Miniature Horses Today

Your horses health can be affected by lack of shelter and clean water. Horses living in fields are subject to hot sun, pouring rain and flies. Horses with no access to water can become dehydrated and die. Drainage ditches and stagnant ponds are not a suitable source of water for your horse. A shelter acts as a windbreak and a dry place to escape from flies.

Horses living at pasture must be checked at least twice a day. Grooming your pastured horse provides a good opportunity to inspect your horse for injuries. Grooming also keeps the coat clean and prevents matted hair. Dirt and matted hair reduces your horses ability to keep warm and encourages skin diseases such as rain scald or rot. That is the last thing you want to happen to your horse.

Depending on the quality of pasture, your horse may need supplemental feeding. Providing a mineral block to your horse in pasture provides a good source of nutrients. If you note your horse has lost weight you will need to increase his grain ration. As a good guide increase your horses grain before the cold of winter hits. Your horse will need all the nutrition it can get to last a long winter.

A horse living in a pasture offers you low-maintenance and less time commitment than a stabled horse. However a pastured horse should not be neglected simply because he is free in a field. Observing your horse will help will help to maintain its health. The fact is nobody wants a horse in poor health, and more importantly it is not fair on the horse.

Whether you are a horse owner or a simple horse lover, you should find an abundance of information and fun facts. Learn about the history of the horses, horse riding skills and how to care for you’re horse.

We offer insight and guidelines on buying all your horse apparel like horse blankets, saddles and bridles. Your Horse Guide even has a tack list with descriptions and covers horse anatomy. They might not be the most exciting of topics, but we like to cover horse topics from head to tail!

We love horses and we love to share our knowledge base with you.

We also have information on horse breeding, explaining live cover and artificial insemination. We look at how to choose a stallion for your mare and the cost of breeding.

Your Horse Guide has details on the various horse sports of English and Western Riding. You can learn about dressage, Eventing and natural horsemanship. Our knowledge base is always expanding.

Every horse rider should know about safety. We inform you on safety for both the horse and rider and give a good list for a well stocked veterinary kit. Riding is a marvelous pleasure, but skirting on safety and lead to unnecessary injury. Read up on safety and be prepared.

Anyone interested in riding horses can benefit from a horse riding lesson. Your Horse Guide gives you a general breakdown of a lesson and what to expect. Not to mention the clothes you need, being properly outfitted certainly prevents chaffing.

Caring for a horse is at first quite a task to undertake, so many things to do and consider. We offer a guide to grooming and supplies, tack supplies, feeding your horse and stabling your horse. What you should know before buying a horse is how much responsibility you can muster. Sometimes it is better for the horse if you have him kept in a yard or stable where other people do all the work!

Horses are pure pleasure, but they are work too. Your Horse Guide walks you through the aspects of the life of a horse. We hope to inspire, entertain and inform our visitors so that they are knowledgeable and apt to make easier decisions.

Miniature horses are one of the fastest-growing equine breeds in the world today. These elegant and cute horses, no taller than 38 inches (from the withers to the last hairs), are attracting a lot of attention. They can be bred like regular horses and even ridden.

Miniature horses require tack similar to a regular horse. It includes bits, carts and wagons, harnesses, saddles, bridles, reins, halters, girths or cinches, martingales and other accessories, but in smaller sizes than for normal horses. Most miniature horse tack equipment is made of fine leather for strength and durability. Some accessories such as curb straps and stirrup hobbles are also available in different colors, such as natural, light, dark, black, and burgundy.

Prices of miniature horse tack differ based on the material, size and model. A floral-embossed saddle with 8-inch suede seat may be priced at around $125, while a blanket and a girth may cost around $14 and $7, respectively. A miniature Western saddle with or without tooling and an 8-inch suede seat is priced at approximately $200. A bridle may cost around $25 and a miniature Eggbutt bit may be priced at around $20, while a 3.5-inch stainless steel Eggbutt snafflebit may cost around $30. A leather halter may cost $12, while a nylon halter may be priced at around $8. An entire English tack set comprising of saddle, bridle and pad is also available for just $200. Some manufacturers are also offering custom-made miniature horse tacks as per the exact size of the horse.

There are also some stores that offer miniature horse tack on discount. Prices would be slashed as much as 20-30%. Miniature horse tack accessories can also be bought over the Internet. There are several sites that have exclusive products featured for miniature horses. Products can be compared and even ordered online.

