Miniature horses are not ponies. They are a a specialty breed designed to look like a horse only smaller. One of the registries is the AMHA, or American Miniature Horse Association, which requires the horses to be no taller than 34 inches at the withers. They come in a variety of colors, and it is preferred to have them resemble a scaled down version of a larger breed, such as Arabian, or Quarter Horse.
Selection for Purchasing
If you want a miniature for show, or breeding, it’s important to buy one that is registered, and from a show home. This will prove the worth of your animal. Simply being registered does not mean a horse is good quality, it must be shown or, if young, come from parents with show records. Select one that is friendly, accepts its’ feet picked up, and ears touched. Have it walked and trotted for you so you can study its’ gait for signs of lameness. Miniatures often suffer from neglected feet, something you should check before purchasing your horse.
Make sure the horse you purchase is suitable for your needs. If it is to be a childrens’ pet you will want to make sure it is quiet and calm. Do not purchase a stallion for a pet. As romantic as it sounds, stallions can be very aggressive. Geldings are often considered the best for pets, as mares can be moody. Foals are cute, but can grow up mean if not handled correctly.
If you are planning on spending a lot of money on your mini, make sure you get a veterinarian check done. Minis can often be purchased at auctions, the quality of which will vary greatly.
The housing required by miniatures is no different than that needed for the larger version, it just needs to be smaller. They require shelter from the heat and cold in temperature extremes, and should always have a shady place to go. They can be kept in a barn at night or in a pasture all the time, if it has shelter. If introduced properly they may be kept in pens with larger horses, the only concern being around feeding times. There have been some people who have kept the very small miniatures in their homes, although these animals cannot be fully house trained. Before keeping them in your house or yard you should check your local by-laws on keeping livestock.
Proper fencing is a must. Smaller minis can sneak out under fences made for larger animals. I would not recommend keeping more than three miniatures per acre of pasture. Like most “herd” animals they are happiest when kept with at least one friend.
Miniature horses can be kept with goats, and sheep, again, special care around feeding times is important, to make sure the minis do not get any oats or grain (see Feeding and Care).
Feeding and Care
Miniature Horses are prone to founder. They should not be given any oats or have too much access to lush grass. It may be necessary to keep your miniature in a poor quality pasture and feed him or her, hay during the summer rather than turning it loose on grass. Like all animals they require fresh water.
You may want to check to make sure that you have a farrier willing to trim them, because their small feet, and low height, make for a difficult time.
Miniatures can be wonderful and friendly or slightly spoiled and snotty. They are very smart, which leads them to learn bad behavior like being silly when its time to be caught. Make sure you are willing to spend a lot of time with your horse, as they are social creatures and thrive on attention.
Mineral blocks and salt licks are important.
Other
Miniatures are usually kept as merely as pets, but they are often trained to pull carts or for small children to ride (only on the bigger minis). Many people enjoy showing or breeding their miniature horses. Some people have found miniatures to be useful as therapy animals, for the elderly, disabled individuals, or even as guide animals for the blind.
Smaller miniatures should not be ridden, their backs are not made for it, and they will suffer especially in older age from being over-ridden when young.
Horses, even minis, are herd animals, they prefer to be with other horses. If you cannot have other horses, for sure provide your mini with a friend, a miniature donkey, llama, or even sheep.
