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

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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Dr Harry: showing miniature horses

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Do You Show Your Horse Love in The Winter? by Theresa Truscott

by: Theresa Truscott

Let us say winter is here and you're warm and cozy by the fireplace, drinking the hot chocolate and reading a good book. Maybe you are enjoying some soothing music while ensconced in your favorite pajamas; all wrapped up comfortably in your soft blanket while the snow falls lightly outside.

What about your horse? Is your horse in a clean, warm stall in the barn, with fresh hay and clean water, protected from the elements? Did you remember his horse blanket? It's not as though he can waltz over to his little closet and take it out of the drawer! Your precious investment is depending on you to remember the particulars of his care.

A cold horse in winter is a pitiful thing indeed. If you decide to buy a horse, even if it is just for the sake of saying you own one, please take the time to provide proper care and housing, medical attention, and the right equipment. Part of that equipment and proper care involves the horse blanket.

A horse blanket is particularly needed in the cold, hard elements of the winter season. The horse has no way of actually saying, "Hey, could you hand me that blanket, please?" It is a living, breathing creation and is counting on the master of the estate to give it what it needs to survive.

The horse blankets need not be elaborate, expensive pieces of valuable art. They simply need to be functional for the animal. The function here is to hold in the animal's body heat in the winter. Of course, they are also used as cushioning underneath the saddles among other things. Which, by the way, is also needed in the winter and the blanket helps the horse stay warmer while being ridden outside.

Miniature horses have their own furry horse blankets in the winter. Even though all horses have thicker hair in the winter, the minis look woolly! They sometimes enjoy running in the snow just for fun! One type of miniature horse is the Falabella, which are said to be survivors of the Ice Age. They must have been an extremely tough breed of animal to survive the harsh winters from that period of time.

Maybe you are wondering if the horses of the Ice Age needed blankets. While I'm sure plenty survived without them, horses being gentled and tamed by mankind have also been bred somewhat spoiled or weakened, if you will. I suppose you could compare it to a dog that has been kept inside with the central heat since a pup. If you put the dog outside in the yard in the harsh winter, it will struggle against the cold. Besides, just because a horse survived the Ice Age doesn't mean he should be forced to endure the winter without a horse blanket now. Humans survived living in caves with no electricity or modern amenities, but now we've spoiled and pampered ourselves and most would have a hard time surviving harsh conditions of nature. So, care for your horse with the love and tenderness that is deserved.

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

The author invites you to visit: http://www.horseridingblankets.com

2009 American Miniature Horse Champ Youth Jumper - 2

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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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Crunch the Miniature Horse ★ "FREE JUMPING 2" ★ (NEW) champion

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