Dentistry For Miniature Horses

Proper regular dental care is important for all horses regardless of age size or use, just like it is in humans. The benefits provided by proper dental care include being able to maximize the FCR or Feed conversion ratio. In simple terms, this means the horse is getting the maximum benefit from the feed it is eating. This is achieved through maintaining a normal chewing cycle via the removal of pain, preventing and correcting abnormalities that lead to spilling of feed, and ensuring that the horse can grind its feed to an appropriate fiber length. This is essential if the food is to be properly absorbed in the intestine; large fibers are not properly absorbed and significant numbers of fibers in your horse's feces with length greater then 25mm indicates a problem with that horses grinding ability.

The second benefit of proper dental care is being able to keep your horse free of dental pain. Those of us who have had an ulcer in the mouth, a cavity or broken tooth, know how painful it is.

The third benefit is in the ridden or driven horse: by removing painful or restrictive conditions in the mouth we allow the horse free motion and collection. Remember to adjust tack as a horse ages; a bit that suited a horse when it was a three-year-old is unlikely to suit it as a ten-year-old.

The fourth benefit of dentistry is welfare. One of the greatest advantages modern man has over our predecessors is access to modern dental care and, combined with dietary changes and advances in medical care, is largely responsible for our much increased life expectancy. The same applies in the horse.

Another frequently overlooked benefit of proper dental care applies to the brood mare. Dental disease is one of the major causes of EED or early embryonic death in both horses and humans. Remember not to neglect your brood mares, particularly those that have difficulty getting in foal or keeping a pregnancy beyond 45 days.

Miniature horses suffer from the same dental conditions as other horses and can enjoy the same benefits from proper care but, as well as this, miniatures have a specific group of problems that occur more frequently in this group.

Miniatures have smaller bone structure but their teeth are essentially similar in size to a larger horse, this leads to problems with overcrowding and impaction of teeth. When teeth become impacted there are treatment options but the problem needs to be diagnosed early. With a six-year-old horse having all of its adult teeth and with teeth erupting in a horse's mouth regularly from birth until this time horses need regular checks to identify problems early and have a good chance of recovery. For horses in this age bracket a good rule of thumb is to have dental checks every 6 months - remember the window to fix these problems is very short.

Miniatures are also prone to being Prognathic, commonly called "sow" or "monkey-mouthed" which means that their dental arcades don't line up and their bottom jaw comes out further than their top jaw. Remember that a horses jaw slides back and forth when the head is up and down, just like yours. Try it now, face forward with your teeth in their normal position, then lower your chin - you will feel your bottom jaw slide forward. This rostro-caudal or front to back movement is normal. This is relevant because when checking a horse's bite it must be done with the horses head in a resting position, not held up in the air. Otherwise the lower jaw will slide back and the result will be incorrect.

Sow mouthed horses should not be used for breeding as there is a genetic component to this trait and remember to check both the stallion and the mare.

Due to the size of a mini's teeth there are often overcrowding, maleruption and misalignment problems with their teeth. This will often go undetected and spaces will develop around the teeth. These spaces then pack with feed material and this feed supports an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria. The bacteria produce toxins which attack the structures which support the teeth (the gums and periodontal ligament). The horse then suffers gingivitis (gum inflammation) which if untreated progresses to periodontal disease (disease of the structures that support the tooth) and eventually premature loss of the tooth. This is extremely painful and can cause the horse to lose weight and stop eating.

The take home message should be that all horse regardless of size or use need regular appropriate dental care.

Dr Shannon Lee is a an equine veterinarian who concentrates on equine dentistry. He has presented several scientific papers, provides lectures and tutorials to veterinarians and veterinary students. Advises government bodies on regulation pertaining to equine dentistry, and has an active role in research in the equine dental field. http://www.advancedequinedentistry.com.au

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Miniature Horses Feeding Time

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Owning Miniature Horses - The Smallest Of The Small

When it comes to pet ownership, we all have our preferences; the debate of dog versus cat can go on indefinitely. But for those who prefer horses, the care and feeding of their animal suddenly becomes a far greater undertaking then simply housing a smaller, more domesticated animal. Horses are large animals that come with an even larger responsibility for their owners. But for some people, ownership of miniature horses allows them to enjoy all that attracts them to horses, but on a much smaller scale.

Miniature horses are simply the result of hundreds of years of careful and purposeful breeding that has taken place all over the world. Today, The American Miniature Horse Association, established in 1978, continues to set the guidelines for these horses. To date, they are the only organization working to standardize the specifications.

In order to be defined as miniature horses, they must not reach higher than 34 inches in height. However, the differentiation between standard sized horses and these horses stops here; the physical features actually mirror that of their full-sized counterparts; but are simply in proportion to their size. If you were to look at one with no basis for size comparison, it would look like a typical, average sized horse.

Miniature horses are shown in competition just as their full-sized cousins. But their manageable size makes them especially instrumental in working with special needs individuals who wish to ride, but must avoid the larger animals for safety reasons. Because of their size, they are also child-friendly; children often learn to ride on these smaller, more controllable breeds.

Those who own miniature horses will also tell you of the unique opportunity they have to enjoy all that is special about a horse while still enjoying all that comes with having the ability to hold an animal in your lap!

The care is just as important as that for larger horses. Much of the standard care remains the same - including grooming, veterinary care, exercise and nutrition, and shelter - with special attention paid to eating. The smaller digestive track puts them at risk for intestinal problems; owners must be alert to the special feeding requirements of the breed. Owners will be happy to note, however, that the care for the horses costs significantly less than the care for full-sized horses.

For those interested in owning one, it is important to do a fair amount of research. Just as with any breed of horse, temperaments vary from horse to horse. Seek out and get to know a reputable breeder who can assist you in finding the horse that's right for you and your family.

Owning a horse of any size must be taken on only after careful consideration. But if you find that you enjoy all the characteristics of a horse, but are put off by its normally grand size, you may want to investigate miniature horses; all the beauty of a horse in one tiny package.

For more information on horses, try visiting [http://www.interestinghorses.com] - a website that specializes in providing horse related tips, advice and resources including information on the miniature horse [http://www.interestinghorses.com/miniaturehorse.html].

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#76 - Feeding A Miniature Horse

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The Falabella Miniature Horse

The Falabella is a rare Argentine breed of Miniature Horse that has been kept pure by breeding only pure Falabellas to other pure Falabellas for countless generations. It is known as the first and original Miniature Horse breed, yet the miniature size is secondary to their pure heritage. It is a true pure breed due to their unique and historic ancestry, which is one of its greatest attributes. The other is the fact that the Falabella name is known and recognized all over the world. Breed ancestry has been kept pure by the Falabella Farm and by small groups of dedicated breeders who want to preserve their precious heritage. The Falabella is an exquisitely unique horse that has always been rare due to the limited number within its pure ancestry gene pool. Estimates indicate that only a few thousand Falabellas exist in the entire world. The most desirable feature of the Falabella and its primary value is that of its rarity and pure Falabella ancestry. Falabellas are very pretigious to own and are highy prized by those who have them.

FALABELLA HISTORY
Many historic facts and fables have been told of the famous Falabella in books, magazines and equine articles. It was said that the original Argentine little horses were descendants of Andalusian and Spanish Barb horses brought to Argentina by the Spaniards when they first arrived in the 15th century with the intent to conquer Argentina. They were defeated and the horses were left to roam free. Over several more centuries the harsh environment and inbreeding caused a reduction in size and produced naturally smalhorses. Back in the 1840s, these small equines were seen within herds near the southern Buenos Aires area by Patrick Newell and he started to build his herd with the smallest he could find. It was from this point that selective breeding was started to develop a true small horse. This was over 150 years ago. Patrick Newell worked with the small horses and his knowledge was passed to his son-in-law, Juan Falabella, who shared his knowledge with his son Emilio, who passed it on to his son, Julio Falabella. As Julio worked with his father through his younger years, he gained all the knowledge his father had learned throughout his lifetime.

