Should I get a Miniature Horse??

[Laci7210]

Hey guys! I am thinking about getting a Miniature Horse this summer. Any ideas??

Here's my situation. I have a 8 year old quarter horse. She is kinda short, like 14-14.2 hh. Shes my riding horse and shes very sweet our other horse is a 20 year old gelding. Hes my sisters horse and like 15hh and really nice too. Could a mini live with them?
I want to get a young mini, like weanling to two year old. Is that too young? I know i wont be able to ride the mini. I just want to teach her some tricks and to pull a cart. Are minis harder to take care of than regular horses? Easier? Are they stubborn? Thanks for helping!

 

[Bunnylady]

Most people that I know of advise against keeping a mini in the same pasture with big horses. A big horse could kill a mini without meaning to, and since even the gentlest horses have a pecking order, you can pretty much expect the mini to get pushed around at least in the beginning. Some people manage to keep minis in a pasture with big horses, others have dead mini stories to tell; there's no telling which way this would play out for you.

Mini personalities are all over the road. I have 3, one is a mini mule. Of my two horses, one is very alpha, she's so much a "boss mare" type that she once even challenged me (but only once, she figured out pretty quickly that was a BIG mistake - I am the boss mare!!) The other is very laid back and sweet; everybody falls in love with her. Minis are generally pretty smart, and can be very friendly. Because of their small size, they can be easy to intimidate, they can be spoiled pretty easily, too.

Minis require the same types of vet and farrier care as big horses, Feeding minis can be tricky. Lots of people overfeed small ponies and minis; keeping them from getting too fat is one of the biggest challenges in little horses. Lots of minis are kept in dry lots and only allowed access to pasture for a few hours per day, as they can get too fat just on good pasture.

 

[Laci7210]

Thank you bunnylady!! That was very helpful! So you said that they can't be kept on pasture?? My 2 horses live on about 5 acres and get haybales in winter. Would that work for the mini or would mini need less feed?? Thanks!
(I was going to have my horse trainer get my mare around a mini to see How she reacts before I get one.)

 

[jorey]

Minis will eat less than full size horses. They should be kept on dry lot as bunny said. They tend to founder a lot easier on grass. I don't grain mine either just all the hay she wants. And I totally back her up on not keeping them with large horses. One little kick and they are gone.

 

[Bunnylady]

Thank you bunnylady!! That was very helpful! So you said that they can't be kept on pasture?? My 2 horses live on about 5 acres and get haybales in winter. Would that work for the mini or would mini need less feed?? Thanks!
(I was going to have my horse trainer get my mare around a mini to see How she reacts before I get one.)

Some can be kept on pasture, but it kind of depends on the pasture. Let's just say you are more likely to run into an obese mini than a skinny mini.

It's probably a good idea to find out how your horses feel about minis before you get one. Bigs can be funny about them. I have a friend whose Arabian gelding adores their little mini weanling; the little guy is barely bigger than the Arab's head! On the other hand, their neighbor's Warmblood flips out every time he sees the minis; the neighbor wound up building a 10-foot-tall privacy fence along the entire side of their property so their horse couldn't see the little guys!

 

[chickengirl1193]

I have a friend has two older geldings and she rescued a mini stallon and he does fine with the big horses but he was very studly. Now hes gelded and a good weight. She keeps them in a pasture thats really just her front yard and I think that she restricts the minis pasture time but not positive. I have another friend that drives her minis. I would think that if your horses arent spooked by a mini and you have a way to keep it from grazing all day then why not! I've been debating getting a.mini donky to keep with my goats. Do you have separate pastures? Because you could get a pair of minis to keep in a dry lot so you have a nice driving pair!

 

[Laci7210]

I have a friend has two older geldings and she rescued a mini stallon and he does fine with the big horses but he was very studly. Now hes gelded and a good weight. She keeps them in a pasture thats really just her front yard and I think that she restricts the minis pasture time but not positive. I have another friend that drives her minis. I would think that if your horses arent spooked by a mini and you have a way to keep it from grazing all day then why not! I've been debating getting a.mini donky to keep with my goats. Do you have separate pastures? Because you could get a pair of minis to keep in a dry lot so you have a nice driving pair!

well, kinda.. we have lots of cattle pastures but only one horse pasture. We have a couple of dry lots that I could out the mini in sometimes. I like the idea on a pair to drive! I just don't think I will be able to get two more horses I am putting up an arena this summer. I plan on making it out of electric fence poly tape, 2 strands. It will not be electric, so will that keep a mini in?? Thanks again for all of the help!!

 

[chickengirl1193]

well, kinda.. we have lots of cattle pastures but only one horse pasture. We have a couple of dry lots that I could out the mini in sometimes. I like the idea on a pair to drive! I just don't think I will be able to get two more horses I am putting up an arena this summer. I plan on making it out of electric fence poly tape, 2 strands. It will not be electric, so will that keep a mini in?? Thanks again for all of the help!!

well the way i think about a mini is that two minis=1 horse when it comes to feed cost and all that lol. probably even less. im not sure if that would keep a mini in, i have seen horses get down and almost crawl to get under somethign so they can get to food. If you electrified it it might keep them in but if there is grass on the other side they will probably push it right over

 

[chickengirl1193]

but im not a mini expert so dont take my word for it! i have experience with horses not minis

 

[mindylee]

I would do some research 1st.

Join a website called Lilbeginnings. Check out their fourm. Im a member and a owner/breeder/and show quality miniatures.

I totally agree with all above mentioned. Good advice!