Horse Talk

[Kusanar]

The half-a-horse (or, half-of-a-half-a-horse)

(she's a mini mule)

Ahh!!! lol!! Adorable!

 

[Kusanar]

Do you guys like them?

I like mine ok. Honestly, if I get any more equines they will likely be minis since I don't really ride much anymore and the mini's are a lot easier (physically) to deal with.

My guy is different... He moves INTO pressure, so longing him is nearly impossible because he runs TO you if you pop him on the butt with the whip, he also knows this "cute" trick where he will run straight away from you and put his chin on his chest, then he's not pulling you with his neck, he's pushing with his chest and can drag me like I'm water skiing... My 300 pound husband outweighs him though and HE can keep him from dragging him, but I can't... Trimming feet and clipping are hard because there simply isn't enough room under them to put the nippers or clippers without hitting the ground.... But, on the positive sides, if you put him in a 10x10 stall you only have to clean it once a week because everything stays dry. You only have to haul a gallon or 2 of water per day. A square bale will last 3-4 days... Also, if he's a jerk and tosses his head or rears, I can still reach his head.... I'm 5'3" and at a full rear he is ALMOST as tall as I am... Being stepped on doesn't hurt, I was sitting on the ground reading a book and he came over and STOOD on my thigh, it wasn't COMFORTABLE, but it didn't actually hurt. He IS hard to keep in fences, we have an area with a wooden post about a foot from the side of the barn, he goes through that gap... He can also walk through a 4 strand barbed wire fence like it's nothing ecpecially in winter when the fluff keeps the barbs from touching him..

 

[ShrekDawg]

I like mine ok. Honestly, if I get any more equines they will likely be minis since I don't really ride much anymore and the mini's are a lot easier (physically) to deal with.

My guy is different... He moves INTO pressure, so longing him is nearly impossible because he runs TO you if you pop him on the butt with the whip, he also knows this "cute" trick where he will run straight away from you and put his chin on his chest, then he's not pulling you with his neck, he's pushing with his chest and can drag me like I'm water skiing... My 300 pound husband outweighs him though and HE can keep him from dragging him, but I can't... Trimming feet and clipping are hard because there simply isn't enough room under them to put the nippers or clippers without hitting the ground.... But, on the positive sides, if you put him in a 10x10 stall you only have to clean it once a week because everything stays dry. You only have to haul a gallon or 2 of water per day. A square bale will last 3-4 days... Also, if he's a jerk and tosses his head or rears, I can still reach his head.... I'm 5'3" and at a full rear he is ALMOST as tall as I am... Being stepped on doesn't hurt, I was sitting on the ground reading a book and he came over and STOOD on my thigh, it wasn't COMFORTABLE, but it didn't actually hurt. He IS hard to keep in fences, we have an area with a wooden post about a foot from the side of the barn, he goes through that gap... He can also walk through a 4 strand barbed wire fence like it's nothing ecpecially in winter when the fluff keeps the barbs from touching him..

Wow he sounds like a great horse! Minus the little tricks of course lol did he learn those from a previous owner?

I was thinking a pair of minis might be a good way to get more experience in horses without necessarily having the danger or needing to have the riding and training experience since you can't ride minis anyways. Plus of course they are ADORABLE. And I heard they were cheaper and easier to care for. And I could keep them right here on property.

But of course we probably can't get any more animals right now but I tend to get ideas or dream. The last one was gerbils. Still want them.

The other "problem" with horses is they don't really particularly have a job like, say, goats would. Goats can clear all the brush/weeds. Horses don't eat that stuff I don't think? And I could milk goats if I wanted to but I would get wethers. But at least they'd be pets with a purpose whereas minis I think would just be pets? And I can't ride minis, of course. But they are adorable. And I think I could teach them tricks and/or to jump or lunge even though I can't ride them? So that might be gaining experience.

Can I take them on walks? Was thinking it might be fun to walk them through our woods or even down the street lol

Maybe I could also get experience desensitizing them.

And can real little kids ride them or can no one ride them? Is that best for ponies?

Not that it matters since we're not around little kids but just curious

And do they need grain? Cause what I've read says they do but then it also says they get fat easily so to me that kind of seems like they don't? And then I've also seen some of you guys saying even some regular horses can live on just grass and hay? At least I think I read that?

We have almost 3 acres, though most of it is woods. But there's like an acre or acre and a half of grass. I think that'd be enough for a regular horse let alone a mini or two? Some of it is kind of dead/weeds but parts are really lush and green and I could also buy grass seed for horses (I think they sell that?)

And do you think they'd like walks?

 

[Kusanar]

Wow he sounds like a great horse! Minus the little tricks of course lol did he learn those from a previous owner?

He is pretty cool. He doesn’t think he’s small, he LOVES playing with my 16 hand stallion which is pretty hilarious to watch. The bad habits are from the previous owner and the one before that. When I got him he had refused to be touched for 3 years, it took us about 2 hours to chase him down and get him pinned up in a corner so we could catch him so we could bring him to my place. Now, he doesn't WANT to be messed with, but he will let you walk up to him or slowly walk away rather than running full speed.

