Little horse is big news

Bullseye the Miniature horse with owner Cheryl Potter and daughter Scharlette Bishop.

Rob Black

HE STANDS only a foot and a half tall (around 44cm) and weighs less than many dogs, but Bullseye is the biggest star at the Schazaars Magic Miniatures horse stud at Agnes Water.

Bullseye isn't yet registered with the Miniature Horse Association of Australia Inc. but is sure to raise a fair bit of interest in the little horsie world, as one of the smallest perfectly formed Miniature horses born in Australia.

Bullseye came into the world at 11.30pm on New Year's Eve (December 31) to Miniature mare Toy, and stud owner and breeder Cheryl Potter named him after the Toy Story movie character.

"I have seen them smaller on the website,'' Cheryl said.

"But most of those have some sort of developmental problem.

"Bullseye is just a perfect little guy.

"He couldn't wait for the new year and is just such an active little fella.

"He's grown quite a bit already.''

Growing quite a bit in Miniature horse terms means Bullseye will be lucky to reach a strapping 34 inches (88cm) or 8.2 hands from his start in life as a 17.5in (44.5cm) foal.

Bullseye is spending most of his early days close to mum, Toy.

But he will soon join the rest of Cheryl's 30-something miniatures cavorting around the Captain Creek stud.

Cheryl shows her valuable miniatures too; at Gladstone, Bundaberg and the Caboolture shows.