Over many years they used a variety of equines including the native Argentine Criollo horse and equines with Pinto and Appaloosa markings to breed down in size, continually keeping the smallest and best quality in each generation. By the 1950s, Julio took over his fathers Falabella Farm. He had created tiny sized Falabellas in every color including Pintos and some very rare and colorful Appaloosas which were his favorites. The greatest development and perfection of the Falabella breed was done by Julio when he created his tiny horses in many colors. With his dedication and knowledge, he was able to produce perfect little horses that were some of the smallest in the world. Once the tiny sizes in all the colors were attained, a century of natural heritage and breed development was completed, Julio set out to show his Falabella Miniature Horses to the world!

In the 1960s Julio Falabella sent his Falabella Miniature Horses to the USA and other Countries. Several articles about the Falabella Miniature Horse were written in Western Horseman Magazine and National Geographic Magazine, as well as other Horse Magazines. The news spread like wildfire about this little Miniature Horse breed that was Centuries in the making from natural and selective breeding over many generations. Julio and his Falabella Miniature Horses became famous as he continued to export them to all parts of the world. Some of the richest and most famous people bought them. Among them were kings, princes, presidents and movie stars. It was not unusual to pay astronomical prices for some of Julio's smallest and best Falabellas. Through the 1970's the Falabellas were being imported in small groups. By this time, Julio had a large number of Falabellas on his huge Ranch in sizes as small as 28 inches with perfect conformation in all colors. Some of Julio's very best and most colorful stallions and mares were sent to the USA and other countries all over the world. It was during these years that the Falabella Miniature Horse became a registered breed through the Falabella Miniature Horse Association.

When Julio passed away in 1980, the Falabella Farm and his lifes work was continued in Argentina by his wife, Maria Luisa de Falabella and their son Julio and daughter, Maria Angelica Falabella. Angelica then later moved to the USA in 1995 and brought her very best Falabellas with her, including he smallest and most colorful Pintos and Appaloosas. Both Falabella Farms continued to be a primary producer and exporter of Falabella Miniature Horses all over the world until Maria Angelica Falabellas retirement in 2006.

Currently, Falabellas are still at the Falabella Farm in Argentina and others are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom and a number of other Countries.

FAMOUS FALABELLAS
The most famous Falabella to be imported to the United States was Chianti, a beautiful black Leopard Appaloosa stallion born in 1964, which was imported with Falabella mares sent to the Regina Winery in California in the 1960s. Chianti became an immediate sensation and has since been written about in many equine news articles. Chianti and his mares produced some of the first Falabellas foals born in America and some of the very first Appaloosas within the Miniature breed. One of the best known and finest sires in the USA was Toyland Zodiac, a 31 inch top quality, black Leopard Appaloosa Falabella stallion born in 1976. Toyland Zodiac is the leading sire and grandsire of more show quality and top winning offspring than any other Falabella stallion in the USA. Some of the most beautiful and finest quality Falabellas have Toyland Zodiac in their ancestry.

SPECIALIZING IN FALABELLAS
Specializing in Falabellas is a popular choice for those who are looking for something unique and different. A growing number of Miniature breeders and other horse breeds are adding Falabellas to their farm as they see the many advantages in breeding these rare little horses. They are available in every color, giving a wide variety of choices. They can be registered and shown in competition in all Miniature Horse shows, and in all Miniature Horse Registries in the World. Most important, they have their own FMHA Registration certificate to authenticate their historic ancestry. With many top farm names coming and going over the years, the Falabella name has withstood the test of time and has retained its status. Falabellas are known and shown world wide and the name creates its own market which is a unique advertising and promotional advantage available to Falabella breeders. Some Falabellas can be expensive and carry premium prices, however, most can be acquired at affordable prices. Foals are especially desirable and can cost less than adults. They are a good choice forthose who want a few or are looking to acquire future breeding stock or show prospects.

There are less than 1,700 Falabellas registered in the FMHA since its incorporation in 1973. Only small herds are known to exist in the USA and most other countries, and their number is estimated to be only several thousand in the entire world. There is a strong demand and limited supply due to the small number in existence. There are distinct differences between Falabellas compared to American Miniature Horses. The rarity and purebred Falabella ancestry of every Falabella is what primarily sets it apart from all other Miniature Horses.

ARGENTINA ACCF FALABELLA REGISTRY
All Falabellas originally came from the Falabella farm in Argentina and they still continue to breed and export their Falabellas around the World. The Falabella Farm in Argentina has developed its own Association de Criadores de Caballos Falaballa (ACCF) Registry, in which they record the original ancestry of their Sires, Dams and offspring born on the Falabella Farm. When a Falabella is imported from Argentina, they have an ACCF registration document which authenticates their Falabella Farm heritage.

FALABELLA MINIATURE HORSE ASSOCIATION
The Falabella Miniature Horse Association (FMHA), was incorporated in 1973 as the first Falabella Miniature Horse Registry in the World. By this time, Falabellas were already becoming very popular and a number of breeders were importing them to the USA and other parts of the world. With continued importations of Falabellas and additional offspring being born, there was a need for a Registry to record and authenticate their pure Falabela ancestry, thus the beginning of the Falabella Miniature Horse Association. The Argentina ancestral Pedigrees were recorded and FMHA registration certificates were issued to all pure Falabellas and their offspring. Today, FMHA continues as an International Falabella Registry for Falabellas all over the World.

FMHA REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Only pure Falabellas are accepted for Registration in FMHA. They must have an FMHA registered Sire and Dam or must have documented proof of every ancestor tracing their original ancestry to the Falabela Farm in Argentina. FMHA honors all pure Falabellas with Regisration certificates from imported Falabellas with ACCF registrations from the Argentina Falabella Farm and from other Falabella Registries in other Countries. The Falabella Registry, American Registries and other Miniature Horse Registries. An additional and important plus is that most Falabellas in the USA are also registered in the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) and/or the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) and Falabella offspring can be triple registered in AMHA, AMHR and FMHA. This gives owners the opportunity to register, breed and show their Falabellas in the Registries of their choice and still maintain a pure Falabella breeding program.

The American Miniature Horse is extremely popular and has become one of the top choice Equine breeds. Proof of their popularity is shown as the count of AMHA and AMHR Registrations are over 200,000 since their inception. In comparison, there are less than 1,700 Falbellas registered in FMHA since its inception in 1973, attesting to their rarity. Pure Falabellas make up only a tiny part of the growing number of other Miniature Horses, however, they are a big attraction for Miniature horse breeders and Falabella Fanciers. SHOWING FALABELLAS Winners Ribbons, trophies and special awards can bring show titles, recognition and added value to your Falabellas. Falabellas can compete side by side with other Miniatures for winners ribbons and National titles, and some have taken top awards on an International basis.

DISPOSITION
Falabellas are sweet natured and enjoy being with children, adults and seniors. Their small size makes them easy to handle. They are easy to train to drive and fun to show. They can also provide family enjoyment as a beloved pet or companion for anyone, from tots to teens and adults, foals are especially adorable and affectionate making for a very unique and precious equine. They are versatile in many ways and can do all the things that any Miniature Horse can do. Most can be ridden by small children. They are quite intelligent and can be trained to do so many thing. They are strong for their size and driving them is very popular, especially in shows and parades.

