Mini-horses are a source of income for breeders A pony breed developed in Brazil has gained space in the market and has become a source of income for breeders in different regions of the country. Smaller than traditional ponies, the so-called mini-horses are raised mainly as pets and, in many cases, even live in backyards. ? Download the g1 app to see news in real time and for free Currently, there are around 9 thousand mini horses registered in Brazil, and most buyers look for these animals for companionship. This was the case of veterinarian Ana Maria Lorenzetti, who lives in the urban area of ??Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo and realized her dream of having a specimen called Trovão. Veterinarian Ana Maria Lorenzetti, who lives in the urban area of ??Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, with her mini-horse called Trovão. Reproduction Globo Rural She says that she always saw videos of the breed on social media and decided to acquire the animal when she started living in a house with a garden. Today, Trovão shares space with five cats and four dogs, including a Doberman. During the day, he roams around the yard. At night, he stays in a small paddock and uses a small house to shelter from the rain. According to the owner, the monthly cost of food is around R$80. Furthermore, it is necessary to collect the feces produced by the animal daily. Despite the care, she claims that the mini-horse is docile, friendly and has become a true companion. R$1,000 per kilo? Get to know wagyu, a beef from Japan that has the most expensive meat in the world Trump's tariff: see how coffee, honey and fish will try to escape the new taxes HTrovão shares space with five cats and four dogs, including a Doberman. Reproduction Globo Rural How the mini-horse came about The origin of ponies dates back thousands of years. In regions with few natural resources, smaller horses had an easier time surviving and reproducing, giving rise to the various breeds of pony that currently exist. In Brazil, the most widespread breed is the Brazilian pony. In 2002, breeders began selecting the smallest specimens for breeding and introduced animals from the North American Miniature Horse breed. The crossing gave rise to the Brazilian mini-horse. The main difference between the two breeds is in size and body conformation. While the pony can measure up to 1.15 meters in height, the mini-horse has a limit of 89 centimeters for males. Furthermore, breeders are looking for more proportional animals, with a lighter neck, head and body, resembling a miniature horse. Raising mini horses In the rural area of ??the same municipality, on a farm measuring just one hectare, lives Rogério Andrade, who found raising these animals to be his family's main source of support. His interest in horses began in his childhood, when he got his first pony at the age of 12. As an adult, he decided to invest in creating the mini-horse, a breed he helped develop in Brazil. On Rogério's property, reproduction is done by natural breeding. The squad comprises 25 mares, three stallions and around 20 puppies up to one year old. According to the breeder, the monthly cost of maintaining each animal is around R$300, including food, vaccines and labor. The diet is similar to that of large horses, but in smaller quantities. While a horse weighing approximately 400 kilos consumes up to four kilos of feed per day, an adult mini-horse weighs around 100 kilos and ingests approximately one kilo daily, in addition to grass and mineral supplementation. The animals are sold after weaning, around six months of age. The price varies depending on size and coat. Males cost, on average, R$6,000, while females are sold for around R$8,000. Before delivery, they are bathed, groomed and groomed. Because they are small, they can be transported in the back of a pickup truck. With the increase in demand, Rogério states that the activity is no longer just a hobby and has become his main business. In his opinion, the breed requires relatively little space, has affordable maintenance costs and is in good demand, factors that drive market growth.