Miniature Horse Information

Miniature Horses

This part of our site will contain information that we hope you will find useful.

ARE MINIATURE HORSES FOR REAL???           Have you ever seen a horse that was only as tall as a yard stick & was perfectly proportioned? Miniature horses are found all over the world & are many different colors & styles! You may see a Black & White Pinto, a Silver Dapple, a Brown, a Palomino... Or you might see a Black, a Red Pinto, a Perlino or a Chestnut as well as many more.
          The Miniature Horse is known as a "height breed". The American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) registers Minis in two divisions: "A" Division for horses that are 34" & under; & "B" Division for horses between 34" & 38". The American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) registers minis that are 34" or under.
          In addition to raising & breeding minis to sell, many people train them to show. They can be trained to drive & can quickly learn things like an obstacle course.
          A miniature needs the same kind of care that a full size horse does to stay healthy & happy. Horses are very sensitive to changes in their daily routine, surroundings, other horses & even humans. You should try to make any transition as easy & stress-free for him as possible.
          Make sure you have adequate housing for your mini. It should be sturdy, well-ventilated but draft free, large enough to provide comfort for your horse & be well lighted. 10'x10' is a good size. Ceilings should be high to ensure good air circulation. The ideal floor would be clay or dirt. Keep your stalls free of any debris such as wood splinters, nails or any sharp objects, anything that your mini could injure himself on. Just like a child... If there's anything there, he'll find it!
          You will need to groom him daily to keep his coat in good condition & pest free. His feet will also need care regularly. Your mini will need vaccinations & will need to be treated for worms. All horses have them.
          Make sure you have a safe place for your mini to play, exercise, roll & snooze. Also somewhere he can go to get out of the hot sun in the summer & the cold wind & snow in the winter.

FEED & SUPPLEMENTS           HAY:
     You'll want to start with lots of a good quality hay. Check to see that it's free of weeds, dust & molds. The amount you need will depend on the body weight of your horse. Some feed stores or vet hospitals will weigh your horse for you or you can use a weight tape. You will need to start with at least 2% of the body weight of your horse. For example, if your horse weighs 400 pounds, you would feed 8 pounds of hay per day. A 200 pound horse would need 4 pounds per day. This is where to start. You may need to raise or lower the amount.
          GRAIN:
     Grain adds minerals, vitamins, calories & protein to your horses diet. There are many mixes available. Some are dry, some are sweet & some have a high protein level. (Those almost always include extra selinium.) Pick a mixed grain that you can find locally. That way you won't be changing your feed. Two feedings par day or more is better than one.
          BEET PULP:
     Read & follow the instructions on the beet pulp you purchase. Beet pulp is a good source of fiber & can be used to replace some, but not all of the dry hay.
          OIL:
     Oil adds calories. It might also add a few vitamins, but the main reason for oil is the calories. Oil becomes rancid quickly if left to the air or sun. Keep it very cold & in a closed container or use small bottles at a time. You can use a generic vegetable oil if you wish or canola or a cold pressed oil. Whatever your horse will eat is good. Pour it over the grain. Adjust the amount if you start seeing a runny stool.
          SALT & ELECTROLYTES:
     Your horse should have access to salt whether it's a salt block or loose salt. A horse does not need regular doses of electrolytes if it is just standing around. Even if it's hot & your horse is sweating, don't give it anything other than the salt block. When you go out & exercise hard, then give electrolytes if you think the horse needs them.
          SUPPLIMENTS:
     Before giving suppliments, find out what your horse needs. Not all suppliments are good together. You might just need to boost your horses diet with one or two suppliments. Adding more when your horse doesn't need it could screw up your horses system.
          WATER:
     Water is a Very Important element! At home, make sure your horse has access to lots of Clean Water!

Do Horses Talk?           If you're familiar with horses then you know they make sounds. What exactly do those sounds mean? If you listen & watch the horses body language, you may be able to interpret what they are saying.
The Whinny or Neigh The Scream The Squeal The Nicker The Snort The Blow

Horse Brownie Treats 1 cup corn meal 1 1/2 cups sweet feed 1/2 bran 1/2 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/2 cup molasses 1/3 cup water 1 1/2 up shredded carrots           Preheat oven to 350*, grease an 8"x8" cake pan. In large bowl add 1st 5 ingredients, and mix well. In separate bowl mix egg, molasses, and water, and fold in dry mixture. Add grated carrots. The mixture will be dry and heavy. Press into cake pan. If desired, sprinkle an additional 1/2 cup sweet feed on top and press lightly into dough.
          Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes and then cut into cubes. Let cool completely before serving to your horse.

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