4th Grade Reading Comprehension (Set 1) - Horses

_____For more than a century, the Falabella family of Argentina has been raising horses. These are not ordinary horses, however. The Falabella horses are the world’s smallest breed of horse. The Falabella horses look like regular horses in every way but their size.
_____The adult horse of the Falabella type is anywhere from 15 inches to 30 inches high at the shoulder. This is less than half the height of full-sized horses and much smaller than ponies.
_____When these MINIATURE horses are born, they usually weigh about eight pounds. That’s about the size of a human baby. The smallest Falabella foals are said to have stood just three HANDS (exactly 12 inches) high. (One hand equals four inches.) It takes three years for the foals to mature and become fully grown.
_____The Falabella horses can be seen at El Peludo, a ranch about 32 miles from Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires. These tiny animals are now raised in other places as well. They are popular in Australia and some parts of the United States.