QUALITY
The quality of a Falabella is most important, having an overall appearance of a well balanced horse with a pleasing look, good legs, a good bite and good conformation, the same as required to show. Falabellas with the finest show quality are highly desirable.

BREED TYPE
All breed types are acceptable for the Falabella. As development of the Falabella evolved, selective breeding has created a variety of types. Some of the most popular Breed types seen in Falabellas are the Arabian, Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Pinto and Appaloosa, but the most important factor will always be their pure Falabella ancestry. Emphasis has been toward breeding for refinement, well balanced conformation and the look of a true horse in the breed type they resemble.

SIZE
Birth heights can be as small as 12 inches and up to 22 inches or more, and mature heights are usually attained at 3 years of age. Since they are naturally a small equine breed, mature heights can be 25 inches to 34 inches and over but most Falabellas mature in the 30 to 34 inch height range. All sizes are accepted for registration in FMHA. In essence, size does not take away from their pure ancestry or their value. The Falabellas pure heritage has always been the first and foremost reason to acquire them. Once a pure Falbella is accepted for registration, they remain registered in FMHA for life.

COLORS
The Falabella comes in all solid colors and a wide variety of colorful Pinto and Appaloosa patterns. Rare Pintaloosa patterns can also occur, showing both Pinto and Appaloosa markings. Some of the most colorful are in strong demand but limited in number.

FALABELLA BREEDER INCENTIVES
Because of their rarity, the primary reason to have Falabellas is to protect and preserve the breed through dedicated breeding and keeping the bloodlines pure, but secondly, specializing in the Falabella bloodline gives a great marketing advantage since there are a small number of Falabella breeders but a large number of potential buyers who have Miniature Horses.

In a business sense, Falabellas can be acquired to start a small horse farm which can generate a yearly income in addition to your own job or business. It also offers farm tax benefits and can give a higher, safer and longer term return than some other investments. Foals have good value and are adorable and fun to raise. Additionally, foals will increase herd value if kept, or can generate income each year through sales. Feed costs are low and returns are high! A one time investment for each Falabella can give returns through foal sales for 20 years or more. The Falabella is truly a special breed to consider.

By Laurie Stevens

Laurie Stevens Author, and well renowned Pure Falabella Miniature horse breeder of 31 years has produced some of the finest Falabellas in the world. Please visit our Website at ToylandFalabellas.com

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Triple Crown Lite horse feed review - low calorie, low carbs, concentrated

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Purchasing A Miniature Horse As A Pet

Are you a grandparent looking for a pony for the grand kids? Do you want a companion for your older horse? What are you looking for specifically? This is the most important thing on your list. It will help to narrow your search if you know what you want. If you want to compete, breed and show, it's a whole different list of what to look for! In this article I will stick to the general items for a pet.

First and foremost, please have money before you start to look for a horse! When I say "money" I mean more than $200.00. If you go to an auction, please go with a horse savvy person to help you. Buying them cheap is a good way to get a fine pet, just be cautious if you have other outside pets that could get sick from the germs. The horse you buy may be fine but have germs on their feet.

Next important item is to make sure you have a proper place to keep your pet. Check with the Zoning Office before building any structure, you may not be allowed to own a grazing animal no matter how small. If you are planning to board your pet, get everything set up with the owner first and sign your contract when the animal arrives at the sight.

When buying your pet ask the owner what it normally eats and how it acts with people and other animals. Get a general feel for the character of the horse and see if a bond is possible with you and your family. Keeping the diet it's used to is very important and switching it to another type of feed is done slowly by mixing them together over time. They can get colic and if left without vet care can die. Horses are more delicate than most people imagine. You can't stake them out like a tomato plant and expect them to be fine. Each one is different and has needs to stay healthy.

If purchasing a pony for a child the age of 7 or 8 years old, of about 60 pounds, look for an older more experienced larger miniature. If they want to be lead around on it, get one that is at least 9hh or 36" from the end of the mane to the ground or even larger. This is a sturdy height for that size child. Smaller Miniature Horses can blow out a knee cap and also hurt their spines. If the child isn't going to ride, get a small one as a pet or companion.

Do NOT buy online without seeing it in person. Unless you have a vet check that isn't their vet, a good contract, and there are videos with a recent date on them. If it's a weaned foal, which means it is from 4 to 6 months old, then most of your worries are small. At a young age it can be trained to be tame, and can be kept alone without problems. YOU MUST SPEND TIME WITH IT TO TRAIN IT! If left to its own devices it will turn wild and then you will be selling it. It must be at least two years old before you get on its back or it could blow out a knee cap. This is because it is growing at a fast pace and needs time to grow bone structure.

If you will be riding it, it's best to actually see it in person. Some people shoot a video of it being tacked, handled and ridden by a child, as an example. Or you can ask for this before you drive 100 or more miles. Some sellers will do this for you and some will not, it never hurts to ask!

Try to buy close to home to avoid health problems and large hauling fees. Some horses can get sick from a long hauling trip, strange germs, or different food, etc.

One thing to check is to see if the horse looks to be in normal shape. This means that the legs are the same size and shape, not swollen, have open wounds, missing hair, etc. Run your hands all over the horses legs and body, do they twitch or jerk away? Some have pain from arthritis, bruised from kicks or being ridden hard, in an accident, etc. Some horses are afraid and don't like to be touched!

Does their bottom lip sag or hang as if they are tired, but they haven't been driven and it is not very hot out? Does the penis hang out for a long period of time as if they are tired? This means they have most likely been given some type of calming drug or they are very tired. Also look for loose stool nearby or in its stall. This is done if it is a stallion or a head mare that is dominant over people. Do not purchase them if there is any doubt. You can also make an appointment to come back and go early by two hours or go back unannounced and see what the horse is doing. Do not trespass or touch any animals, just watch them in pasture if possible. Are they alone? Are they lying down? Are they chasing the others or herding them? Watching behavior is the best way to know what's going on and why they are for sale.

One of your questions should be "why is this horse for sale and not the others?" In this economy they could be going out of business or selling the old and young stock to cut down the herd. Somebody could have lost their job and they can't board it anymore, and the list goes on. However, some lie to sell the hard to sell, so beware! If the price is too low there is a reason.

While you talk to the owner, check their ears for cleanliness, bugs, etc. Especially check their tail area to see if they have bad poop. There will be marks from it falling on them. If they were just washed, wait for about an hour and it will "go" again! In that time you can see the barn and the other horses, possibly get to know the barn owner. Does the seller talk fast? Are they in a hurry? Tell them you have to think about it and they will say somebody else is looking at it. Walk away. Don't fall for the old hurry up routine! Trust me, there's another horse out there!

Even after going over the horse before you buy it, be aware that there are some horses out there that will change their entire character. When they are moved to another location, have different food and people around them they act accordingly. If they are used to being worked and do nothing but stand in a pasture, don't be surprised when they don't listen to you! You must work with them at least every 2 -3 days or they will turn sour, no matter what your friends say! Spend time with your animals or hire help to do it for you. You will have a much better horse and pet experience.

To see much more detail on Miniature horses, such as breeding and what dealers don't tell you so they can sell the hard to sell, as well as other Ebooks written by L. A. DeGeorge, please go to: http://www.lscloset.weebly.com for the titles of the Ebooks written about horses as well as other venues of fiction and nonfiction. Learn from my mistakes and laugh along with me! They can be purchased from any online bookstore for under $6.00.

