My Marvelous Minis! The boys having a romp in the arena. Snickers strutting his stuff. Don't you just love his heart-shaped spot on his rump? He has an "ace" on his back too. Larry, Curly and Moe at the water tank. Miniature horses Jack is out looking for mischief. He may be small, but he casts a long shadow! Karen Burlingame Miniature Horses are Still Real Horses There are many different breeds of horses in the world. Some breeds are known for their incredible size and power, such as the draft horse. Others are known for their flexibility and high stepping action. These "warm bloods" as they are called are used for riding, pulling carriages, and putting on a show. Then there is the quarter horse. This is a working breed horse typically used for cattle and trail rides. There are many large breeds of horse, but the smallest is the miniature horse. Although the miniature horse is much smaller in size than the average horse, what it lacks in size it more than makes up for it with charm, personality, and versatility. Miniature horses are capable of being trained to do anything a big horse can. Training these little guys is fun because they are so small. You as a trainer, have the advantage here because their size and intelligence makes them easier to handle. All horses can sense anxiety in people, which poses a problem in training big horses. If you are intimidated by the horse it will pick up on that fear and either use that to their advantage, or try to run away. All horses are prey animals in the wild, so if they think something is wrong it is their instinct to either fight or flee. Miniature horses are on average about 28-34 inches tall. That's smaller than some dog breeds. Despite their height, they can be trained in just about any style of riding and driving using various techniques so adults don't even have to get on their backs. They can hold up to 25 percent of their body weight on their backs and they can pull up to seven times their body weight in a cart or sleigh. Large horses can pull more, and they can carry more weight on their backs, but they can also buck and kick a lot harder. Minis can also be trained for the blind as a seeing-eye horseS. Horses are known for their bond with humans and they live to be thirty; dogs usually only live half as long. They are also used in nursing homes, mental hospitals, and regular hospitals to cheer up the patients. Who wouldn't cheer up after seeing such a cute little animal? These little horses have an advantage over their bigger relatives because they are more compact. A big horse needs a big house for shelter and a big run so they can stretch their legs. Miniature horses, on the other hand, don't need much room at all. Some minis are so small they could live happily in a large doghouse. Their shortness is always appreciated when you can sit down in a chair and still pet them on their withers. As far as arenas go, minis can be worked in a much smaller area. A large horse needs at least a sixty-foot round exercise pen to do lunging and other groundwork. The little guys can be worked safely in a fifteen-foot pen. Miniature horses eat considerably less hay than bigger horses. A good rule of thumb is to feed two percent of the horse's body weight. If your mini weighs 400 pounds, you only need to feed it eight pounds of hay per day. The average sized horse eats three times that much. It is important not to feed your mini too much because they can founder or colic which could possibly lead to lameness or death. As we all know with any animal, every thing you put in its mouth eventually comes out the other end. Lets just say the minis are a little bit easier to clean up after every day. Of all of the breeds of horses I've been exposed to, the minis probably have the most unique personality. They are comical creatures and they love to play with each other, and humans. They have such a child-like charm and sense of humor. Minis are very curious also. They are always thinking, "I wonder what would happen if I did this…" All horses communicate to humans and each other. The problem is that humans just don't know how to listen. The minis have a special way of communicating that is hard to ignore. My horse, Jack, says hi to me (whinnies) every time I come outside in the morning. The cutest aspect of their personality is that they don't think they are small. They think they're so tough that they'll run right up and bite a big horse right on his knee, and then kick them and run away. Miniature geldings and stallions don't seem to notice anything wrong when a thoroughbred mare walks by with her tail up. "Let me at her!" they seem to say. They are such loving creatures and great companions. They were originally bred as pets for royal European families. I've never had a better bond with any animal than I do with my mini. Even if they are having a bad day they are always happy to work. Horses of all size feel the most important if they have a job to do. Of course, after a long week in their stalls, they love to run in the pasture and jump, kick, and buck. In comparison with larger horses, miniature horses are every bit as noble and versatile