A horse has formed a friendship with three dogs after being rejected by its mother for being too small to reach her teats after birth.
This prompted Faith Smith, a 55-year-old horse trainer from San Diego, to bring the little foal home so it could receive better attention and care.
Now, at six weeks old, although Peabody the tiny horse weighs only about 8.6 kg, it lives a lavish life with its three close friends, three fierce bull dogs.
Currently, the foal lives indoors with the dogs.
Initially, Faith Smith was also a bit worried. It seemed impossible to harmonize, but Peabody and the three dogs living in the house have grown closer over time.
Faith Smith stated, “At first, the little horse was carefully cared for, struggling to survive. But now it is much better, playing and living harmoniously with the dogs in the family.“
Smith also added, “Peabody is the smallest horse in the world for its age. Horses are never house pets, but Peabody is too small to survive outside unless it grows bigger, and we are not sure if it will do so.”
Veterinarians suggested that Peabody be fed meat instead, but faced difficulties because the animal’s jaw was misaligned. Its previous owner believed Peabody was also deaf and blind.
However, despite the challenges Peabody faced, Faith Smith decided to take it home. After a few weeks, the little horse began to develop normally, its jaw aligned, and it learned to walk.
Now, Faith has decided to keep Peabody forever. She hopes that the animal will grow bigger in the future and integrate with other horses.
She said, “Currently, the foal lives indoors with the dogs. I will nurture and care for it forever, but I hope it will grow bigger so it can play with other horses. Otherwise, it will just remain a house horse.”
