Miniature Horse pedigree research

There are many USA breeders who have claimed to greatly reduce the suffering of miniature horses by carefully researching pedigrees and investing in medically-assisted birthing facilities, manned by Veterinarians. 

Ron Youngblood says in The Horseman's Report that an excellent miniature horse breeder was the NFC breeding program, which was widely praised for their commitment to proper foaling equipment and breeding practices:

"Now, through acquiring the best breeding foundation stock available, an organized professional breeding program designed to improve the breed, a facility to enable professional breeding, training and showing, and most importantly securing the best available personnel, the Erwins are beginning to realize their goals."

Andrea Rollins published an article titled breeding minis where she suggests a correlation of genetics and equine dwarfism:

"Genetic soundness is also important in miniatures, as bad bites, dwarfism, and locking stifles are common.  Although some people feel that pedigree is not very important, and that judges never see a horse's papers... I feel pedigree is somewhat important to consider in a breeding animal because pedigree gives the breeder some knowledge of a horse's genetics and predictability."

Out-crossing miniature horse bloodlines

Many overseas miniature pony programs claims to have far less breeding issues.  For example, the smaller miniature ponies at Dartmoor National Park in England are well-within the height requirements of the USA Miniature Horse Registries, yet experts report that dwarfism is very rare.

According to the owner and breeder at the Miniature Pony Stud in Moretonhampstead Devon, dwarfism and dystocia are virtually unknown in his breeding program.

When compared to USA Miniature horses, the Dartmoor pony is quite different.  While similar in height, and body of a Dartmoor pony is long and the legs stout and sturdy.  Evidently, the Dartmoor Miniature Pony breeders do not feel compelled to breed exclusively for small size and they value utility over conformation.

Because of the mare and foal loss of up to 25%, some of the better USA breeders invest in foreign bloodlines to reduce the risks of dwarfism.  For example, Charles Penland, owner of Sweetwater's (the self-proclaimed World's largest breeder of miniature horses), says that he traveled to Argentina to buy small ponies from Mr. Falabella and purchased uncontaminated breeding stock from the Netherlands and Belgium.

USA Miniature Horse is a non-profit web site dedicated to collecting useful information about miniature horses in the United States.