The first know Miniature horse was dated back to 1650 AD in the Palace at Versailles where King Louis XIV resided.
Miniature horses were bred for there little size, These horses became common
in the breed, especially in the United States. When compared to a full-sized
horse, miniaturized horses have bigger heads, shorter necks and other conformational
flaws attributable to breeding.
In the 20th Century, the history changed as small ponies were brought to America
where several major breeders established programs:
Falabella – This is an
Argentinean breed developed by selective breeding for small size.
Midget Pony – This breed
was popularized in the 1960s by the McCoy stud, where smaller ponies were
created by selective breeding, using Shetland Pony stock.
Miniature Horse - The term “Miniature Horse” was created in the
early 1970s because some breeders of midget ponies felt that a more deceptive
name would make them more salable and desirable. Coining the term "miniature
horse” is said to have been a marketing ploy by breeders, and the ancestors
of many Miniature Horses were from the same midget ponies of the McCoy stud..
This indigenous dwarfism has led to widespread birth defects and the creation
of hundreds of tiny horses with serious health problems.
Pygmy Horse – less-than-show
quality horses, this term was create because of constant infighting among
the Miniature Horse breeders about what constitutes a “correct”
miniature horse, some organization have used other names for the tiny ponies.
.
Today you can have a miniature horse in multiple registries. A small horse
can be a registered Paint Horse, a registered Pony, and also a registered
Miniature Horse.
Facts
Question: What do miniature horses eat?
Answer: Grasses and grains are the natural food of the miniature horse. Mini horses can survive on lush grass and make excellent lawn mowers, and hay is a suitable substitute when grass is not available. A small quantity of crimped oats completes the daily nutritional regimen. In addition, miniature horses should have access to a daily source of free choice salt and trace minerals. An easy way to provide this is to provide the miniature horse with free access to a brick of plain salt and a brick of trace mineral salt.
Question: What is colic?
Answer: Horses cannot vomit, whatever goes in must pass all the way through the digestive system. The number-one cause of preventable death of miniature horses is colic, a severe and painful digestive system irritation that can kill a mini horse if not treated promptly.
Question: Are Miniature horses spooky and flighty?
Answer: The individual temperament of horses varies widely.
Question: Do miniature horses play?
Answer: Yes mostly as foals
©2005 Double M Ranch
