Horse
Pronunciation:
Min-it-cha
Breed Description:
The Miniature breed of horse produces animals that are the size of a very small pony. They are considered to be horses because their characteristics are horse-like in proportion. A well-bred Miniature is well-balanced and has correct conformation just like the larger breeds. Its head should be in proportion with its neck and its body, which should be well-muscled. It has a short back and its legs should be straight and even, producing fluid movement. They are bred with various colors and coat patterns. The ultimate goal is to produce the smallest possible horse that has the correct conformation. The Miniature breed of horse is friendly and it interacts well with people. For this reason they are often kept as family pets. However they do retain natural horse behavior, including the fight or flight instinct, and it is vital to treat them as equines, even if they are considered to be companion animals. The American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) was formed in 1978 with the intention of maintaining a registry and stud book and adopting a standard of perfection for the breed. Today, the AMHA is the world's largest miniature horse registry, with nearly 140,000 registered horses in 30 countries and provinces
Temperament:
The Miniature breed of horse is usually eager to please, gentle and incredibly affectionate.
Height:
The Miniature breed of horse has an average height of between 7 and 8 hands, or 28 to 34 inches at the withers. It should not be any bigger than 34 inches.
Weight:
The Miniature breed of horse averages around 150 to 250 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Miniature breed of horse is prone to a genetic, disease that can threaten their vision, called Anterior Segment Dysgenesis (ASD). They are also known to have big appetites for such a small animals, and so their diets must always be carefully monitored to avoid the risk of getting laminitis from eating too much fodder (particularly grass). Their small size can also be life threatening to both mare and foal in childbirth.
Living Conditions:
The Miniature breed of horse is often trained to work indoors, but they are still outdoor animals that need room to run and be real horses when they are not working with humans. They also require proper shelter outdoors to remain healthy and happy.
Exercise:
The Miniature breed of horse is not a riding breed, and so it does not have a general working routine. Nevertheless it is still a horse, and therefore needs space to run.
Life Expectancy:
The Miniature breed of horse lives on average to 30 years. Some are known to live as long as 50 years.
Grooming:
The Miniature breed of horse loves to be brushed, because they love attention and are very affectionate animals. Daily grooming is advised, and they should be bathed occasionally, but not too often otherwise their skin might dry out.
Origin:
The miniature breed of horse as we know it today is the result of about four centuries of selective breeding. In ancient times it is said that small horses were often present in the courts of Europe, where they were popular curiosities and pets for royalty. They also had a role in traveling circuses, where they gained a reputation for being enthusiastic performers.
Tiny horses didn't really lose their status as curiosities until the so-called pit pony made an appearance in Great Britain. These were basically Shetland ponies that had been selectively bred to produce a small animal that was capable of working in the coal mines of Wales. In the 19th century, pit ponies were regularly imported from Britain and the Netherlands to work in Appalachian coal mines. American breeders soon took an interest in them and began to selectively breed them for horse-like conformation.
Modern breeders of American miniature horses sometimes use imported English, Dutch, Belgian, and German miniatures to improve the breed, while some selectively breed miniatures from larger horse breeds.