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Pipsqueak Paddocks - Miniature Horse Care

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Mini Horse Barn Plans to Care For Miniature Horses

Miniature horses are one of the most exotic and unique breeds of horses which exist today. They not only make great pets, but can also be of great use. However, when they are off-duty, they prefer to stay outdoors, and constructing a good shelter for them with the help of mini horse barn plans is the perfect gift you can give them.

These horses perform a variety of versatile roles. They function as adorable backyard pets, show animals, a form of therapy for the handicapped and as a companion to the elderly. Due to these varied roles, they spend a lot of time indoors. However, being horses, they are healthier when allowed to live outdoors, with a proper shelter and room to run. This is so especially during their leisure hours. A good mini barn built with the help of plans is the best way to build a shelter for your mini horse at a low cost.

Unlike others, a horse barn or a mini horse barn require very different plans. It has to perform a number of roles. It has to function as a shelter. It is a place for exercise as well as a storage space for equipment and food. It is also a place where emergency hygiene and veterinary care can be done. Due to these reasons, a lot of planning has to be done during its construction and the help of good plans should be most certainly taken.

One of the most important ingredients in the construction is the stalls. Your plans would be able to guide you in building them. Their number would depend on the number of mini horses you have. There should be enough room in the stall for the mini horse as well as for you to move around. You have to ensure that the door is made of sturdy material. A stall should also contain feed and water troughs.

Space for storage of equipment should be provided in your mini barn. Hay and grains are stored here, with a separate space for tack. Your plans would again be able to guide you here. In case you really want to pamper your pet, you may also provide electricity in the barn for lights, and fans to cool the animals. Radios providing soothing noises, as well as a refrigerator for holding medication are options you may consider.

As a mini barn is relatively smaller in size compared to a regular barn, the stables would also be smaller in size. The stalls and the tack open to the exterior of the stable. There are plans which contain a number of choices for building stables of your choice. Each stall should be capable of being closed completely so that your pet is safe from the weather. A covered shelter also provides extra protection for the stalls as well as the tack room.

According to your requirements and budget, you may either construct a simple barn or a more elaborate one which contains all the features to ensure that your pet is well taken care of. There are good plans which would help you in these. Though free plans are also available, it is best to go in for the ones which come with a charge, as they are more elaborate and come with step by step instructions and illustrations.

These mini animals are produced by a process of selective breeding down in size. However, this is done by keeping as near perfect conformation to their full size cousins as possible. They are also an economical alternative to the normal sized ones. They are smaller, easier to maintain and take up fewer resources, but retain all the other characteristics of the larger variety including the beauty, elegance and nobility.

Mini horse owners, like their regular horse owner counterparts, are usually great horse lovers, and would like to have the best for their horses. A good set of mini horse barn plans are exactly what you would need to build a barn which is not only easy to build, but also ensure that your horses are comfortable.

If you have decided to make a mini horse barn yourself, you may visit http://allin1woodworkingplans.com/ which has got detailed plans prepared by experts.

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Busting the Hand Feeding Myth, Training Mini Donkeys and Side Bucket vs. Bum Bucket ?

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Miniature Pets

Miniature Pets

It is uncertain exactly when miniature breed animals first came about. Historical and archaeological evidence point to gargantuan rats and dinosaurs smaller than many chickens. What is certain is that miniature pets are a big business and offer big rewards, both financially and personally.

There may be many jokes among some men about miniature poodles or chihuahuas but the fact of the matter remains that miniature dogs are increasingly popular among people. Many people simply do not have the room to own a large dog. A small dog can be just as happy in a small house as it can be in a large home.

These days, you can find miniature horses, miniature pigs, and many other breeds that were very uncommon just a few short years ago. For some people it is simply a matter of the cute factor. Smaller animals somehow become "cute" even when their larger relatives are anything but good looking or popular among most people. Unless you live in the country, you probably never heard anyone bragging about their 1200 pound pig.

For some other people, the joys of owning a miniature pet is in no small part, due to the fact that they make much smaller messes. Anyone who has ever had to carry a plastic bag for waste removal every time that they took their dog for a walk will probably agree to this. Anybody who has ever had to housebreak a pet would also be hard-pressed to find the fault in this logic.

For some people, cost is a major factor. A large dog would eat large amounts of food every day. Over the course of time, those costs will add up to a large amount of money which to some people at least, shows no positive return for their investment. Other people may see the true value of their pets but just cannot afford to feed a large dog or other animal that will quite literally, eat them out of house and home.

Whatever reason people have for wanting a miniature pet, they have become big business as well. Contests, shows and major events regularly occur all over the world for miniature pet lovers. Some of these shows stress the importance of a lack of size but they are increasingly looking at other criteria for deciding winners as well.

Miniature horse shows have spawned entire new industries to keep up with the demands of that lifestyle. Miniature surreys are available as are carts, miniature saddles and other features that have no market outside that of the miniature horse.

Similarly, shows for the miniature pot-bellied pigs and other miniature breeds are becoming increasingly popular as well. Whatever your reasons are for wanting to own a miniature pet, remember that not only can you reap big rewards, you will also open brand new opportunities in ways you may never have imagined possible. There are many different reasons for owning a pet. Pet owners can enjoy a host of benefits that people without pets will never truly know or understand. Just remember that when you are looking for a pet, size really does not matter. Miniature pets really are big business that consistently reap big rewards.

CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com

Research over 430 pet breed profiles http://www.findapetonline.com/breeds.html

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Miniature Horse feeding on hay video 2015

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Choosing The Right Diet For Your Horse

If you're a horse owner you will realise that keeping such animals can be an expensive proposition. You will therefore want to ensure that your horse is well looked after.

It is essential that you are providing your horse with all of the nutrition it needs to promote both good growth and healthy development. For almost all owners, a horse is something that you will invest a great deal of time and energy in, and in return it is going to be very loving and loyal to you. It is not enough to simply give your horse adequate nutrition - instead you must provide it with excellent nutrition.

Your particular make and breed of horse will have a strong bearing on its dietary requirements and what you will need to provide it with in terms of good nutrition. A shire-horse will obviously need a different diet to a miniature horse. Good horse fodder is essential and unless you are familiar with your animal's feeding requirements already, you will need to do your research.

Another important factor to bear in mind is not only what the breed type, but also what their lives and routine involve. Are they working horses, pets, or even racing horses. Do you show them, or are they simply work horses fir use around the farm? All of these are important questions to ask, as the answers to will help you figure out the appropriate and best diet to give your horse.

Once you are clear on all of the above aspects of your horse, you can then go about choosing the right type of horse feed. Buying horse feed is not as simple or straight forward as buying for a dog or a cat. Make sure you find a good and reliable horse-feed supplier that can make the right decisions about the best feed for your horse and can provide you with good advice on quantities per feed.

The different seasons in the year can have an effect on your horse's body and as a result the food requirements. It may be necessary that you change the feed or vary what you are giving them as far as amounts go, at different times of the year. This is also a question that you should discuss with your vet. Get plenty of advice and ensure you are doing what is right for your horse's health at all times.

Finally, like any well loved animal you are likely to want to treat your horse to the odd snack now and again as a reward - particularly during training times. It is also important that you give them the right type of snack Talk to your vet about what type of snack is appropriate for your horse and keep a good supply of the snacks that you know your horse loves on hand.

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Horse Blankets And Horse Boots Do Have Their Purposes ...

by: Theresa Truscott

"Horse boots?" you ask. "Horse blankets...does my horse come with its own wardrobe?" The purchase of a horse can bring so many changes; it can overwhelm the owner just by the information needed on the supplies.

