TWO miniature stallions from Tonnagh Miniature Horse Stud in Carrick-On-Shannon departed on the first leg of a long journey to India on Tuesday. They are the latest in a number of ponies to be sold from the Leitrim stud to India, where they are part of a royal herd.

Brendan Flynn, owner of Tonnagh Stud, has been breeding miniature horses for over 40 and currently has 150 at his farm, “though we are trying to reduce the stud somewhat,” he explained.

One of the two stallions who left for hotter climates this week was Tonnaghs I Dream of You, better known as Stumpy. Flynn believes the chesnut stallion is one of the smallest miniatures in Ireland, standing at just 25 inches tall.

“What he lacks in height he certainly makes up for in character and attitude. He has no idea of his diminutive size,” Flynn said of the three-year-old part American-bred mini.

Stumpy has appeared in St Patrick’s Day parades among other events, but his biggest outing yet was as the ring bearer for an American couple in Ballinacurra House in Kinsale, Co Cork, recently.

Both Stumpy and his equine pal will do a month of quarantine in Britain before the flight to India, followed by another month of quarantine there. Flynn explained the cost of exporting the miniatures alone is close to €8,000 per animal.

Although he would like to downsize his herd, Flynn added: “We will still retain a small select herd with the intention of not only continuing to fulfil our existing customer requirements but to also find new customers both at home and abroad.”