Falabella

{{Short description|Breed of horse}} {{Other uses}} {{Infobox horse breed | name = Falabella | image = FalabellaFestivo.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = A stallion | image2 = | image_size2 = | image_alt2 = | image_caption2 = | features = | altname = {{ubl|Falabella Miniature Horse|Falabella Pony|Argentine Dwarf|Miniature Horse|Toy Horse}} | country = Argentina | distribution = Americas, Europe | status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): endangered{{r|barb|page=149}}|DAD-IS (2020): at risk{{r|dad}}}} | standard = {{ubl|{{nobreak|Asociaciòn de Criadores de Caballos Falabella}}|[http://www.falabella-europe.com Falabella Europe]|{{nobreak|[http://www.falabellafmha.com Falabella Miniature Horse Association] (USA)}}}} | use = | colour = | height = {{right|63–86 cm{{r|cabi|page=465}}}} | male_height = 85 cm{{r|dad}} | female_height = 70 cm{{r|dad}} | weight = | male_weight = 80 kg{{r|dad}} | female_weight = 70 kg{{r|dad}} | note = }}

The '''Falabella''' is an Argentine breed of small horse. It is among the smallest of horse breeds, with a height at the withers in the range {{convert|63|–|86|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}.{{r|cabi|page=465}}.

== History ==

The horses of South America descend from Andalusian and other Iberian stock brought to the Western Hemisphere by the Spanish. In the southern part of the continent, significant numbers of these horses developed within geographically isolated conditions and by the mid-nineteenth century there were some small, inbred animals in the herds of Mapuche of southern Buenos Aires province in Olavarría, Argentina.<ref name="IMH">[http://www.imh.org/exhibits/online/falabella-miniature-horse/ "Falabella miniature horse." ''from'' International Museum of the horse]</ref> The Falabella was originally developed in Argentina from local horses of Criollo stock, beginning in 1868 with the breeding program of Patrick Newtall. When Newtall died, the herd and breeding methods were passed to his son-in-law, Juan Falabella. He added additional bloodlines, including the Welsh Pony, Shetland pony, and small Thoroughbreds. With considerable inbreeding, he was able to gain consistently small size within the herd.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Beginning in the 1940s, a descendant, Julio C. Falabella, created a formal breed registry, the ''Establecimientos Falabella,'' now the ''Asociación de Criadores de Caballos Falabella'' (Falabella Horse Breeders Association), and worked to standardize the breed to reach a consistent height, first achieving an average size of under {{convert|40|in|cm|abbr=on|disp=flip}} Later breeders developed the modern standard, a horse breed that averaged approximately {{convert|30|in|cm|disp=flip|abbr=on}} in height.<ref name="IMH"/>

== Characteristics ==

The height of a fully-grown Falabella varies between {{convert|28|and|34|in|cm|abbr=on|disp=flip}}.<ref>[http://www.falabellafmha.com/ Falabella Miniature Horse Association]</ref> Falabella foals are very small, standing around {{convert|12|to|22|in|cm|abbr=on|disp=flip}} tall at birth, and maturing to their adult height by the age of three.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=myQBSVVEhagC&q=falabella+height+at+birth&pg=PA481|title=The Official Horse Breeds Standards Guide|author=Lynghaug, Fran|date=15 October 2009|page=481|publisher=Voyageur Press |isbn=9781616731717}}</ref>

The Falabella has the proportions of a horse, with conformation similar to that of a Thoroughbred or Arab. The body is small and compact, with a sleek coat and a slim frame.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Bay, brown and black are the most common colors; pinto, palomino and spotted coats are less common.<ref name="IMH"/>

== Use ==

The Falabella is kept as a pet or for show.{{r|elise|page=508}} It can be ridden by children no more than about eight years old, or trained to perform tricks or pull a small cart.{{r|ric|page=96}}

== References == {{commonscat}} {{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=barb>Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623201209/http://www.fao.org/3/a1250e/annexes/List%20of%20breeds%20documented%20in%20the%20Global%20Databank%20for%20Animal%20Genetic%20Resources/List_breeds.pdf List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources], annex to [https://web.archive.org/web/20170110125634/http://www.fao.org/3/a-a1250e.pdf ''The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture'']. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. {{ISBN|9789251057629}}. Archived 23 June 2020.</ref>

<ref name=cabi>Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). [https://books.google.it/books?id=2UEJDAAAQBAJ&hl=en ''Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding''] (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. {{ISBN|9781780647944}}.</ref>

<ref name=dad>[https://fao-dadis-breed-detail.firebaseapp.com/?country=ARG&specie=Horse&breed=Falabella%20Pony Breed data sheet: Falabella Pony / Argentina (Horse)]. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2020.</ref>

<ref name=elise>Élise Rousseau, Yann Le Bris, Teresa Lavender Fagan (2017). [https://books.google.it/books?id=Eus9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA176&hl=en ''Horses of the World'']. Princeton: Princeton University Press. {{ISBN|9780691167206}}.</ref>

<ref name=ric>Richard I. Robinson (July 1965). [http://www.falabellafmha.com/Scanned_Magazines/Western_Horseman/Western_Horseman.html Falabella Miniature Horses]. ''The Western Horseman''. July 1965: 96–98.</ref>

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Category:Horse breeds originating in Argentina Category:Horse breeds