Viking Wind Farm Miniature Horses

The American Miniature Horse: General Info

Viking Wind Farm Sales Page

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     The American Miniature Horse ain't just your Granny's fuzzy little backyard  apple cruncher any more!

     The Miniature Horse has become more popular than ever, as an economical alternative to their larger Equine cousins. "Mini's" are fun for Adults, children and even the disabled!

     More and more "big horse" owners are making the transition, and Minis have always been very popular with timid or first time horse owners.

     The American Miniature Horse is long-lived, commonly living into their 30's or even 40's! They are smart and very forgiving at even their worst, and safe- sane- honest and incredibly affectionate at their best. They are easy to train and retain their lessons well.

     CARE & FEEDING:  Minis are generally "easy keepers" and eat abut 1- 1.5 lbs of feed per 100 lbs of horse weight.  A mini on pasture with supplements can be fed for as little as $15 per month, and a mini on full ration with supplements can be fed for around $35-40 per month! Grain based feeds are usually not used at all, and the most common feeds are a combo of pelleted hays, alfalfa and grass hay.

     They are much easier on paddock footing, fencing and barns than a "full-sized" horse! And handling is much less hazardous. Grooming takes 1/6th the time and tasks like de-worming and supplementation are easier and WAY cheaper! No shoes are required,and many farriers actually charge less per head for minis. And touching up a mini trim between the farrier visits is much  more of a possibility for an owner than on a big horse.

     Purchasing a very high quality Miniature Horse is also far cheaper then most "big horse" breeds. It is often possible to own a national caliber prospect for about 1/4th or less than a large breed. A registered mini can be purchased for as little as $800 and the best can be owned for $1,500 to $7,500 for even a World Class quality Horse!

     SHOWS: Miniature horses can be shown at any venue that accepts ponies, such as 4-H, driving, CDE, State Fair, Open show circuits and Breed shows. They are also eligible for registration and participation in registries such as the PtHA, IBHA, CPA and the PHA.

     Classes at breed shows are fun and incredibly diverse! There are always lots of Junior classes, amateur, Owner trained and Open classes, and even have classes for those with special needs.

   Some examples of classes include: Halter, color, showmanship, jumpers in hand, hunters in hand, trail obstacle in hand, driving obstacle, single pleasure driving, country pleasure driving, fine harness driving, liberty (the most popular), and more!

Our Favorite Web Sites

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KandiLand Miniature Horses and Kandiland Photography

AMHA- American Miniature Horse Association...   amha.org

AMHR- American Miniature Horse Registry... shetlandminiature.com

Lil' Beginnings

lilbeginnings.com/links/info

RESCUE WEB SITES

Sammies Friends

 OTHER RANCHES

aristoacres.com

OTHER SITES

Rosies Remedies

Bay Equest

Facts and Fiction about the American Miniature Horse!

      If you are new to the miniature horse, there are a few things that are a bit different than with the larger breeds.  Keep in mind that the most accurate and precise info will be gotten directly from the registries and your veterinarian!

Registration: The registries are not as confusing and scary as people think.

There are 2 main registries for Miniature Horses. The AMHR and the AMHA...Both registries issue temporary papers on a foal until they are 3 yrs old, and then issue Permanent status. (Horses not brought permanent cannot have their foals registered! So keep up with your paperwork!) DNA testing will be required also.

Miniature horses are measured from the last mane hair (usually around the base of the withers)  NOT at the top of the withers, like a big horse!

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1) AMHR (American Miniature Horse Registry)... is the original registry and is a branch of the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) registry.

 http://shetlandminiature.com/

AMHR has 2 divisions.... the A division is for horses maturing at or under 34" tall. B division is for horses maturing between 34" and 38". A horse over 38" is not eligible for Miniature registry in AMHR.

AMHA registered horses may be double -registered with the AMHR. The AMHR also allows for ASPC registered Shetland ponies to be double  registered (if they meet height requirements).

