If you're a hardcore horse girl (or horse boy) you already know that ponies are not baby horses. Baby horses are called foals, while ponies are fully-grown small horses. Miniature horses are very small ponies. In order to be called a miniature horse, the horse has to measure less than 34201338 inches in height.
Even though they're small, these tiny horses are full of big surprises. Miniature horse owner Diana Gilger was blown away when she visited her mini horse, Jazz in the stables one morning.
Meet Jazz
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Diana Gilger lives in Gutherie, Oklahoma. She's always loved ponies and miniature horses. When she was a child, she always knew she was going to own miniature horses one day, when she got older. There's just something so endearing about them.
One of the horses Diana took in was a mini horse named Jazz that she rescued from a shelter. From the minute she saw her, Diana knew that Jazz was special. There was just something about her that Diana couldn't quite put her finger on2014 something almost magical.
Jazz's Surprise
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Diana went down to Jazz's stable one morning and found that Jazz had given birth to a tiny foal in the middle of the night. It was the smallest little horse that Diana had ever seen, so she decided to name the foal Itty Bitty Hope.
Itty Bitty was small even for a miniature foal. Diana didn't know that Jazz was pregnant when she rescued her, so this really was a surprise.
A Record-Breaking Baby
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When she was born, Itty Bitty weighed just 13 pounds. This little horse basically weighed the same as two human babies. A mother carrying twins could give birth to two babies who equal the weight of an entire horse! Well, an entire tiny horse.
Itty Bitty's weight and height made her the smallest mini horse ever born. Diana thought it was special that Itty Bitty broke a record, but that wasn't what she was concerned about.
A Bill Of Good Health?
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Because a horse this tiny had never existed before, Diana was worried about the little foal's health. Her tiny size could have been due to genetic abnormalities, and those same genetic abnormalities that caused her to be small could also cause her to have difficulty breathing, swallowing, or being a normal mini horse.
Diana was just focused on making sure that both Jazz and Itty Bitty were happy and healthy.
Consulting The Experts
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Diana wanted Jazz and Itty Bitty to get the best care available. She found a veterinarian who specialized in the care of miniature horses. She asked that vet to come to her barn so that she could give Itty Bitty a complete and thorough checkup.
Diana wanted to know everything about this new little foal, and she wanted to be prepared for any complications that may come up in the future.
She's Not Sick, She's Just Small
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After the vet examined Itty Bitty, the little horse was given a clean bill of health. She wasn't sick, she was just very small. She was a totally normal miniature horse and she didn't have any genetic abnormalities. Diana breathed a sigh of relief.
This little horse had a big future ahead of her, and luckily she wouldn't be prone to any more health issues than a normal horse.
Finding A Home For Itty Bitty Hope
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Diana really only had room for one miniature horse at her home in Oklahoma, so she knew she had to find a new home for Itty Bitty. She wanted to find a permanent home for the little horse where she could grow and thrive.
Diana had a real passion for mini horses, and she wanted Itty Bitty to go to an owner who was also completely obsessed with miniatures.
Could She Be Too Small?
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Horses who are Hope's size and weight often have a hard time finding homes. People aren't quite sure what to do with a horse too small for even a child to ride. She came with all of the expenses of a full-size pony, but with none of the financial benefits. Hope couldn't make her new owner money through riding lessons or pony rides.
Luckily for Itty Bitty Hope, she was able to find a good and loving home.
A New Home And A New Start
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Jim and Linda Woods, a married couple, saw that there was a mini horse for sale in their area. The went to see Itty Bitty Hope to determine if she would be a good addition to their family. Jim and Linda run a non-profit organization called Mini Hooves of Love.
This place would be the perfect home for Itty Bitty Hope. She would be able to live out her life with other mini horses.
Itty Bitty Fit Right In
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Jim and Linda were so excited to introduce Itty Bitty Hope to their heard of mini horses. As soon as Jim and Linda saw Itty Bitty, they were sure that she was going to fit right into their miniature horse family.