There is no one breed of horses that are called miniature-this is just a term that is used to describe a horse that meets certain height requirements. Most breeds are measured in hands-where one hand equals four inches. However, minis are measured in inches or centimeters. They are measured from the ground to the base of the hairs on their mane.

Miniature horses are less than half the size of a regular horse and breeders select the smallest stallions and mares for breeding. This way, they hope to ensure that they have even smaller foals the following spring. A new foal weights about 18-22 pounds and stands 16 to 21 inches at birth-making it about the same size as a medium-sized dog.

They are basically the same as their larger relatives in their shape, appearance and personality. They come in every color a horse can be-black, bay, sorrel, palomino, solid colors, mixed or pintos. They have very long manes and tails and some of them even have tails that can touch the ground.

Miniature horses have been around for over 400 years; however, their origin is unknown. In olden days, they were pets in the palaces and revered by nobility. Throughout the decades, their popularity grew among the rich mostly because they were not useful as a worker-they were too small to carry a rider or a heavy load.

Eventually, the miniature horse found a job. They were used to pull loads of coal from mines since they were small enough to move safely through the tunnels where they gained the nickname of pit ponies. All was not lost on them because when they too old to work, they were often taken home as pets by the miners.

Breeders became interested in the miniature horses in the mid-1900s and several different herds were cultivated and the breed increased in size, popularity and value. The first registry was called the American Miniature Horse Registry and was created in 1972. They helped develop and document pedigrees for the miniature horses, some of them going back to the early 1940’s.

Today, they are maintained as the result of careful breeding. Their gentle personalities make them good pets for children, elderly people and even for people with disabilities. In several communities, they are taken directly into schools rooms, nursing homes and hospital wards to help cheer up patients and to educate the children.

How often can children today spend a day on a farm and interact with the animals? There are miniature horse farms around the country that open their doors to visitors as one way to help finance their hobby of breeding these animals. Many of them even have special barns with a show rink where the miniature horses can demonstrate their skills to the public.

Think about spending a day visiting one of these farms and give your children an opportunity to see and interact with these beautiful animals. You may start a love affair with your children wanting to breed these lovely creatures when they grow up.

When it comes to pet ownership, we all have our preferences; the debate of dog versus cat can go on indefinitely. But for those who prefer horses, the care and feeding of their animal suddenly becomes a far greater undertaking then simply housing a smaller, more domesticated animal. Horses are large animals that come with an even larger responsibility for their owners. But for some people, ownership of miniature horses allows them to enjoy all that attracts them to horses, but on a much smaller scale.

Miniature horses are simply the result of hundreds of years of careful and purposeful breeding that has taken place all over the world. Today, The American Miniature Horse Association, established in 1978, continues to set the guidelines for these horses. To date, they are the only organization working to standardize the specifications.

In order to be defined as miniature horses, they must not reach higher than 34 inches in height. However, the differentiation between standard sized horses and these horses stops here; the physical features actually mirror that of their full-sized counterparts; but are simply in proportion to their size. If you were to look at one with no basis for size comparison, it would look like a typical, average sized horse.

Miniature horses are shown in competition just as their full-sized cousins. But their manageable size makes them especially instrumental in working with special needs individuals who wish to ride, but must avoid the larger animals for safety reasons. Because of their size, they are also child-friendly; children often learn to ride on these smaller, more controllable breeds.

Those who own miniature horses will also tell you of the unique opportunity they have to enjoy all that is special about a horse while still enjoying all that comes with having the ability to hold an animal in your lap!

The care is just as important as that for larger horses. Much of the standard care remains the same - including grooming, veterinary care, exercise and nutrition, and shelter - with special attention paid to eating. The smaller digestive track puts them at risk for intestinal problems; owners must be alert to the special feeding requirements of the breed. Owners will be happy to note, however, that the care for the horses costs significantly less than the care for full-sized horses.

For those interested in owning one, it is important to do a fair amount of research. Just as with any breed of horse, temperaments vary from horse to horse. Seek out and get to know a reputable breeder who can assist you in finding the horse that’s right for you and your family.

Owning a horse of any size must be taken on only after careful consideration. But if you find that you enjoy all the characteristics of a horse, but are put off by its normally grand size, you may want to investigate miniature horses; all the beauty of a horse in one tiny package.

When most of us start out learning about horses, we are told that a horse is a member of Equus ” caballus that is over 14 hands high (a hand, we quickly learned, is 10 cm). A pony, on the other hand, was defined as a member of the same species that was less than 14 hands. Now, miniature horses are always much smaller than 14 hands, so why are they called miniature horses rather than ponies?

