At this stud farm, size doesn146;t matter

The Nanoli stud farm at Kamshet, 50 kms from Pune, proves all those cliches about small being beautiful and good things being found in small...

The Nanoli stud farm at Kamshet, 50 kms from Pune, proves all those cliches about small being beautiful and good things being found in small packages.

The farm, owned by Khushroo Dhunjibhoy, is home to Belle and JR, two of the country8217;s four miniature horses, or Falabellas, as they8217;re known. And the little family is all set to expand a wee bit: Belle is halfway through her 11-month pregnancy and when she delivers in January, it will be the first time a Falabella has successfully conceived in India.

Belle did give birth to a foal two years ago, but it was conceived in the United States 8212; where she was imported from in 1999 8212; and from another mini-horse. JR is a year younger than her, and is named after a character in the popular American television soap Dallas.

Belle8217;s subsequent two pregnancies ended in miscarriages in the fifth month. The five-year-old8217;s pregnancy has now crossed the crucial stage, and everyone on the farm is standing by. 8216;8216;We are keeping her under constant observation and are conducting the requisite ultrasound tests. The baby foal seems to be progressing just fine,8217;8217; says Ravindra Reddy, the farm8217;s veterinary doctor.

8216;8216;While these miniature horses are identical to normal ones in every way, breeding them has been difficult in India. Maybe it8217;s because we are not yet familiar with their chromosomes or DNA. This is a deterrent in increasing their numbers.8217;8217;

Originally from the North and South Americas, Falabellas are common accessories on stud farms in the US. Some are even kept as household pets. In India, though, there are said to be only two other such horses: the one in Bangalore was the first foal delivered by Bell and was gifted by Dhunjibhoy to the Mahindras. And the other is in Coimbatore.

Industrialist Shapoorji Pallonji had imported two Falabellas at the Manjri Stud Farm in Pune two years ago, but they later died.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More