Need Information on feed/shelter mini horse through winter

[halo]

Well, this is my mini that hasnt been done for longer than Id like to admit, and he's just fine. As I said, its on a case by case basis. You cant just say horses or ponies have to be trimmed every 8 or 10 or 12 weeks. You have to consider the individual. I have mares I have to trim every 6 weeks as they grow all toe and no heel, and I have some I can go 3 or 4 months. If I brought this guy in for my farrier, he'd laugh at me and ask me if I enjoy wasting money.

The point is, they're all different. Some need a lot more maintenance than others.

 

[Jetiki]

Halo, No he's not grossly overgrown as in the previous photo but he's still long and just because its a mini doesn't mean it needs to be left long. Many many farriers don't like to do minis so they let them go longer. Just because he's short and isn't ridden doesn't mean anything. Yes its a case by case basis but in general most minis can't go 6 months between trims. Just because some do doesn't mean that they all can get away with it. I trim miniatures feet for other people not just my own. Thats all I trim I don't trim big horses, because its hard to find a farrier that takes the minis seriously.


OP please consider having your minis feet checked more often than 6 months to insure proper hoof shape, angle.


The cost for a mini varies between areas as the costs of feed and hay is a lot more in some places than it is others. Good quality hay might be a dollar or two more but it may help keep the vet away as vets are expensive. Find a vet in your area that works with horses and has experience with minis they should be able to help steer you in the right direction.


Halo, how old is the mini in the picture you posted? I might know him.

 

[jettgirl24]

I would definitely not recomment feeding grain to your mini and stick to grass/timothy hay unless he starts to lose weight. A good rule of thumb for proper weight is that you shouldn't see ribs, but you should be able to feel them if you run your hand down the horse's side with very light pressure. If you have to press in to feel the ribs the horse is too fat. If they start developing a "crest" of fat on the top of their neck then they are WAY to fat and may founder. Do keep in mind that they don't have to be too fat to founder though, the high sugar content in grain or alfalfa hay can make them founder as well. Ponies and mini's tend to founder VERY easily compared to larger horses so be careful with weight and sugar intake. Since minis are likely not getting as much exercise as a larger horse it is unlikely that you will have issues with him becoming underweight. If your mini isn't underweight he doesn't need grain. Especially if you are not very experienced with horses/ponies you may not recognize the early warning signs of founder and the added energy may make the mini hard to handle. Trust me, you do NOT want them to founder. Not only is it painful for the horse but it will happen again much more easily and could very well be debilitating. The last thing you want is a permanently lame mini hobbling around your yard.

As far as shoeing, you've gotten some good advice. 8 to 12 weeks is about right. I find my large horse is closer to 8 or 9 in the summer and 10 or 11 in the winter when their hooves grow slower. My mini usually goes longer than my big guy but every horse is different. If you've just gotten the mini trimmed take some time to study how his feet look. As they grow the toes will likely splay a little and they often start to chip and crack if they've gotten too long. Once you gain more experience and start to know what to look for you will be able to tell when they need to be done but in the meantime it might be a good idea to put the horse on an 8 or 9 week farrier schedule. If the farrier comes out after 8 or 9 weeks and there's nothing much to trim you can try 10 the next time. Do this until you figure out what works best for for your mini. Always keep an eye on things though as the growth rate of the hoof can change due to many factors. Be flexible and don't hesitate to move the date up if need be. Good hoof care on a routine basis will prevent much more expensive problems down the road.

And have fun! You have great resources at your disposal on this board, in books, and elsewhere on the internet so if you ever have questions you know you can find help. Horses, both big and mini alike, are amazing creatures. There's a reason why people become horse crazy... In my humble opinion there is no other animal quite as special as a horse

 

[bossynbella]

First of all thank you for all the advice. It was 8 weeks after we got him that we had the farrier come out. He said they didn't need trimmed, they where great, not long at all. He advised that we should have him come back out towards the end of September and that is our plan. I will take some pictures of his feet. I will be sure to get the farrier in sooner if needed. One of the reasons hubby said we could keep him is that since we paid the $35 for him originally at the beginning of April, we have not had to put any other money in him. We where give four bales of hay by a friend right after we got him, we used them through April and May. By the middle of May we just left him oustisde in the pasture.I think we had two bales left and we just ended up feeding them to the rabbits because he was more interested in the grass then the hay anyway. Over the summer I have watched his weight and hooves as the farrier advised me to do. He said I should watch because sometimes Mini's get overweight easy on as much pasture as he had access to. He is heavier then he was this spring and probably could stand to loose a bit, again I will post pictures. But he is very active, I take him for a walk around our drive way that circles the house at least 5 times a week, and he runs oh he runs it is so funny to watch! He just starts at one end of his rectangle pasture and BOLTS as fast as he can to the other end where he slows enough to make the turn and runs fast as he can to the other end and back again! We love to watch him to run and I think he knows it, he loves to show off! We where also concerned because we where told he needed a pasture mate to be happy but he seems content to visit with the dogs, chickens, guineas and ducks as they wander in and out of his pasture, and the rabbits who are housed near the back corner of his pasture right across the fence.
Thank you for the advice on feed. If we can do $4 a bale and 6 bales a month I think we will be able to afford to keep him for the winter. I love Eddie, I need to brush him more but I just started a new job and have had like NO ENERGY lately. He loves to be brushed, and feels so soft afterwords.
Akane I messaged you about the hay.

