When her newest foal was born, Donna Lorts was just happy she was alive.

It had been one of the hardest seasons she could remember in her 21 years of raising miniature horses on her family’s Phelps County farm. For the first time, she had lost a mare during birth, and then a baby the following week.

Lorts was devastated, and almost decided she didn’t want to keep doing it. But when the new appaloosa arrived on April 20, that all changed.

“I saw her come to the world, and I was bawling,” she recalled.

Lorts was so relieved about the successful birth that the foal’s unusual size didn’t occur to her. But then, she watched her nurse. Normally, her foals need to duck their heads down to nurse, but this one had to reach up.

“I could not get over how little she was,” she said.

Peppercorn Fae stands at just 16 ¾ inches tall and weighed 12 pounds at birth. When Lorts measured her cannon bone, which is used to predict mature height, she estimated that Fae will reach 27 to 28 inches tall when she’s fully grown. This is especially small for a miniature horse, Lorts said.

She isn’t considered a dwarf, because she doesn’t have any anomalous traits or disproportionate features. Despite her size, she’s perfectly healthy.

Lorts said the foal “came into the world friendly,” and describes her as curious and outgoing. Fae likes to slip in and out of the barn’s dog door, mingles with the other farm animals and loves to have her butt scratched.

“She has been absolutely a joy, and she healed a lot of hurts, given the situation,” Lorts said. “It’s like she was born knowing she was meant to be special.”

Fae has big plans ahead of her. When she’s old enough, she’ll go to a farm in Florida, owned by a family with six kids, dwarf goats and miniature pigs. Along with Fae, a miniature cow is on the horizon, helping the owners complete their goal of a full miniature farm.

Finding good homes for all of her horses is important to Lorts. Minis aren’t meant for riding, so she asks potential buyers a lot of questions to make sure they’re knowledgeable.

“I try to find the best homes I can for these babies,” she said. “If they don’t sell or I’m not happy with where they’re going, they’ll stay right here until I do find a place that I’m happy with.”

Equally as important is making sure they’re well trained. She has a relationship with all of her horses and works with them often so they’re raised to be as friendly as possible.

Lorts currently has 10 miniature horses on her farm, but has had over 20 in the past. Through her business, Clear Creek Miniatures, she’s sold her appaloosas all over the country. She’s increased her quality over the years, and her love for the minis has only increased, too.

“This is my therapy,” she said. “It keeps me going.”