Keep reading to learn exactly why they were so sure that Itty Bitty was the mini horse for them. They saw something in her that made them absolutely certain.
A New Job For Itty Bitty
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Jim and Linda's organization takes mini horses to places like hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters, and hospice centers. Those horses provide some much-needed animal therapy to people who could use a little cheering up.
Because Itty Bitty was so small, they could easily transport her to places where people might benefit from her love and affection. Also, how can you not feel better when you're looking at the smallest mini horse in the world?
A Job Well Done
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So how can simply interacting with a little pony improve someone's health? There have been studies that prove that animal therapy can aid in recovering from illness. Contact with animals can help reduce blood pressure, release endorphins, and help people feel calm and relaxed.
It appeared that Itty Bitty Hope was made for this kind of work. She quickly adjusted to life as a therapy horse and she became a fan favorite among the people that Mini Hooves of Love visited.
Hope Found Her Speciality
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After working with Jim and Linda's team for some time, Itty Bitty Hope really found her niche within the animal therapy world. It turned out that she particularly enjoyed working with children who had been removed from abusive homes.
The children were able to bond with Itty Bitty and feel better in her presence. Hope had the unique ability to immediately connect with the people around her, especially people in need.
A Calming Presence
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Itty Bitty Hope wasn't skittish or nervous at all. Because she had been introduced to therapy work at such an early age, she never saw riding in cars or meeting large groups of people as something to be afraid of.
Kids would walk up to her, pet her, hug her, and share their stories with her. Hope seemed to genuinely love the attention that she received from the children, and they loved her too!
A Perfect Fit
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Diane kept up with how Hope was doing, and she was so happy that Hope had found her calling after all. Her little surprise had turned out to be a blessing to everybody around her.
Linda and Jim were thrilled with how well Itty Bitty Hope fit in with the rest of their team. It was like she was born to be a Mini Hooves of Love therapy horse. Who knew that such a tiny horse could make such a big impact?
Good Things Come In Small Packages
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A lot of the kids and families who Itty Bitty visited had questions about her tiny size. They wondered why more people didn't know about the smallest mini horse in the world.
Jim and Linda said that they didn't want to put Itty Bitty in the spotlight. The couple didn't want to make money off of her unique size but wanted to make people happy with her natural charm. Rather than showcasing her as a strange or unusual character, they focused on her talent for helping kids in need.
Healthy As A Horse
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While Diana, Linda, and Jim were concerned about Itty Bitty's health because of her unusually small size, Hope has been able to stay healthy so far in her life. She hasn't needed much medical care and she is eating, drinking water, and sleeping just like any other miniature horse.
Linda and Jim will have to keep an eye on Itty Bitty to see if she develops any health issues in the future, but for now, she's as healthy as a horse!
No Slowing Down
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Itty Bitty's coat and mane began to turn grey pretty early on, but that's normal for horses of her color. She's still acting like a spring chicken and she loves running around with her friends in the field.
It's almost like Itty Bitty knows that helping people and lifting spirits is her calling in life. She eagerly travels to each new hospital or shelter and makes people happy everywhere she goes.
A Friend To All
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Itty Bitty is able to connect with people of all ages, from very young children to elderly people in old folks' homes. Everywhere she goes she seems to make a new friend. It's impossible to look at Itty Bitty in her adorable pink harness and not crack a smile.
This little horse is working her magic, and people can't get enough of it. Look at her little pink halter!
Living Her Best Life
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Now Itty Bitty is having a great time living with Linda and Jim. You can check out the Mini Hooves of Love Miniature Therapy Horses YouTube channel to keep up with Itty Bitty and her friends, and to watch her zoom around her pen with the gusto of a full-sized thoroughbred.
This horse has a lot of personality in her tiny body, and thanks to Linda and Jim, she gets to share that personality with the world.