Are these Ireland's smallest horses?

The Limavady high school student is the proud owner of the world's smallest breed of horse - with currently no other known in Ireland. Craig's pet Lynn, a Panabella mare, along with younger brother Zac's Panabella stallion Finn, mean the Witherow family could be the owners of Ireland's smallest horses.

"They are the smallest type of horse in the world according to the internet," dad Joe told the Sentinel, "We don't know of any other horses in Ireland, that's not to say there isn't any more but we have been looking on the internet and we can't find anyone with them in Ireland."

Joe continued: "We have them about three months. Finn came from just outside Ballycastle, that's why we called him Finn. Because of the Finn McCool connection. Craig's granda arrived home with Lynn for Craig after we got Finn for Zac. She'll be due to foal early summer.next year."

Craig's's pet Lynn stands at just 72cm or 28 and a quarter inches, just an inch taller than stable mate Finn who is 27 and a quarter inches or 69cm. The two-year-old small horses are said to make good pets and have even played with the family's dog.

Joe said: "They are very, very friendly. They are horses not ponies. Shetlands are ponies and they would be very wicked and would bite. But these are just like dogs! They make a first class pet."

Craig added: "When we brought wee Finn home for the first time we left him in the garden at our home in the town. I took Zac out everyday he was there to play with him. One day I left Zac in the basket and Finn went over to play with him, they are definitely great pets."

As well as breeding, Joe says he hopes to start bringing both Finn and Lynn to children's parties.

"The intention was when we got a female we would breed. Lynn will foal early next summer but we are also thinking about bringing them to small childrens parties. We even have a western style saddle, like a cowboy saddle, which fits them.

"We had them at the Garvagh Show last Wednesday, but the weather was that bad we only had Lynn out for 20 minutes and then put her back in the trailer because it was that wet so we didn't get to show that off."

If you would like to hire Finn and Lynn for your child's party you can contact Joe on 07967759394 or Craig on 07708350241.