Margaret Miller came in contact with her first miniature horse about 12 years ago, when she was asked to look after one on her Taieri property.
It was the start of something that escalated quickly.
''One became two, two became three, three became 30,'' she said.
Closer to 40 actually, and now Mrs Miller is the president of the 500-member New Zealand Miniature Horse Association.
Last week, when visited by the Taieri Times, she was preparing her horses and heading off to show them in Oamaru and Christchurch.
Mrs Miller was born in Dunedin, went to Queen's High School and has been involved with horses all her life.
She moved to the Taieri after marrying husband John, a farmer.
''I needed a paddock,'' she joked.
For 28 years, Mrs Miller was an unsworn officer at the Mosgiel police station, tending the front counter, taking phone inquiries and performing other administrative tasks.
She retired in 2013.
In the past few years she has been importing American Shetlands, breeding new lines on the couple's 12ha farmlet.
The Shetlands helped develop what Mrs Miller said was ''a more refined breed'', with the idea to develop small horses with the same look as their full-size cousins.
It was the same as having a thoroughbred or Arab horse and making a miniature version.
The cost of importing a horse, however, was about $18,000, and Mrs Miller said profit was not the motive for her interest in miniature horses.
''I don't think any horse market is good at the moment - it's not as buoyant as it has been.
''I want to breed a better horse - leave something behind.''
The most pleasing aspect of her pursuit was winning a New Zealand Miniature Horse supreme titlein Hawera, in Taranaki, last year.
Winning the title was a great reward the amount of work she had put in - in that case ''months and months''.
The horses were popular with children, who were able to lead them around, Mrs Miller said.
They were not pets, however.
''Some people like them for pets. I don't encourage that - people don't know how to look after them.
''They are horses, and you've got to treat them like horses.''
Pint-sized facts
What is a miniature horse?
• A small, sound, well-balanced horse that falls within height restrictions (usually less than 97cm).
• Gentle, affectionate nature.
Where do they come from?
• Suggestions range from selective breeding, to being descendants of Welsh pit ponies or Shetland ponies. Little firm evidence to substantiate their origin.
