The Falabella Horse
Falabella origin
Many stories surround the origin of the Falabella. It is said that the original Argentine little horses were the descendants of Andalusian and Spanish Barb horses brought to Argentina by the Spaniards where they came to conquer Latin America.
Another story goes that the Falabella is linked to the origin of the horses in Latin America. The Andalusian horses brought by the European to the American continent, were later left to survive in the pampas. The horses underwent biological changes in order to adapt to new conditions. These surely caused genetic mutations in the successive generations. This resulted in the kind of horse breed which came to be known as Falabellas.
Falabella anatomy
The Falabella’s body is small and compact. The average height of a Falabella varies from 28 – 34 inches and they weigh somewhere between 18 to 45 kilograms. They are very similar to Arab horses in their conformation. They have sturdy bone and a thicker hair coat. The head may be slightly larger than the neck. The most commonly available colors in this breed are black and bay. Black or red leopard spotted ones are also available, though uncommon. The average life expectancy of a Falabella is 30 years.
Facts about Falabella
Falabellas are intelligent and can be trained easily. Because of their small size, only children can ride on them comfortably. They can be taught to drive and one common use of the Falabella happens to be cart driving. They possess the ability to jump at a height of 3 feet.
Their natural rusticity and their immense ability to adapt, permit them to endure severe weather conditions. Falabellas do not require much care unlike its larger counterparts.
As an exotic pet, Falabellas are not easily available worldwide. A quick witted horse, Falabellas are known to perform well. It is said that a owner can teach his horse to shake hands and perform other tricks within few hours time.