Jim Cole, AP
Shaquille O'Neal has expressed an interest in acquiring the smallest horse in the world, reports the
Union Leader of Manchester, N.H. Shaq's interest was sparked by an article in the Union Leader that compared his 7-foot, 1-inch height to that of the tiny horse, named Einstein, which stands in at just 1 foot, 8 inches.
NBAE / Getty Images
Less than 7 months old, Einstein has become an international celebrity. Although Guinness World Records won't bestow the official title of "world's smallest living horse" until Einstein has celebrated his fourth birthday, many think he'll take the title. In the meantime, he certainly has captured the media's attention. The horse has been featured in numerous newspaper articles, and was recently shown on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
Einstein weighed only six pounds and stood at 14 inches when he was born in mid-April at the Tiz A Miniature Horse Farm in Barnstead, N.H.
As perfectly proportioned as a regular-sized horse (just much smaller), Einstein has quite the fan base, including Shaq and
Paris Hilton, who both have inquired about purchasing the small steed. The Union Leader recently reported that O'Neal learned of the wee foal during a Boston Celtics preseason trip to New Hampshire. He soon after asked about buying the horse, and recently said via Twitter,
"how much I like dat horse." Hilton also left a message on her Twitter account about buying the horse, and was quoted in the
Boston Herald as calling Einstein "hot."
But Einstein's owners, Rachel Wagner and Charles Cantrell, say he's not for sale. Neither O'Neal nor Hilton could write a large enough check for Einstein, Cantrell told the Union Leader. He went on to say that the horse is happy at his home. Clearly, Einstein is a star in his own right, and doesn't need to be part of a celebrity entourage. He has even inked a book deal. This spring, the Disney Book Group will publish a photo book of Einstein, and he'll go on a book tour for his first birthday.
While Einstein will stay with his original owners, that doesn't mean Shaq can't still own a small horse. Cantrell told the Union Leader that he would be happy to introduce O'Neal to a top breeder of miniature horses.
Other Great Stories from Aol Living
Shelterpop shows how one woman turned her backyard into an
attractive haven for wildlife and her pets.
Lemondrop asks
the reasons why you "unfriend" people on Facebook.
Holidash tells how to
trick-or-treat for a cause.
Stylist tackles the
hot trend of wearing fake fur. What do you think Paw Nation? Is it OK to wear even faux fur?
Jennipher Walters
Facebook Reunites Dog With Owners After 4 Years