Fees for double registering an ASPC or AMHA horse in the AMHR are $200 to $400.  It is well worth it for a quality horse so factor that into your budget if you are buying breeding stock.

2) AMHA ( the American Miniature Horse Association) has just one division and allows horses only up to 34" tall at maturity  to be registered as permanent. 

http://www.amha.org/

Horses that are not registered  AMHA    may SOMETIMES be hard-shipped into the AMHA if they are under 34" tall. Check with the AMHA for the guidelines. Costs for such a process may be as high as $800 or more, but again, if it is a valuable horse, it can be worth it.

IN A NUTSHELL: 

If you breed 2 AMHA horses, you may register the foals with AMHA (both parents must be DNA'd and have permanent papers)

If you breed 2 AMHR horses, you may register the foals AMHR (both parents must be DNA'd and have permanent papers) 

If you breed 2 mini horses that are from different registries, or one is unregistered..., you may NOT straight register the foals with either registry... but YOU MAY be able to register the horse under the hardship rules.

Any AMHA or AMHR horse that goes over 34", but stays under 38" may be registered as a B divison horse with the AMHR (their rules and fees apply).

     It is becoming increasingly popular, and a VERY good idea to Double register in both the AMHA and the AMHR (This applies to A division).  You will have more venues to show in AND  You will make your horses much more marketable by doing so.

 Veterinary Care

  Miniature horses seem to not  really have  much  higher incidence  of  founder or colic than big horses. However, when a mini's care and feeding is mis-managed  it leads to more of these issues! It is surprisingly EASY to let a mini get overweight so BE CAREFUL!!! SO WATCH OUT FOR BOTH CAREFULLY.

Colic: It is always important to provide plenty of water, salt and to monitor feed. Minis have much smaller intestinal tracts so impactions, enteroliths and foreign objects should be carefully avoided through good management practices.

... the bottom line... colic= advice from your VET!

.... I always check stools on any horse frequently - so if I see hard stools, I feed some oat pellets, oat hay and or a sloppy mash for a couple days.... just like my big horses.

Feeding: I It is very easy to overfeed a mini!  And I try not to overfeed hay, or to feed whole grains! It is said that you should feed 1- 1 and 1/2 lbs of feed per 100 lbs of mini's body weight. Being accurate is important so I advise that you weigh feed frequently to be sure you are not overfeeding... I have a feed scoop with a built in scale and use it for hay and pellet rationing.

Founder: Since ponies and minis are easy keepers, many people let their minis get too fat and overfeed them, or let them eat off of pasture that is too rich.  Hence, they tend to founder more often because people let them...And once a horse founders they are prone to founder again.

Bottom line...manage your mini like a big horse and you will reduce many of these problems!

My top 10 reasons to own a Miniature Horse

1. Minis can be kept on smaller acreage than a big horse.
2. Minis are great for first time owners of any age. They are far less intimidating than full sized horses.
3. They are also perfect for the "big horse" person who wants something different and unique.
4. Minis make a great companion for other small livestock.
5. The Miniature Horse is hardy and strong. The breed's foundation comes from bloodlines that were working ponies in harsh conditions. Their extra heavy winter coats mean blanketing is not needed in the winter. And they are proportionately stronger than a full sized horse, easily pulling carts with adult drivers.
6. They are easier to train and manage than full sized horses. Their day to day care is less labor intensive and they have a more forgiving personality. Their small size means a safer training experience.
7. Miniature horses can be shown! Both the AMHA and the AMHR have rated show circuits that are fun and competitive! They can compete in driving, trail obstacle, halter, hunters and jumpers!
8. Minis are easier on fencing, paddock footing, and stalls. Their small size means that your repair costs will be much lower than for a "big" horse .
9. They are economical. You can buy a mini of excellent quality for 1/4 of the price of an equally pedigreed "big horse". And feed, deworming, training, maintenance costs and hoof care will be much less.
10. Miniature Horses offer... beauty... elegance... quality... and endless FAMILY FUN in a compact package!

Miniature Horses:

General Care and Info

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