as any other horse. They can be trained to do all the things a big horse can and more. They are less expensive typically than larger breeds. They eat less and make much less manure. It might be hard to drive cattle with a mini, but they can still learn to do reining and cutting. Their gentle nature and docile personalities makes them a great addition to any barn. Miniature horses require almost exactly the same kinds of care and treatment as their full sized cousins, although they do eat less. Do not expect that because of their small size, they will not be as time consuming or expensive. Horses of ALL kinds are a HUGE time, money, and emotional investment. It is important to research horses and spend a lot of time with them before you commit to caring for one on your own. One thing to consider is where your horse is going to live. In some places of the country, it is perfectly acceptable to have the horse turned loose in a large pasture but many times a horse must be boarded or stalled. Fencing is important; it must be safe for the horse and it must contain the horse. Be aware if the fence rails are not low enough to the ground or are two far apart that a mini could squeeze between or roll under. If the horse is in a stall, consider the walls. A regular horse box stall may not be the best option as a mini cannot see out. The space where the mini lives should measure at least 10 by 10 feet, but if a horse is to be stalled in such a small area they must be able to be worked or turned out daily. Many people think that since minis are so small they can easily be kept in a small back yard, but make sure that they can be turned loose to run and roll every day! Also, if the horse is alone in a residential setting, the horse may pick up many behavioral problems because it cannot socialize and interact with other horses. If your horse must be kept alone, consider getting some other sort of animal like a goat to keep it company. Unless you keep the horse on your own property, expect monthly horse board to be at least $100. Feeding a miniature horse should follow the same regimen as feeding a regular size horse, except in much smaller amounts. One of the most common problems a new miniature horse owner has is feeding their mini too much, which commonly results in colic or founder, or simply an obese animal. The majority of the horse's diet should consist of good quality hay, and no more than ten percent of their diet should consist of grains. Alfalfa is a good hay, but it is extremely rich in protein and has the potential of causing growth problems in young horses and forming stones (entroliths) in horses of all ages. Alfalfa, which is a legume, is best balanced with another hay that is of lower protein such as a grass hay. Grains of all types are acceptable but not usually necessary for minis unless they are working heavily. Supplements of all kinds are available on the market, but should only be fed if a veterinarian recommends it for a specific problem. Feeding your miniature horse will cost you at least $30 per month. Minis also require regular farrier care. Although they never need shoes, their hooves must be trimmed every 6-8 weeks. This will cost approximately $20 every eight weeks. Worming is very important for any horse, to make sure parasites do not get a hold in the intestinal system. Wormers are available that can be given per weight. The average miniature horse will require a 250 lb dose of wormer. I give wormer every other month, rotating the ingredient. I personally use Ivermectin every other time. This is usually very inexpensive, but very important. Daily wormers, which can be added to the daily grain, are also available and work very well on reducing a pot belly. I strongly recommend AGAINST using QUEST wormer... it has been known to kill horses with wrong dose amounts. There are so many reliable wormers out there that work but do not carry the risk. Please do not use Quest on minis... and preferably your other horses too! Veterinary care is also important. Minis will need annual vaccinating against tetanus, rhino, and flu. West Nile Virus is also a rising concern. Due to peculiar bites, many minis need routine teeth floating. The average horse should have their teeth floated every other year or so. Although they tend to keep weight well, it is important to look after their dental needs. Vet costs will also be incurred for random illness and injury. You may wish to insure a valuable animal. Expect to spend at least $500 a year for a mini's vet expenses. Stallions and geldings should have their sheaths cleaned every other month, and some can go six months or so if they don't tend to be "dirty". A vet can show you how to do this, and if you do it often enough your horse should not object. In only rare cases does a well-socialized and trained horse need tranquilization. Their stalls should be cleaned daily to minimize flies and thrush. A horse, if not turned out all the time, should be allowed to exercise at least 30 minutes per day. Lunging or driving is a great way to keep your horse active and in shape. 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