For your journey into horse care, you'll need good horse blankets. More than one is quite handy as one alone is sure to get dirty and need attention just when you count on it the most. The horse blanket, of course, usually goes along with owning a western saddle, which requires the use of a blanket underneath because of the lack of padding. It would be cruel to use a western saddle without a horse blanket, and usually a pad is used in addition to the blanket. You want optimum performance from your animal. You get that result by taking good care of your horse, which mean using the proper equipment and supplies.

Aside from the horse blankets, pads, and saddle, you'll want other things such as a horse trailer for hauling the animal, a properly fenced area for grazing, a barn for storing hay and stalling the horse, curry combs for the care of the mane and tail and to groom the horse's coat of hair, a big water barrel or trough, grains for feeding, bridles, bits, a halter, and various other items that might come in use.

One of those items could possibly be horse boots. Don't worry, you won't have to take your pet shopping and spend hours at the shoe store while they choose their selections! You could be amazed, however, at the stores that do sell horse boots and at how many varieties there are. There may be as many as there are different selections of blankets.

Your beloved pet need not be dressed in its "horse clothes" each time it leaves the barn. Unlike our clothes, which we could get arrested for not wearing in public, your horse would wear its clothes only when appropriate for the situation.

As with the horse blankets, the horse boots are not just for looks. You can, however, match the color of the boots to the color of the blanket, if that is an issue for say, show purposes.

Available for purchase are vinyl boots, bell boots, rubber bell boots, and splint boots among others. You can buy boot covers to keep the boots clean.

One of the important uses of horse boots is for the miniature horse used as a guide horse for the blind. These tiny creatures are extremely intelligent and must be protected from the abuse of the city sidewalks and scorching pavement.

Horse boots have occasionally been used in lieu of horseshoes, yet another necessity for the new horse owner to learn about. The shoes in question do not refer to dress shoes or casual wear, but the shaped metal pounded into the bottoms of a horse's hooves.

Hardened surfaces can be brutal against a horse's hooves. Especially a horse subjected to tough work conditions. One type of horse that comes to mind is the horse used for police patrol duty in cities.

No matter what activity you choose to use your horse for, remember it is under your care and control and deserves the best treatment.

Theresa Truscott has loved horses since early childhood and enjoys sharing her passion for horses with other horse lovers. She finds useful information and products and circulates it on http://www.horseridingblankets.com about horses and horse riding blankets.

For a free report on "How to Improve Your Riding" see Theresa's Horse Aficianado blog at http://www.horseridingblankets.com/blog

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WE FOUND A MINIATURE HORSE!!!

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Caring for Miniature Horses at Little America

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Feeding the Horses and Donkey - Mini Donkey Braying

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Miniature Horse Ranch Achin' Acres.mov

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The Falabella Miniature Horse

The Falabella is a rare Argentine breed of Miniature Horse that has been kept pure by breeding only pure Falabellas to other pure Falabellas for countless generations. It is known as the first and original Miniature Horse breed, yet the miniature size is secondary to their pure heritage. It is a true pure breed due to their unique and historic ancestry, which is one of its greatest attributes. The other is the fact that the Falabella name is known and recognized all over the world. Breed ancestry has been kept pure by the Falabella Farm and by small groups of dedicated breeders who want to preserve their precious heritage. The Falabella is an exquisitely unique horse that has always been rare due to the limited number within its pure ancestry gene pool. Estimates indicate that only a few thousand Falabellas exist in the entire world. The most desirable feature of the Falabella and its primary value is that of its rarity and pure Falabella ancestry. Falabellas are very pretigious to own and are highy prized by those who have them.

FALABELLA HISTORY
Many historic facts and fables have been told of the famous Falabella in books, magazines and equine articles. It was said that the original Argentine little horses were descendants of Andalusian and Spanish Barb horses brought to Argentina by the Spaniards when they first arrived in the 15th century with the intent to conquer Argentina. They were defeated and the horses were left to roam free. Over several more centuries the harsh environment and inbreeding caused a reduction in size and produced naturally smalhorses. Back in the 1840s, these small equines were seen within herds near the southern Buenos Aires area by Patrick Newell and he started to build his herd with the smallest he could find. It was from this point that selective breeding was started to develop a true small horse. This was over 150 years ago. Patrick Newell worked with the small horses and his knowledge was passed to his son-in-law, Juan Falabella, who shared his knowledge with his son Emilio, who passed it on to his son, Julio Falabella. As Julio worked with his father through his younger years, he gained all the knowledge his father had learned throughout his lifetime.

Over many years they used a variety of equines including the native Argentine Criollo horse and equines with Pinto and Appaloosa markings to breed down in size, continually keeping the smallest and best quality in each generation. By the 1950s, Julio took over his fathers Falabella Farm. He had created tiny sized Falabellas in every color including Pintos and some very rare and colorful Appaloosas which were his favorites. The greatest development and perfection of the Falabella breed was done by Julio when he created his tiny horses in many colors. With his dedication and knowledge, he was able to produce perfect little horses that were some of the smallest in the world. Once the tiny sizes in all the colors were attained, a century of natural heritage and breed development was completed, Julio set out to show his Falabella Miniature Horses to the world!

In the 1960s Julio Falabella sent his Falabella Miniature Horses to the USA and other Countries. Several articles about the Falabella Miniature Horse were written in Western Horseman Magazine and National Geographic Magazine, as well as other Horse Magazines. The news spread like wildfire about this little Miniature Horse breed that was Centuries in the making from natural and selective breeding over many generations. Julio and his Falabella Miniature Horses became famous as he continued to export them to all parts of the world. Some of the richest and most famous people bought them. Among them were kings, princes, presidents and movie stars. It was not unusual to pay astronomical prices for some of Julio's smallest and best Falabellas. Through the 1970's the Falabellas were being imported in small groups. By this time, Julio had a large number of Falabellas on his huge Ranch in sizes as small as 28 inches with perfect conformation in all colors. Some of Julio's very best and most colorful stallions and mares were sent to the USA and other countries all over the world. It was during these years that the Falabella Miniature Horse became a registered breed through the Falabella Miniature Horse Association.

When Julio passed away in 1980, the Falabella Farm and his lifes work was continued in Argentina by his wife, Maria Luisa de Falabella and their son Julio and daughter, Maria Angelica Falabella. Angelica then later moved to the USA in 1995 and brought her very best Falabellas with her, including he smallest and most colorful Pintos and Appaloosas. Both Falabella Farms continued to be a primary producer and exporter of Falabella Miniature Horses all over the world until Maria Angelica Falabellas retirement in 2006.

Currently, Falabellas are still at the Falabella Farm in Argentina and others are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom and a number of other Countries.

FAMOUS FALABELLAS
The most famous Falabella to be imported to the United States was Chianti, a beautiful black Leopard Appaloosa stallion born in 1964, which was imported with Falabella mares sent to the Regina Winery in California in the 1960s. Chianti became an immediate sensation and has since been written about in many equine news articles. Chianti and his mares produced some of the first Falabellas foals born in America and some of the very first Appaloosas within the Miniature breed. One of the best known and finest sires in the USA was Toyland Zodiac, a 31 inch top quality, black Leopard Appaloosa Falabella stallion born in 1976. Toyland Zodiac is the leading sire and grandsire of more show quality and top winning offspring than any other Falabella stallion in the USA. Some of the most beautiful and finest quality Falabellas have Toyland Zodiac in their ancestry.

