I think we all agree that miniature horses are the most adorable horses in the world. Their small size makes them super lovable and cute, in fact, they are even tinier than ponies and we can guarantee you that they are one of the most helpful and friendly breeds around. Their tender, sensitive nature and less intimidating size make them the excellent animal for people that are shy or very fearful. Don’t be shocked if you see mini horses at your regional hospital or at retirement homes to visit people who are ill or retired. They really cheer these people’s day just with their demeanor and their playful nature. If you were having second doubts about these adorable animals the interesting facts listed below will surely simplify all your doubts.
1.Minis are not the same as ponies
Although they look similar, miniature horses are different from ponies. A pony is a horse that is smaller than 58 inches at the top of the shoulders. They have wide, strong bodies. Their necks are normally powerful, and their legs are short for their size. There are many breeds of ponies, some bigger than others. For example, The Welsh pony is usually 58 inches tall whilst The American Shetland isn’t only 46 inches. The miniature horse, on the other hand, is shorter than even the most little ponies. A miniature hose can’t be taller than 34 inches, measured at the tip of the shoulders, where the mane ends. A mature mini weighs amid 150-250 pounds. Although some minis look like ponies, the purpose of miniature horse breeders is to develop a tiny horse, who has all the features of a full-sized horse, just smaller.
2.Miniature horses come in almost every color.
Miniature horses come in every horse color. Many horse breeds allow only specific colors but in miniature horses, the variety in color is approved. Many colors that are very unique in other breeds are popular in minis, including dark bodies with white or cream manes and tails.
3.They have evolved and improved a lot throughout history
Miniature horses became very popular, but back then the most important thing in a miniature horse was only its size. Some of them looked like riding horses while others looked like draft horses. But nowadays things have changed and a beautiful structure is just as important as its size. Miniature horse breeders are working mostly only for two riding-horse sorts. The first kind looks alike a strong Quarter Horse, named a stock-horse type because Quarter Horses are used to work with cows like cattle. The second one has more elegant bones and a thinner body. Its head looks like an Arabian horse, with a fine muzzle and large eyes. This type is named the elegant type.
4.They have a rich history
The American Miniature Horse Association was only established in 1978 but many decades before that, several people in various countries were working to create tiny horses. They used a mixture of sources for breeding. Small horses and ponies were used as working horses in England and Holland. Some of these were delivered to the United States in the nineteenth century. After the American Miniature Horse Association began, the breeding of minis became more standardized. The association began keeping records of the progress of the breed. Whenever a new foal was born, it had to be “listed” with the organization to be called an American Miniature Horse. Now the American Miniature Horse has become a real breed, a unique new kind of horse. Minis are widespread in many nations such as Canada, England, Holland, Japan, Australia, and many South American countries especially.
5.Miniature horses are very gentle
All miniature horses are known for being very gentle towards humans. These horses love the human company, even that of visitors. Maybe this is because they are so close to humans, due to their small size. It’s hard to resist touching a miniature horse foal, carrying it, and taking care of it.
6.Minis are excellent family horses
There are several reasons why people love the miniature horse. Some people want to own a horse but don’ have a lot of space, that’s why the miniature horses. Other people own minis because they want their children to be able to learn to ride securely. Minis are also great for people with health difficulties that can make it difficult or dangerous for them to ride. By driving a cart hooked to one or two miniature horses, these people can have fun and travel carefully around the area. Minis are also very helpful as visitants for retirement residences and disabled people. Their loving nature and their great charisma give an entertaining and pleasant experience.
7.Miniature Horses are pretty expensive
I bet everyone wants to buy a Miniature horse, but unfortunately, not everyone can afford one miniature horse because they are very expensive. The most excellent show horses sell for thousands of dollars, with stallions being the most valuable. The least expensive miniature horse is a gelding. Geldings are male horses that are not good enough to be used for breeding. Because of this reason, they are not as valuable as the normal miniature horse. This doesn’t mean that they are not worth it, on the contrary, they are excellent horses for families and make especially great horses for driving because they are more powerful than mares.
