Wallace Miniature Horses-About the Minis

		Tack, Trailers, & Supplies
		Wallace Miniature Horses - 440 Upper Brookside Rd. - Truro, Nova Scotia
		ABOUT THE MINIS habits of a mini are intelligence, curiosity, and all the same behaviors of a full size horse, but considered to be gentler, and more affectionate, proving to be more easily trained. Minis make perfect pets and companions for people of all ages and abilities. They perform in shows and parades and pull people in carts and wagons. Miniature horses have been bred for pets, novelty, research, monetary gain, mining work, exhibition, and royal gifts. Maintaining a Miniature Horse is about 1/10th the cost of maintaining a large size horse. One acre can support as many as three Miniature horses. Mini's tend to thrive on pasture, sunshine and room to run and play. Miniature horses are horses with the same reactions and motivations as large size horses. Miniature horses possess amazing vision. With their eyes mounted squarely on the sides of their heads, they possess nearly 350 degree vision. The miniature horses are also extremely sensitive to motion in their field of vision and often detect a potential hazard before their sighted trainers. Miniatures also have excellent night vision and can see clearly in almost total darkness. While Miniatures tend to be affectionate and easy to handle, as with all equines, temperaments and abilities vary by the individual. Their average gestation period is 325 to 340 days. Horses commonly live to be 25 - 35 years old, on-average, miniature horses may live one-third longer than large horses. This size-longevity relationship is the same for dog breeds. For example, a Rottweiler may live to be 12, while a Chihuahua may live to be 18 years old. 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. As foals, Miniature horses play extensively, running and chasing other foals, and playing with large balls. As the miniature horse matures they lose interest, but the mini horse can still enjoy games. One of the favorite games for adult miniature horses is bobbing for apples. You simply fill a toddler pool with six inches of water, and drop in two apples. Vet care for a horse is comparable to that of a dog. Yearly immunizations are required, and bi-monthly de-worming is required to keep the miniature horse healthy and protected from disease. A de-wormer (such as Ivermectin) can be administrated orally by the owner. The mini horse also needs a farrier to trim their hooves every six to eight weeks. USES FOR MINIATURE HORSES With the rapid growth of technology in the 20th century, most practical uses for horses have been minimized. Horses in general find a place as personal or family companions. With the exception of actual riding, miniature horses provide all of the warmth and enjoyable potential of any other horse breed. Miniature horses are exceptionally affectionate and curious. They routinely supervise the chores of human companions when in their fields by sticking their noses in open pockets looking for treats or nuzzling to get attention. Miniature horses have a wide appeal with senior citizens and are frequently seen visiting rest homes for the elderly. They are also wonderful diversions for youngsters. It is not uncommon to see three and four year old children handling miniature horses at shows. The miniature horse can be easily trained to pull a cart and can easily transport adults for long distances when in proper condition. Numerous individuals have also assembled teams of miniatures that pull wagons for exhibitions or in parades to the delight of all who see them. Miniature horses are also shown competitively. Miniature horse shows offer a wide variety of activities for the horse exhibitors. The activities are similar to those of large horse shows ranging from in-hand halter and showmanship classes to performance classes such as pleasure, obstacle, team and roadster driving, trail jumping and hunter. Previous Page Top Page
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