lord and Lady Fisher, Nelson Rockafer and Aga
Khan.