SPECIALIZING IN FALABELLAS
Specializing in Falabellas is a popular choice for those who are looking for something unique and different. A growing number of Miniature breeders and other horse breeds are adding Falabellas to their farm as they see the many advantages in breeding these rare little horses. They are available in every color, giving a wide variety of choices. They can be registered and shown in competition in all Miniature Horse shows, and in all Miniature Horse Registries in the World. Most important, they have their own FMHA Registration certificate to authenticate their historic ancestry. With many top farm names coming and going over the years, the Falabella name has withstood the test of time and has retained its status. Falabellas are known and shown world wide and the name creates its own market which is a unique advertising and promotional advantage available to Falabella breeders. Some Falabellas can be expensive and carry premium prices, however, most can be acquired at affordable prices. Foals are especially desirable and can cost less than adults. They are a good choice forthose who want a few or are looking to acquire future breeding stock or show prospects.

There are less than 1,700 Falabellas registered in the FMHA since its incorporation in 1973. Only small herds are known to exist in the USA and most other countries, and their number is estimated to be only several thousand in the entire world. There is a strong demand and limited supply due to the small number in existence. There are distinct differences between Falabellas compared to American Miniature Horses. The rarity and purebred Falabella ancestry of every Falabella is what primarily sets it apart from all other Miniature Horses.

ARGENTINA ACCF FALABELLA REGISTRY
All Falabellas originally came from the Falabella farm in Argentina and they still continue to breed and export their Falabellas around the World. The Falabella Farm in Argentina has developed its own Association de Criadores de Caballos Falaballa (ACCF) Registry, in which they record the original ancestry of their Sires, Dams and offspring born on the Falabella Farm. When a Falabella is imported from Argentina, they have an ACCF registration document which authenticates their Falabella Farm heritage.

FALABELLA MINIATURE HORSE ASSOCIATION
The Falabella Miniature Horse Association (FMHA), was incorporated in 1973 as the first Falabella Miniature Horse Registry in the World. By this time, Falabellas were already becoming very popular and a number of breeders were importing them to the USA and other parts of the world. With continued importations of Falabellas and additional offspring being born, there was a need for a Registry to record and authenticate their pure Falabela ancestry, thus the beginning of the Falabella Miniature Horse Association. The Argentina ancestral Pedigrees were recorded and FMHA registration certificates were issued to all pure Falabellas and their offspring. Today, FMHA continues as an International Falabella Registry for Falabellas all over the World.

FMHA REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Only pure Falabellas are accepted for Registration in FMHA. They must have an FMHA registered Sire and Dam or must have documented proof of every ancestor tracing their original ancestry to the Falabela Farm in Argentina. FMHA honors all pure Falabellas with Regisration certificates from imported Falabellas with ACCF registrations from the Argentina Falabella Farm and from other Falabella Registries in other Countries. The Falabella Registry, American Registries and other Miniature Horse Registries. An additional and important plus is that most Falabellas in the USA are also registered in the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) and/or the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) and Falabella offspring can be triple registered in AMHA, AMHR and FMHA. This gives owners the opportunity to register, breed and show their Falabellas in the Registries of their choice and still maintain a pure Falabella breeding program.

The American Miniature Horse is extremely popular and has become one of the top choice Equine breeds. Proof of their popularity is shown as the count of AMHA and AMHR Registrations are over 200,000 since their inception. In comparison, there are less than 1,700 Falbellas registered in FMHA since its inception in 1973, attesting to their rarity. Pure Falabellas make up only a tiny part of the growing number of other Miniature Horses, however, they are a big attraction for Miniature horse breeders and Falabella Fanciers. SHOWING FALABELLAS Winners Ribbons, trophies and special awards can bring show titles, recognition and added value to your Falabellas. Falabellas can compete side by side with other Miniatures for winners ribbons and National titles, and some have taken top awards on an International basis.

DISPOSITION
Falabellas are sweet natured and enjoy being with children, adults and seniors. Their small size makes them easy to handle. They are easy to train to drive and fun to show. They can also provide family enjoyment as a beloved pet or companion for anyone, from tots to teens and adults, foals are especially adorable and affectionate making for a very unique and precious equine. They are versatile in many ways and can do all the things that any Miniature Horse can do. Most can be ridden by small children. They are quite intelligent and can be trained to do so many thing. They are strong for their size and driving them is very popular, especially in shows and parades.

QUALITY
The quality of a Falabella is most important, having an overall appearance of a well balanced horse with a pleasing look, good legs, a good bite and good conformation, the same as required to show. Falabellas with the finest show quality are highly desirable.

BREED TYPE
All breed types are acceptable for the Falabella. As development of the Falabella evolved, selective breeding has created a variety of types. Some of the most popular Breed types seen in Falabellas are the Arabian, Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Pinto and Appaloosa, but the most important factor will always be their pure Falabella ancestry. Emphasis has been toward breeding for refinement, well balanced conformation and the look of a true horse in the breed type they resemble.

SIZE
Birth heights can be as small as 12 inches and up to 22 inches or more, and mature heights are usually attained at 3 years of age. Since they are naturally a small equine breed, mature heights can be 25 inches to 34 inches and over but most Falabellas mature in the 30 to 34 inch height range. All sizes are accepted for registration in FMHA. In essence, size does not take away from their pure ancestry or their value. The Falabellas pure heritage has always been the first and foremost reason to acquire them. Once a pure Falbella is accepted for registration, they remain registered in FMHA for life.

COLORS
The Falabella comes in all solid colors and a wide variety of colorful Pinto and Appaloosa patterns. Rare Pintaloosa patterns can also occur, showing both Pinto and Appaloosa markings. Some of the most colorful are in strong demand but limited in number.

FALABELLA BREEDER INCENTIVES
Because of their rarity, the primary reason to have Falabellas is to protect and preserve the breed through dedicated breeding and keeping the bloodlines pure, but secondly, specializing in the Falabella bloodline gives a great marketing advantage since there are a small number of Falabella breeders but a large number of potential buyers who have Miniature Horses.

In a business sense, Falabellas can be acquired to start a small horse farm which can generate a yearly income in addition to your own job or business. It also offers farm tax benefits and can give a higher, safer and longer term return than some other investments. Foals have good value and are adorable and fun to raise. Additionally, foals will increase herd value if kept, or can generate income each year through sales. Feed costs are low and returns are high! A one time investment for each Falabella can give returns through foal sales for 20 years or more. The Falabella is truly a special breed to consider.

By Laurie Stevens

Laurie Stevens Author, and well renowned Pure Falabella Miniature horse breeder of 31 years has produced some of the finest Falabellas in the world. Please visit our Website at ToylandFalabellas.com

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Feeding a mini-horse

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Miniature horse grooming (Maliboo)

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Miniature Horse Tack

Miniature horses are one of the fastest-growing equine breeds in the world today. These elegant and cute horses, no taller than 38 inches (from the withers to the last hairs), are attracting a lot of attention. They can be bred like regular horses and even ridden.

Miniature horses require tack similar to a regular horse. It includes bits, carts and wagons, harnesses, saddles, bridles, reins, halters, girths or cinches, martingales and other accessories, but in smaller sizes than for normal horses. Most miniature horse tack equipment is made of fine leather for strength and durability. Some accessories such as curb straps and stirrup hobbles are also available in different colors, such as natural, light, dark, black, and burgundy.