I was thinking a pair of minis might be a good way to get more experience in horses without necessarily having the danger or needing to have the riding and training experience since you can't ride minis anyways. Plus of course they are ADORABLE. And I heard they were cheaper and easier to care for. And I could keep them right here on property.

You DO have to be careful with them, they CAN break a leg (yours) with a kick and they can bite hard enough to rip out a normal sized horses throat… But, they are smaller and a little easier to push around and not as scary when they act up as the big guys are. As far as expense goes, vaccines cost the same as does dental and hoof work, but dewormer is cheaper as you can give them half a tube and save the other half (or if you had 2, give each one half a tube) rather than a whole tube each time, feed is a LOT cheaper… but, tack is more expencive because it’s more of a specialty thing. Stuff like halters aren’t bad, but if you want to buy a saddle or boots for a mini it’s pretty pricy (I don’t have a saddle for mine).

The other "problem" with horses is they don't really particularly have a job like, say, goats would. Goats can clear all the brush/weeds. Horses don't eat that stuff I don't think? And I could milk goats if I wanted to but I would get wethers. But at least they'd be pets with a purpose whereas minis I think would just be pets? And I can't ride minis, of course. But they are adorable. And I think I could teach them tricks and/or to jump or lunge even though I can't ride them? So that might be gaining experience.


Can I take them on walks? Was thinking it might be fun to walk them through our woods or even down the street lol

They don’t like to eat weeds that much, but they aren’t useless either. You can trick train them, and you can train them to drive (pull a cart) and, my dad even knew a guy that did some serious plowing with a team of 3-4 Shetlands, and a Mini isn’t that much smaller or weaker than a Shetland.

Maybe I could also get experience desensitizing them.


And can real little kids ride them or can no one ride them? Is that best for ponies?

You can get a LOT of experience desensitizing them to things, in fact, you can actually do more with them than with a big horse… I mean, a mini would fit in the back of a mini van or station wagon and could go to pet friendly stores with you, something you can’t really do with a 1,000 pound horse.

When I was lighter I actually rode my mini a little, not a lot, and not really for fun riding, but I did ride him some to see how he would do and to get him a little more saddle broke, but practically, you don’t want to put more than about 50-70 pounds on them.

Not that it matters since we're not around little kids but just curious


And do they need grain? Cause what I've read says they do but then it also says they get fat easily so to me that kind of seems like they don't? And then I've also seen some of you guys saying even some regular horses can live on just grass and hay? At least I think I read that?

Personally, my mini thinks grain is a treat. It’s a way to get him to come when called or to get medicine in him, but he doesn’t get grain on a daily or even weekly basis. You could easily buy a bag of horse treats for the same effect but I have grain around for one of the big guys, so I use that.

Most minis and ponies in general are what are called “easy keepers” which means that you have to work hard to keep the weight OFF of them rather than feeding them to get them fat.

We have almost 3 acres, though most of it is woods. But there's like an acre or acre and a half of grass. I think that'd be enough for a regular horse let alone a mini or two? Some of it is kind of dead/weeds but parts are really lush and green and I could also buy grass seed for horses (I think they sell that?)


And do you think they'd like walks?

I would say that the land you have would be perfect for a mini or 2 (can’t just have one, they need friends). For horses you need to divide the land up into at the minimum 3 sections, one that they will tear up in bad weather, and 2 that they can graze when it is nice but not tear up. Like I said earlier, it’s harder to keep weight OFF of a mini (generally) than it is to keep weight ON them, so the LESS grass the better. Rule of thumb for big horses where I am is 2 acres per head, you’re in the same general climate so I assume it’s close to the same, so 2-3 minis on 2 acres would work great. My mini is around 200-250 pounds, a standard sized horse is around 1,000, so they don’t really need half the space as a big one, closer to 1/3 to 1/4

 

[ShrekDawg]

He is pretty cool. He doesn’t think he’s small, he LOVES playing with my 16 hand stallion which is pretty hilarious to watch. The bad habits are from the previous owner and the one before that. When I got him he had refused to be touched for 3 years, it took us about 2 hours to chase him down and get him pinned up in a corner so we could catch him so we could bring him to my place. Now, he doesn't WANT to be messed with, but he will let you walk up to him or slowly walk away rather than running full speed.




You DO have to be careful with them, they CAN break a leg (yours) with a kick and they can bite hard enough to rip out a normal sized horses throat… But, they are smaller and a little easier to push around and not as scary when they act up as the big guys are. As far as expense goes, vaccines cost the same as does dental and hoof work, but dewormer is cheaper as you can give them half a tube and save the other half (or if you had 2, give each one half a tube) rather than a whole tube each time, feed is a LOT cheaper… but, tack is more expencive because it’s more of a specialty thing. Stuff like halters aren’t bad, but if you want to buy a saddle or boots for a mini it’s pretty pricy (I don’t have a saddle for mine).




