A miniature horse is probably one of the cutest things you could see on the internet. But unbelievably, one mini horse just managed to get even cuter.
Martha, the horse, has dwarfism that involves a lot of health issues, including problems with her legs. But a recent video of her has gone viral, showing her performing a flawless moonwalk with gusto. In short, she doesn’t need to be full-sized to capture our hearts.
Martha lives at the R&R Ranch in Chesterfield, MO.
This ranch is a place where miniature horses who have been abused can find love and care in a safe environment. At R&R, Martha can dance her heart out.
The mini horse was rescued in January of this year in very bad condition. The poor little lady was only three months old but she was already pretty sick. Her previous owner, a horse breeder, had treated her badly, and she was neglected and infested with lice.
The staff at R&R ranch set out to get Martha on the road to recovery.
She had a round of antibiotics and was treated for pests. Her hooves were also trimmed to keep them nice and healthy. Once she was feeling better, Martha’s real personality burst forth with attitude.
Earlier this year, ranch staff managed to capture evidence of Martha’s vivacity in a video. In the video, the little horse is shown dancing and prancing around the barn.
“Get ready to pee in your pants,” read the Instagram caption. “This is pure gold … Move over MJ, there’s a new moonwalker in town…”
Martha’s snazzy moves have attracted attention all over the internet, drumming up a fan base for the little horse.
“Just brings a smile to our face,” wrote one Facebook user. “Such a happy little Martha. So sweet!”
R&R Ranch is thrilled that Martha’s fans are continuing to grow.
But they really hope that her time in the spotlight will send a message about miniature horses. The staff wants people to be aware of the ways that mini horses are abused, neglected, or objectified. In this way, Martha is really dancing for a cause.
Miniature horses are the result of many years of selective horse breeding.
To technically qualify as a mini horse, they must be no more than 38 inches tall. However, the American Miniature Horse Association does not recognize any horses that are more than 34 inches tall.
Foals weigh between 12 and 25 pounds when they’re born.
An adult miniature horse usually weighs between 150 and 350 pounds. Because they are so small, they can’t bear riders unless those riders are very small children.
Because of the propensity of abuse and neglect by owners and breeders, many associations like R&R Ranch have begun to educate people about caring for miniature horses. As time goes on, people are learning to respect tiny horses like Martha — especially for her dance moves.
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