 

[halo]

Quote:
Im sure you don't know him. He's been on my farm here in Florida since he was a yearling. He's.....lets see...geez, he must be 10 by now. How did that happen???? It has nothing to do with the fact that he's short and not ridden, its a fact of there being nothing to take off.

I will probably get him done next month, but he's not long. The farrier (who happens to be my SO) might take off a quarter inch, and rasp him off, and that will be it. The big horses are all different, some grow a lot of foot between trims, and others barely need rasping just to knock off the edges. If more gets taken off they get sore, and NOTHING in this world makes me madder than to see my girls sore over a blacksmith.

 

[halo]

Quote:
Arent they just hysterical when they take off top speed across a field! Their little legs go as fast as eggbeaters....I truly think they think they are big and fast. They dont know they are little and pudgy and cute as heck.

 

[Jetiki]

Halo, We sold a mini that looked a lot like him back in 1995-96 in Florida, thats why I asked that. We moved to South Carolina in 2006 I know a lot of minis in Fl.

It goes back to what works for one horse won't work for another. My comment was about farriers in general not yours specifically.

Karen

 

[Skittlez]

My mini and my shetland are out in the winter with a shed open to the south to get into if they want. 99% of the time I see them standing with their butt to the wind. I do not grain either one. I feed one flake per mini twice a day. If the flakes are real fat I will split it between the two. If they are thin, I throw a 3rd flake out. One bale will last me about 5 days and I pay $3.00 a bale( small square, just grass). With you having 1, a bale should last you about 8 days. When it drops below 0, I feed extra. The extra hay will give them warmth. If you do feed your mini grain, try to get one made for them. They process starch to sugar more than a horse and it will effect their hooves. My shetland had to be pulled off grass this year. He has been on pasture all season for 14 yrs, but this year, it caused problems. Next year he will stay on a dry lot with limited grazing and hay to supplement. He won't be happy, but he will feel much better.

My shetland gets trimmed every 6-8 weeks. He needs it. My mini gets trimmed every 12-14 weeks. I had a mare for 2 years and her hooves never grew. Rule of thumb is 8 weeks for a trim, then tailored for the individual horse. Did you geld him? That will change his diet somewhat also. He will require a little more food if he is studdy, less as a gelding.

Minis have such personality, but can develope bad habit very easy cause their cute. But with the proper upbringing you can have a great pet for the next 30 years

 

[BooneChickens]

Love minis! I'm mostly used to regular sized horses, but have had a little experience with mini's. My in-laws used to have a mini (and two mini mules and mini donkey) in the mountians of NC with very cold winters. During the summer all they were on is pasture and in the winter they were on hay (as much as they wanted) and they were all a good weight if not a little fat.
As for their feet, they NEVER had them trimed (by vet and farrier reccomendations). The soil is so rocky up here and they grazed on 5 acres that their hooves were never grown out enough to trim. Trimming a horse is a definitely a case by case thing. I have had horses that would throw a shoe one day after 6 weeks and others that wouldn't need anything until after 10 weeks, although I perfer the 8 week time period for sport/working horses. Just listen to your vet and farrier to help you decide when the right time is.
Good luck with your mini!

 

[bossynbella]

Here are some pictures I took today before his brushing and walk. I am thinking you might be right I may get a hold of the farrier early, see if he can come the beginning of September, as soon as I get paid. I can feel his ribs if I push down a bit, so he may need a bit less grass. As you can see he has made good work of most of his pasture.

Coming up to me when I went into the pasture. He loves a good petting.

I backed up to try to get a picture, so hes following me back the other way, I picture him saying "Where are you going? I thought you where gonna pet me!"

He caught up to me and I backed up 10' feet again. He put his ears back as he headed for me this time as if to say " Listen, Hold still so I can rub on you! I want my petting, put down the camera and touch me."

His pasture Looking West, as I petted him.

His pasture looking East, still petting him.Couldn't get any good pictures of him because he was so close.

His back hooves, He was in a posistion I couldn't take one of his front he was too close. I do think they look long and like I said will call my farrier. He will just have to wait till then.

Hubby gave him a half of a ear of Corn, at least he stood still after that! No we don't give him corn, that was his first and last 1/2 ear of it. The only treats he gets are 1-2 apple slices or 1-2 baby carrots or lettuce leafs a week.and not every week either.

two more of all of Ed. Does he look FAT? heavy? Good?

Thanks for the advice and just wanted to share my pony pics, of Mr. Edward Scissor Pony. LOL he has so many names, as long as he hears Ed he will come though.

Melissa