Small but strong

Miniature horses are also present at Equita Lyon, with the American Miniature Horse in France (AMHA) competition organised in the Equita arena. This event is always popular with the public, who cannot resist the charm of these mini horses that look like ponies.

These horses may look like ponies in terms of their size and their cute little faces, but that is where the comparison ends. These are indeed "miniature horses", as Céline Letort, vice-president of the French Miniature Horse Association, explains: "They have the character and metabolism of horses. They are determined and versatile". With a maximum height of just 89.5cm, the miniature horses are either French or American breeds. While they cannot carry more than 15-20 kg, they can pull a lot more. "That's why we prefer to promote working with the horse in hand or harnessing," explains Céline Letort. The competition is made up of 4 classes: show jumping (in hand), working with long reins, carriage driving and long jump. "We select around 15 miniature horses to take part because we really want them to feel comfortable. The atmosphere of the show is always daunting for them."

You can see the miniature horses in Hall 5 throughout the Equita Lyon show. And some are even for sale. So, miniature-horse fans should take note!