The answer lies in the proportions. Most ponies are cobby in build (rounded and stocky - think of drawings by the cartoonist Thelwell), while many breeders of miniature horses (often affectionately referred to as “minis”) prefer to breed for proportions that are more like that of a “regular” horse. The American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) suggests that a “mini” is ideally “a small, sound well-balanced horsethat, if photographed without anything to give a sense of size, should look identical to a full-sized horse.

As expected, size matters. The AMHR recognizes two categories of miniature horses: those in the “A” division are less than 82 cm (34 inches) at the withers, which is defined as being the last hair of the mane, while the “B” category covers horses 34–38 inches at the withers. The American Miniature Horse Association, however, does not recognize horses over 34 inches. A miniature horse is always measured in centimeters or inches, but never in hands.

If they were measured in hands, the largest “minis” would be around 8 or 9 hands (by way of comparison, an average Shetland pony measures 10 hands). “Minis” come in all color types, including the more exotic types like pinto and palomino as well as the more mundane bays, greys and chestnuts. Whatever size of color they are, miniature horses have been in the world for a surprisingly long time.

In the Renaissance and Restoration periods, they were occasionally found in private menageries as curiosities. At the other end of the economic spectrum, miniature horses also had their uses as pit ponies hauling coal in the mines.

There are also some who hold the view that some of the fossilized horse remains classified as ancestors of Equus caballus are actually the fossilized remains of “minis.” There may be some uncertainty about the dating, but the fossils certainly have the right size and skeleton structure.

Since the 20th century, miniature horses have been developed as a breed and refined to the animals that they are today, and this work is ongoing. The most widely known breed of miniature horse is the Falabella, which originated in Argentina.

“Minis” are still kept as curiosities in petting zoos and farm parks, but they also have a wider range of roles. They are, of course, unsuited as riding animals, because of their size, but are often shown competitively and can be used for light harness work. Their most noteworthy work is therapeutic, as they are often used to provide interaction and comfort to the elderly, and in working with autistic children.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a guide animal for the blind? Usually we think of dogs. Have you given thought to the use of miniature horses? The number of miniature horses as guide animals has steadily risen since 1999.

The use of horses rather than dogs has several benefits. They are great for horse lovers, those who are allergic to dogs and for the person who wishes to have an animal with a longer life span.

Ideal candidates for miniature horses include horse enthusiasts who have an understanding of equine behavior and their care. Those who are severely allergic to traditional guide animals benefit from using horses. Mature individuals who have a difficult time dealing with the grief of the loss of a guide animal will be delighted with a horse’s longer life span. People with a phobia of dogs will benefit from a miniature horse. The physically disabled will love the docile nature, which makes the horse easier to handle. A horse is sturdy enough to provide support such as aiding its handler to rise from a chair. For those who prefer their animal live outdoors when off duty, the miniature horse is ideal.

Why consider a horse at all? They are natural guides. In a herd, if one horse becomes blind, one of the other horses will take on the responsibility for that horse, becoming its guide. Historically, Calvary horses are known to guide injured riders to safety.

Miniature horses have several characteristics that make them ideal guide animals. They are cost effective. Their long life span is a demonstration of this. It takes a several thousands of dollars to train a guide animal. A miniature horse has a lifespan of thirty to forty years as compared with the seven to eight year life span of a dog. Horses are better accepted in public places. People view horses as a service animal rather than a pet. Horses tend to be calm in nature. Calvary and police horses demonstrate this well. These horses must be steady in chaotic situations. Guide horses receive the same desensitization training that riot control horses receive. Horses have excellent memories. They instinctually recall dangerous situations decades later. Horses have phenomenal vision. Their range of vision is nearly 350 degrees. They are the only animal capable of independent eye movement and can see clearly in near total darkness. Trained horses are extremely focused and are not easily distracted. Horses are always on the lookout for danger and will find the safest, most efficient route possible and will avoid obstacles that obstruct their path. Horses are hardy and can travel many miles in a single outing. Miniature horses also have excellent manners! They are very clean and can be housebroken. They don’t tend to get fleas and only shed two times per year. And, they will stand quietly while on duty.

While dogs are excellent guide animals and shouldn’t be discredited, miniature horses are gaining on them in popularity. With so many positive traits to their credit, they are definitely an option to consider.