Miniature Horses

By Terri Estes

A miniature horse is a breed of horse that is typically under 34 inches tall, yet they have the proportions of a full-size horse. They are very smart and gentle but tend to have a mind of their own.

Miniature horses are too small to ride but can pull carts and small carriages. They are also used as companion animals and therapy animals. People also breed them as show horses. They are generally friendly, social animals that crave attention and love human companionship. They make great backyard pets and don’t need nearly as much room as their bigger horse cousins.

The miniature horse has been bred for centuries in Europe. They were initially bred to go into mines, due to their small size, but soon became cart horses and family pets. They were eventually exported to America, where they were also used in coal mines. They were called “pit ponies.” It was a harsh life for these horses, who lived and died in underground tunnels, rarely seeing the light of day.

I cannot figure out why the miniature horse isn’t considered a pony. The definition of a pony is a small horse who is less than 14.2 hands high at the withers, which is 58 inches high. Clearly, miniature horses are well within the pony range in size, yet they are considered a horse. According to Google, miniature horses are bred to have features of a horse, rather than a pony. Ponies are considered “heavier” with a stocky build and a more robust frame. I can tell you from experience, that not all ponies have a heavy frame.Some are quite refined. And not all miniature horses have horse-like features. Some actually look quite pony-like!

Some people think that a pony is a “baby” horse. Not true. Baby horses are foals, and boys are colts and girls are fillies.

Miniature horses are an enigma. They break the rules in the horse world. They defy the height rule and the size rule. They are, however, an important part of the equine world and there are thousands of breeders and supporters of the minnie’s.

I am pretty sure that I confused most of you more than you were confused before. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure that nobody ever gave a thought to the status of miniature horses. But these are the things that I dwell on.  So, welcome to my world, dear readers!