A decorative pillow on Kay Goessling's couch reads, "Life without horses -- I don't think so!"

Though the sentiment rings true, in Goessling's case, one crucial word is missing from the needlepoint creation. It should say: "Life without miniature horses." Goessling cares for a herd of 50-plus mares, stallions, geldings and, since spring, 10 foals, with names such as Firefly, Buttons & Bows, Bodacious and Charlie's Angel.

The "minis" are amazing creatures. The product of 400 years of selective breeding, initiated by Louis XIV of France, the horses are 16 to 21 inches high and weigh about 25 pounds at birth. When full-grown, they stand no more than 34 inches at the withers and average 250 to 300 pounds.

But what's even more amazing is that Goessling's mares and foals enjoy a nine-acre spread, dubbed Goose Creek, right in the heart of Ladue. The rest of the Goessling herd resides at the family's farm in Wildwood.

Goessling, 64, admits that she's an animal lover from way back -- three cocker spaniels, an English setter and two African gray parrots share quarters with Goessling and her husband, Paul Goessling. But horses did not used to be high on her list.

"I fell off a horse and broke my arm when I was 21, so I was never very fond of them," Goessling said. "When I was a child, I begged my parents for a pig instead."

That all changed in 1988, when Goessling first laid eyes on a miniature horse at the Veiled Prophet Parade. "It was love at first sight," she said. "I just thought having one would be so much fun."

Three years later, after much researching and searching, the Goesslings bought four minis -- Little Lil, Awesome Blossom, Little Rosie and Weekend Warrior -- from farms in Texas, Arizona and Nebraska.

"At the time, standards for miniature horses in the United States hadn't really been refined," she said. "Many of them were long-bodied, thick-necked and short-legged. I wanted a little horse that looked like a little horse."

Nowadays, she adds, the American Miniature Horse Association -- founded in 1978 in Arlington, Texas -- ensures the integrity and pedigree of the breed.

But what started as a whim for Goessling has, in little over a decade, turned into a bona fide business. Goose Creek Farms Inc. breeds, sells and shows miniature horses nationwide. In addition, Goessling has been the driving force behind the establishment of the Gateway Miniature Horse Association, which has grown since 2003 to include 35 members from Missouri, Oklahoma and Illinois. Still, Goessling's interest in minis remains more of an infatuation than an entrepreneurial effort. Though the horses can fetch anywhere from $500 for a pet-quality animal to $100,000 for a champion, Goessling finds it hard to part with any of her colts.

"When our foals are born, they imprint with Paul and me as well as with their mothers -- and we bond with them as well," Goessling said. "They are all so affectionate. They resemble dogs much more than ponies in disposition. And they have their particular quirks -- some are mischievous, others are frisky or just sweet-natured. I worry about them, so I'm very particular about buyers."

A visit to Goose Creek, with its three corrals and immaculate barn (stall doors are just 31 inches high), is proof enough of Goessling's devotion to her herd. A multitude of ribbons, plaques and pictures decorate the walls; a small horse trailer sits in the driveway to transport the minis not just to competitions, but also to public events such as Ladue's annual Dogwood Parade, where they are a favorite attraction. And more often than not, especially on weekends, you're apt to find Scout troops and school groups touring the farm.

The popularity of miniature horses, though, extends beyond their use as novelty pets, Goessling said. In Europe, where they were first bred, minis were used to pull carts out of coal mines, because they were stronger and possessed better dispositions than donkeys. And in Japan, where acreage is always a premium, miniature horses are always in demand.

In the United States, miniature horses have found favor both in equine therapy and as guide animals, due to their long lifespans (35 years) and their instinctive nature about negotiating traffic.

Horse therapy

Melody Roberts, of Crescent Farms Equine Assisted Therapy in Eureka and Town and Country, purchased Gunsmoke and Daisy from Goessling last year to add to the herd of 40 standard-size horses she uses to treat clients who suffer from both physical and emotional difficulties. This spring, Daisy's 15-pound foal, Duke, joined the group as well.

"The miniature horses are very smart, very social animals," she said. "Kids who tend to be intimidated by larger horses start off grooming the minis until their comfort levels rise."

Connie and Dan Burkhardt, owners of Bethlehem Valley, a 220-acre farm and winery in Marthasville, bought two geldings, Supercharger and Just In Time, from Goessling in 1998. "They're inseparable, and they're so loving," Connie Burkhardt said.

In fact, the Burkhardts are so infatuated with the pair that they plan to buy two of Goessling's foals to keep as city pets at their house in Frontenac, which has a pony pasture in the back.

"Having miniature horses is like eating peanuts -- it's hard to stop at just a few," Goessling said with a laugh.

One tiny equine has a special place in the Goesslings' hearts -- a dwarf named Thumbelina, who, with her disproportionately large head, barrel chest and stubby legs, has been affectionately dubbed the stable's potbelly pig.

At a mere 17 1/2 inches high and 60 pounds, Thumbelina, who resides in an igloo-style doghouse, may also soon have a special place in miniature horse history. The Goesslings have contacted the Guinness Book of World Records in a bid to enter Thumbelina as the tiniest horse in the world -- no small feat for a 3-year-old who, according to Goessling, "rules" at Goose Creek.