by Bea Peterson
When Theo and Melissa Knebel of Hoosick purchased a second miniature horse as a companion for the miniature horse they already owned, they never expected she was pregnant. Neither did her previous owner Tom Newkirk of King Hill Miniatures. “We thought she was barren,” he said when he came to see the new colt on Wednesday, May 5. He said she had been bred at least eight times and never conceived. The mare, King Hill Meadow, called “Meadow,” is 10 years old and this is her first foal. And that little guy, weighing all of 20 plus pounds is cute as he can be. Newkirk said his father is Peace Pipe and called “Piper.”
When Meadow went into labor on Monday the Knebels thought she had colic. They called their friend Lisa Revet, an experienced horsewoman, to check the mare out. Lisa told them the horse was about to deliver. The baby was born about 9 pm. The Knebels have named him “Miracle.”
He is a little miracle. Birth deaths are higher than 40 percent with these miniature horses.
Miniature horses are very friendly by nature and enjoy being handled. Newkirk said the trick is to pick them up often and hold them so they become comfortable with people.