They don’t like to eat weeds that much, but they aren’t useless either. You can trick train them, and you can train them to drive (pull a cart) and, my dad even knew a guy that did some serious plowing with a team of 3-4 Shetlands, and a Mini isn’t that much smaller or weaker than a Shetland.




You can get a LOT of experience desensitizing them to things, in fact, you can actually do more with them than with a big horse… I mean, a mini would fit in the back of a mini van or station wagon and could go to pet friendly stores with you, something you can’t really do with a 1,000 pound horse.

When I was lighter I actually rode my mini a little, not a lot, and not really for fun riding, but I did ride him some to see how he would do and to get him a little more saddle broke, but practically, you don’t want to put more than about 50-70 pounds on them.



Personally, my mini thinks grain is a treat. It’s a way to get him to come when called or to get medicine in him, but he doesn’t get grain on a daily or even weekly basis. You could easily buy a bag of horse treats for the same effect but I have grain around for one of the big guys, so I use that.

Most minis and ponies in general are what are called “easy keepers” which means that you have to work hard to keep the weight OFF of them rather than feeding them to get them fat.



I would say that the land you have would be perfect for a mini or 2 (can’t just have one, they need friends). For horses you need to divide the land up into at the minimum 3 sections, one that they will tear up in bad weather, and 2 that they can graze when it is nice but not tear up. Like I said earlier, it’s harder to keep weight OFF of a mini (generally) than it is to keep weight ON them, so the LESS grass the better. Rule of thumb for big horses where I am is 2 acres per head, you’re in the same general climate so I assume it’s close to the same, so 2-3 minis on 2 acres would work great. My mini is around 200-250 pounds, a standard sized horse is around 1,000, so they don’t really need half the space as a big one, closer to 1/3 to 1/4

Wow thanks so much for all the info! It's really helpful, especially broken down into the different parts like that. I really like that they wouldn't require grain or much grass. Do you think I could have them on a dry lot kind of thing and just take them on walks or to hand graze some or is that not really healthy? How much room do you think two would need?

And I hadn't thought about taking them on car rides. That sounds like a lot of fun haha

And I don't think I would try riding or driving them. I think I'd just need a halter and lead for walking them around

 

[Kusanar]

Wow thanks so much for all the info! It's really helpful, especially broken down into the different parts like that. I really like that they wouldn't require grain or much grass. Do you think I could have them on a dry lot kind of thing and just take them on walks or to hand graze some or is that not really healthy? How much room do you think two would need?

And I hadn't thought about taking them on car rides. That sounds like a lot of fun haha

And I don't think I would try riding or driving them. I think I'd just need a halter and lead for walking them around

Horses are built to graze all day, if they were in a dry lot, I would recommend getting some slow feed hay nets and keeping hay in front of them in the nets all the time. The slow feed nets have small holes so they have to nibble a little bit at a time rather than grabbing a whole mouthful at a time. The way a horses digestive system is made, they produce acid ALL the time and having acid in a stomach without food can cause ulcers over time, people, dogs, cat, etc, we produce acid when we eat (and sometimes when we think of food) so we are built for meals, horses are built to graze constantly. Not to say that having them away from food for a few hours while you mess with them is wrong, but you should have SOME food available most of the time other than when they are working.

If you're looking at a dry lot situation, I would say that 2 minis could be comfortable in a 60 foot round pen or similar sized area.

 

[Peaches Lee]

The half-a-horse (or, half-of-a-half-a-horse)

(she's a mini mule)

She's beyond cute!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Horses are built to graze all day, if they were in a dry lot, I would recommend getting some slow feed hay nets and keeping hay in front of them in the nets all the time. The slow feed nets have small holes so they have to nibble a little bit at a time rather than grabbing a whole mouthful at a time. The way a horses digestive system is made, they produce acid ALL the time and having acid in a stomach without food can cause ulcers over time, people, dogs, cat, etc, we produce acid when we eat (and sometimes when we think of food) so we are built for meals, horses are built to graze constantly. Not to say that having them away from food for a few hours while you mess with them is wrong, but you should have SOME food available most of the time other than when they are working.

If you're looking at a dry lot situation, I would say that 2 minis could be comfortable in a 60 foot round pen or similar sized area.

Thanks a lot! That helps. I just wasn't sure cause you said they shouldn't have grass all the time? So I thought maybe the dry lot would help with that. But maybe I read it wrong? If they're not in a dry lot then how do you prevent them from eating too much grass and getting fat? Put them on the bad part of the lawn?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Look. At. This. Freaking. Horse. OMG.

https://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/2090058.html

And watch the video too. Look how completely bombproof he is

 

[Peaches Lee]

Look. At. This. Freaking. Horse. OMG.

https://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/2090058.html

And watch the video too. Look how completely bombproof he is

I absolutely love Gypsy horses! I hope to own one some day as they are just wonderful mounts!