Prices of miniature horse tack differ based on the material, size and model. A floral-embossed saddle with 8-inch suede seat may be priced at around $125, while a blanket and a girth may cost around $14 and $7, respectively. A miniature Western saddle with or without tooling and an 8-inch suede seat is priced at approximately $200. A bridle may cost around $25 and a miniature Eggbutt bit may be priced at around $20, while a 3.5-inch stainless steel Eggbutt snafflebit may cost around $30. A leather halter may cost $12, while a nylon halter may be priced at around $8. An entire English tack set comprising of saddle, bridle and pad is also available for just $200. Some manufacturers are also offering custom-made miniature horse tacks as per the exact size of the horse.

There are also some stores that offer miniature horse tack on discount. Prices would be slashed as much as 20-30%. Miniature horse tack accessories can also be bought over the Internet. There are several sites that have exclusive products featured for miniature horses. Products can be compared and even ordered online.

Horse Tack [http://www.WetPluto.com/Discount-Horse-Tack.html] provides detailed information on Horse Tack, Discount Horse Tack, Horse Tack for Sale, Miniature Horse Tack and more. Horse Tack is affiliated with Cartoon Penguins [http://www.WetPluto.com/Baby-Penguins.html].

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Morning Chores With Granny1/Feeding The Miniature Horses heh

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Adorable "Beau", 2010 black and white Miniature Colt having fun with his "ball"

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Gotta go feed the horses!

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Miniature Horse Breeders Track Record

It really is thought that the 1st ancestor on the modern horse, Equus Caballus, was no bigger than a cat. Eohippus was thought to have a number of toes, a curved spine like a cat, a short neck and the ability to eat and digest leaves as opposed to grass. Over millennia, the horse grew, developed longer legs and neck and switched to a diet of grass when the grasslands began to push out forests. Miniature Horse breeders argue that they're taking the horses back to their original state. But who were definitely the 1st Miniature Horse breeders?

Depending on which Miniature horse breeder you talk to, you will locate a lot of theories as to who were the first Miniature horse breeders. Some say that Miniature Horses have always been close to and it was only a few men and women here and there throughout history that have been able to appreciate their small size. Some say that the Horse breeders didn't begin until the time of the filthy rich nobility in Europe that wanted unusual animals in their Royal menageries.

But one of my favorite stories is that the primary Miniature Horse breeders were definitely from Arab tribes. They bred the Horse for the delight of their sheiks and their kids. Despite the fact that horses were prized for horse back riding, there was also a require for horses to share the palace.

Backing up this theory is that of the rediscovery in the Caspian Horse breed, named due to the fact it was rediscovered from the area in the Caspian Sea. They ended up native to Iran and are considered the forefathers in the mighty Arabian horse breed. They look like smaller versions of Arabians, being the height of modern ponies but containing the slim features and bodily proportions of the horse.

Caspian Horses are depicted in ancient Middle Eastern art, where their shoulders are at the height of the man's waist. The breed was believed to have been wiped out, but a herd was discovered thriving in 1965 close to the Caspian Sea. They have since incredibly slowly trickled close to the world.

The initial successful and proven Miniature Horse breeders had been the Falabella family of Argentina inside 1880's. They admit, though, that they did add ponies to be able to bring down the breeding stock. Most Miniature Horses in North and South America today are derived from these intelligent and charming Falabella horses. It can be unknown, but theorized, that one in the breeds that made up the Falabella was the Caspian.

Helen Tanady has been writing articles, online and offline, for more than 4 years. This author often writes on health and fitness, dating, weight loss and fat loss related. Read her latest articles at corrugated shipping boxes [http://www.corrugatedshippingboxes.org/] which explain and review about bubble wrap packaging [http://www.corrugatedshippingboxes.org/bubble-wrap-packaging.html].

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Miniature Horses Are New Type Of Therapy Animal

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Miniature Horses Are Just Smaller Versions Of A Horse

There is no one breed of horses that are called miniature-this is just a term that is used to describe a horse that meets certain height requirements. Most breeds are measured in hands-where one hand equals four inches. However, minis are measured in inches or centimeters. They are measured from the ground to the base of the hairs on their mane.

Miniature horses are less than half the size of a regular horse and breeders select the smallest stallions and mares for breeding. This way, they hope to ensure that they have even smaller foals the following spring. A new foal weights about 18-22 pounds and stands 16 to 21 inches at birth-making it about the same size as a medium-sized dog.

They are basically the same as their larger relatives in their shape, appearance and personality. They come in every color a horse can be-black, bay, sorrel, palomino, solid colors, mixed or pintos. They have very long manes and tails and some of them even have tails that can touch the ground.

Miniature horses have been around for over 400 years; however, their origin is unknown. In olden days, they were pets in the palaces and revered by nobility. Throughout the decades, their popularity grew among the rich mostly because they were not useful as a worker-they were too small to carry a rider or a heavy load.

Eventually, the miniature horse found a job. They were used to pull loads of coal from mines since they were small enough to move safely through the tunnels where they gained the nickname of pit ponies. All was not lost on them because when they too old to work, they were often taken home as pets by the miners.

Breeders became interested in the miniature horses in the mid-1900s and several different herds were cultivated and the breed increased in size, popularity and value. The first registry was called the American Miniature Horse Registry and was created in 1972. They helped develop and document pedigrees for the miniature horses, some of them going back to the early 1940's.

Today, they are maintained as the result of careful breeding. Their gentle personalities make them good pets for children, elderly people and even for people with disabilities. In several communities, they are taken directly into schools rooms, nursing homes and hospital wards to help cheer up patients and to educate the children.

How often can children today spend a day on a farm and interact with the animals? There are miniature horse farms around the country that open their doors to visitors as one way to help finance their hobby of breeding these animals. Many of them even have special barns with a show rink where the miniature horses can demonstrate their skills to the public.

Think about spending a day visiting one of these farms and give your children an opportunity to see and interact with these beautiful animals. You may start a love affair with your children wanting to breed these lovely creatures when they grow up.

For more information on horses, try visiting [http://www.interestinghorses.com] - a website that specializes in providing horse related tips, advice and resources including information on the miniature horse [http://www.interestinghorses.com/miniaturehorse.html].

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Dr Harry: showing miniature horses

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Owning Miniature Horses - The Smallest Of The Small

When it comes to pet ownership, we all have our preferences; the debate of dog versus cat can go on indefinitely. But for those who prefer horses, the care and feeding of their animal suddenly becomes a far greater undertaking then simply housing a smaller, more domesticated animal. Horses are large animals that come with an even larger responsibility for their owners. But for some people, ownership of miniature horses allows them to enjoy all that attracts them to horses, but on a much smaller scale.

Miniature horses are simply the result of hundreds of years of careful and purposeful breeding that has taken place all over the world. Today, The American Miniature Horse Association, established in 1978, continues to set the guidelines for these horses. To date, they are the only organization working to standardize the specifications.

In order to be defined as miniature horses, they must not reach higher than 34 inches in height. However, the differentiation between standard sized horses and these horses stops here; the physical features actually mirror that of their full-sized counterparts; but are simply in proportion to their size. If you were to look at one with no basis for size comparison, it would look like a typical, average sized horse.

Miniature horses are shown in competition just as their full-sized cousins. But their manageable size makes them especially instrumental in working with special needs individuals who wish to ride, but must avoid the larger animals for safety reasons. Because of their size, they are also child-friendly; children often learn to ride on these smaller, more controllable breeds.

Those who own miniature horses will also tell you of the unique opportunity they have to enjoy all that is special about a horse while still enjoying all that comes with having the ability to hold an animal in your lap!

