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Koda, the smallest horse in Australia, is smaller than most dogs and not much bigger than a cat
Posted on 08/09/2009 3:00:51 PM PDT by Stoat
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(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
WARNING! EXTREME CUTENESS ALERT!
Ping
cute.
AWWWWWWWWWW!
Oh my, with a bow on his tail, he would look like Eeyore.
ping
“[Robert] Reich is 4 feet 10-1/2 inches (149 cm) tall. His height is a result of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, also known as Fairbanks disease. This genetic condition has also affected Reich’s hips; he had double hip replacement surgery in 1992.[6] Reich has used his height as a source of humor, once appearing with the 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) Conan O’Brien in a sketch on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Reich#Biography
YouTube - Dwarf miniature horse Koda thriving despite health problems
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He may be Australia's smallest horse, but his personality is as big as a Clydesdale.
Koda is smaller than a labrador, weighs just 35kg and can travel on the back seat of a small sedan.
He lives at the Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital, where he mixes with pets great and small. First-time customers think he is a battery-operated soft toy.
He's cheeky, cute, sweet and obviously believes himself to be as big as a normal horse.
Koda was always meant to be small, being an American miniature.
But he is also a dwarf.
Koda was diagnosed soon after birth.
"He was no bigger than a cat," said vet Andy Lynch.
His condition is rare but Koda is unique in that he is still alive after 12 months - and thriving despite a barrage of health problems and major surgical procedures. Many more are planned.
"He had a punky look, a fuzzy forelock and his mane stuck up like a mohawk," Dr Lynch said.
His bottom jaw stuck out, he had upturned nostrils and a wrinkled nose.
Below his little round tummy, his shortened legs constantly buckled.
Koda's poor prognosis left Dr Lynch with little doubt he should be put down.
But veterinary nurse Karen Stephenson, 23, was amazed by the gutsy, plucky personality in the pint-sized pony.
"I'd never seen a miniature horse and I just thought him amazing," she said.
"I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him and thought he deserved a go at some good quality life, so I took him on."
Dr Lynch has performed about $10,000 worth of leg surgery on Koda, but the bill is expected to top $30,000. The next step is major dentistry to remove adult teeth that will never fit in his little mouth.
He has recovered well from every operation so far and takes his medicine like a "little man", Dr Lynch said.
Awww, I want one.
Well, according to Dr. Lynch in the video, the normal size for this breed is only slightly larger than what Koda turned out to be so your request is not impossible to fulfill :-)
I've also heard of miniature horses being trained for use as service animals for people here in the USA.
Awesome... I want one for my key ring ;-)
Bless that vet for giving him all that help. In the video, he sure seems lively.
Oh my, I’ve overdosed on cuteness! Adorable!
Thanks for the ping. I saw one miniature horse once, it was cute but not nearly this tiny.
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