Koda the American miniature horse is also a dwarf, which enables him to help himself to the fridge, sit in a car and enjoy lots of attention
by: Kirsty Ross
6 August 2009
HE may look like a cuddly children's toy but this is Koda, Australia's smallest horse, and he can almost fit inside a fridge.
He's cheecky, cute and smaller than a boxer dog, weighs just 35kg and can travel on the front passenger seat of a car.
Koda, who has just turned one, is an American miniature so was always destined to deal with small horse syndrome. But he is also a dwarf.
He was diagnosed shortly after being born and as a result lives at a vet hospital north-east of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia.
Vet Andy Lynch at the Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital, said he was "no bigger than a cat" when he was born.
Koda beat the odds and lived past 12 months - and thrived despite a barrage of health problems and major surgical procedures. Many more are planned.
Dr Lynch said: "He had a punky look, a fuzzy forelock and his mane stuck up like a mohawk.
"His bottom jaw stuck out, he had upturned nostrils and a wrinkled nose.
"Below his little round tummy, his shortened legs constantly buckled."
Koda's poor prognosis left Dr Lynch with little doubt he should be put down.
But veterinary nurse Karen Stephenson, 23, was amazed by the gutsy, plucky personality in the little pony.
"I'd never seen a miniature horse and I just thought him amazing," she said.
"I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him and thought he deserved a go at some good quality life, so I took him on."
Dr Lynch has performed about $10,000 worth of leg surgery on Koda, but the bill is expected to top $30,000. The next step is major dentistry to remove adult teeth that will never fit in his little mouth. Perhaps then he won't be able to tug at the bin liners like he does now.
Koda has recovered well from every operation so far and takes his medicine like a "little man", Dr Lynch said.
by: Kirsty Ross
6 August 2009
HE may look like a cuddly children's toy but this is Koda, Australia's smallest horse, and he can almost fit inside a fridge.
He's cheecky, cute and smaller than a boxer dog, weighs just 35kg and can travel on the front passenger seat of a car.
Koda, who has just turned one, is an American miniature so was always destined to deal with small horse syndrome. But he is also a dwarf.
He was diagnosed shortly after being born and as a result lives at a vet hospital north-east of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia.
Vet Andy Lynch at the Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital, said he was "no bigger than a cat" when he was born.
Koda beat the odds and lived past 12 months - and thrived despite a barrage of health problems and major surgical procedures. Many more are planned.
Dr Lynch said: "He had a punky look, a fuzzy forelock and his mane stuck up like a mohawk.
"His bottom jaw stuck out, he had upturned nostrils and a wrinkled nose.
"Below his little round tummy, his shortened legs constantly buckled."
Koda's poor prognosis left Dr Lynch with little doubt he should be put down.
But veterinary nurse Karen Stephenson, 23, was amazed by the gutsy, plucky personality in the little pony.
"I'd never seen a miniature horse and I just thought him amazing," she said.
"I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him and thought he deserved a go at some good quality life, so I took him on."
Dr Lynch has performed about $10,000 worth of leg surgery on Koda, but the bill is expected to top $30,000. The next step is major dentistry to remove adult teeth that will never fit in his little mouth. Perhaps then he won't be able to tug at the bin liners like he does now.
Koda has recovered well from every operation so far and takes his medicine like a "little man", Dr Lynch said.
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