The Perfectly Sized Horse

If a horse were going to be perfectly sized for a cat to ride, I think it would look a lot like Cleo and Cooper. They’re the newest members of the HORSEPOWER family.

I’m just saying.

Cleo and Cooper are miniature horses, and they’re certainly closer to my size than most of my friends at HORSEPOWER. But here’s something you might not know about minis: they aren’t ponies. They really are horses.

Miniature horses have been selectively bred for their small size while keeping the proportions and characteristics of horses. And like their full-sized relatives, they’re intelligent, social animals with individual personalities, preferences, and opinions.

Small horse. Full-sized personality.

Their size, though, gives minis some pretty special opportunities.

Miniature horses are often wonderful ambassadors for the horse world. Because they’re smaller and can seem less intimidating, they can help people become comfortable around horses, especially children or people who might be a little nervous about meeting a full-sized horse for the first time.

Their size also allows minis to go places bigger horses usually can’t. Some miniature horses work in therapy programs and visit hospitals, nursing homes, and other indoor settings, bringing the experience of interacting with a horse to people who might not otherwise have that opportunity.

So while they may be small, there’s nothing miniature about the connections they can make.

And I still think Cleo and Cooper look about the right size for a cat to ride.

But until HORSEPOWER comes up with a cat-sized saddle, I’m not trying it anytime soon.