The care is just as important as that for larger horses. Much of the standard care remains the same - including grooming, veterinary care, exercise and nutrition, and shelter - with special attention paid to eating. The smaller digestive track puts them at risk for intestinal problems; owners must be alert to the special feeding requirements of the breed. Owners will be happy to note, however, that the care for the horses costs significantly less than the care for full-sized horses.

For those interested in owning one, it is important to do a fair amount of research. Just as with any breed of horse, temperaments vary from horse to horse. Seek out and get to know a reputable breeder who can assist you in finding the horse that's right for you and your family.

Owning a horse of any size must be taken on only after careful consideration. But if you find that you enjoy all the characteristics of a horse, but are put off by its normally grand size, you may want to investigate miniature horses; all the beauty of a horse in one tiny package.

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Miniature Horse Baby

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Buying a Miniature Horse, First Time Buyer

This is about a few things that I learned recently while looking to buy a Miniature Horse. I had in mind that I would like a small equine of some type. At first I thought that perhaps a donkey would be appropriate in that they are sturdy animals and are known to not be afraid of wildlife such as coyotes and foxes. Often you see a donkey out with a herd of cattle or a flock of sheep. Another choice I had in mind was a pony. I have had ponies in the past and have found them to be interesting animals in that they can be ridden as well as driven and they are usually quite easy to handle once some groundwork training has been put into them. Then, I noticed some Internet advertising about Miniature Horses. The first thing that I noticed was the fact that the asking prices for these little horses were usually quite high. These asking prices were actually higher than I was prepared to spend on something that I wanted primarily for a pet. But, I was intrigued so I started looking about.

An animal rescue website caught my eye. The farm was located close to home and listed 2 or 3 Miniature Horses for sale or adoption. I went to visit. One I thought would be suitable was an 11-year-old mare. Her asking price was negotiable. Another little 3-year-old mare also looked promising and I thought that perhaps she could be the one. What I was finding, however, with these particular animals was the fact that to the more-or-less untrained eye (never having had a Mini before) nothing was particularly striking about their appearance, in that, they strongly resembled ponies and without asking you were really not sure what breed you were inspecting. I came home having made no decision and thinking that maybe a Miniature Horse was not the way to go.

One evening my son called me in to see a Mini advertised for sale, complete with picture, in a classified ad on his computer. My first comment was, "Oh, that's a sharp little horse." Please bear in mind that I have had horses non-stop since 1962, so I do know good conformation, etc., when I see it. This little horse was priced in my price range but was located about 3 hours away. Long story short, we went to see the little guy, a 2-year-old gelding, well mannered, friendly, and most importantly for me, he looked like a little horse. Much to the surprise of the owners I purchased without hesitation.

Please, I am not trying to offend anyone here, especially the breeders of Miniature Horses. Quite the contrary, what I am trying to convey is praise for Miniature Horse breeders for as I found out with careful looking and with patience you can find that perfect Miniature Horse meant just for you.

Barb Wilson Meyers is a Registered Nurse, Therapeutic Touch Practitioner, and owner of Hoodsland Internet Sales of Gifts and Collectibles. For more articles about animals and to receive a discount on any purchase made from Hoodsland please visit: http://www.hoodsland.com/blog/articlespg2.htm For animal stories and to receive a discount on any purchase made from Hoodsland please visit: http://www.hoodsland.com/blog

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Miniature Horse Does Dog Tricks

http://minihorsesinfo.blogspot.com/

Miniature Horse Breeds

People are often amused and surprised when they see horses, either at horse shows, country fairs, or even at the circus. The horse may seem like an oddity at first, but they are a result of hundreds of years of selective breeding.

"Minis" as they are affectionately called, are believed to have originated from Shetland ponies. They were bred specifically for a variety of tasks, including working in coal mines, as pets for royalty and as performers at traveling circuses and carnivals.

The first records of an individual owning miniature horses were kept in the mid 1600s. These horses were said to belong to King Louis XIV and were kept at his Versailles palace in France. The first minis arrived in the United States in the 1800s and worked in the coal mines of the Appalachian Mountains.

Miniatures horses are used for a variety of purposes today including livestock, pets, and companion animals for those who are disabled. Minis live to be between 20 to 30 years old, the same lifespan of their larger counterparts.

Various breeds are believed to exist in countries throughout the world. These include:

o UK Shetland Pony

o Miniature Shetland Pony

o Miniature Pony

o Miniature Toy Horse

o Midget Pony

o Micro Mini

o Dartmoor Pony

o American Miniature Horse

o Falabella

Like other breeds of horses, Minis must adhere to certain standards in order to be considered genuine members of their particular breed. These standards include being no more than 7 to 8 hands high, having rounded hooves, straight and parallel legs, widely spaced eyes and they must be well-proportioned overall.

There are horses for sale all around the globe, waiting to be purchased or adopted by loving families or individuals. A horse can be the perfect companion for anyone, young or old, who possesses a big heart for these little wonders.

There are Miniature horses for sale [http://www.jans-mcaminiaturehorses.com] all around the globe, waiting to be purchased or adopted by loving families or individuals. A miniature horse can be the perfect companion for anyone, young or old, a big heart for these little wonders.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Charlie - Miniature Horse With Attitude

http://minihorsesinfo.blogspot.com/

Miniature Pets by CS Swarens - ArticleCity.com

by: CS Swarens

It is uncertain exactly when miniature breed animals first came about. Historical and archaeological evidence point to gargantuan rats and dinosaurs smaller than many chickens. What is certain is that miniature pets are a big business and offer big rewards, both financially and personally.

There may be many jokes among some men about miniature poodles or chihuahuas but the fact of the matter remains that miniature dogs are increasingly popular among people. Many people simply do not have the room to own a large dog. A small dog can be just as happy in a small house as it can be in a large home.

These days, you can find miniature horses, miniature pigs, and many other breeds that were very uncommon just a few short years ago. For some people it is simply a matter of the cute factor. Smaller animals somehow become "cute" even when their larger relatives are anything but good looking or popular among most people. Unless you live in the country, you probably never heard anyone bragging about their 1200 pound pig.

For some other people, the joys of owning a miniature pet is in no small part, due to the fact that they make much smaller messes. Anyone who has ever had to carry a plastic bag for waste removal every time that they took their dog for a walk will probably agree to this. Anybody who has ever had to housebreak a pet would also be hard-pressed to find the fault in this logic.

For some people, cost is a major factor. A large dog would eat large amounts of food every day. Over the course of time, those costs will add up to a large amount of money which to some people at least, shows no positive return for their investment. Other people may see the true value of their pets but just cannot afford to feed a large dog or other animal that will quite literally, eat them out of house and home.

Whatever reason people have for wanting a miniature pet, they have become big business as well. Contests, shows and major events regularly occur all over the world for miniature pet lovers. Some of these shows stress the importance of a lack of size but they are increasingly looking at other criteria for deciding winners as well.

Miniature horse shows have spawned entire new industries to keep up with the demands of that lifestyle. Miniature surreys are available as are carts, miniature saddles and other features that have no market outside that of the miniature horse.

Similarly, shows for the miniature pot-bellied pigs and other miniature breeds are becoming increasingly popular as well. Whatever your reasons are for wanting to own a miniature pet, remember that not only can you reap big rewards, you will also open brand new opportunities in ways you may never have imagined possible. There are many different reasons for owning a pet. Pet owners can enjoy a host of benefits that people without pets will never truly know or understand. Just remember that when you are looking for a pet, size really does not matter. Miniature pets really are big business that consistently reap big rewards.

CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com

Research over 430 pet breed profiles http://www.findapetonline.com/breeds.html