By: Mini Hobby Farmer
I do receive a commission if you buy from my links provided, it does not cost you any more money to use my links. Thank you for your support of my blog.
Are you considering getting a mini horse? I have some things to think about before you purchase that heartbeat.
SPACE
First things First-are you zoned for horses? Yes, people have them in their backyard, as I did in the beginning. But there is always a party-pooper looking to get you in trouble. I was at the end of the road and my family occupied the two houses next to me. We were in the town limits and there was nothing against us owning horses, but it didn’t stop the people who always want to tear people down. You can check ordinances online or call just to double check. You may want to specifically say the size of said horse, have a plan for manure removal already in place. Such as a written plan or agreement where you take it to a farmer for their garden or sell it to someone that makes it into fertilizer. It’ll save headaches for sure.
As for land size. Well, you’ll get a lot of conflicting opinions. Bottom line, in my opinion, minimum space is a ¼ of an acre. So if that’s your yard size you may have a new yard ornament. They do get the zoomies so that’s something to consider to as they run like maniacs, and you want to make sure the space is adequate for that. Again, though, check ordinances for your home.
SHELTER
When I first thought about getting a miniature horse I was so excited. We lived on .25 acres and although not ideal, I’ve always wanted a horse. Since then, I have not put that as a priority. Why? Because I’ve always had some sort of 3-sided shelter for them. I’ve even used the horse trailer with a tarp on it in a pinch. But, for my first few minis-they had a nice barn.
So that’s it. They need a 3-sided shelter. Something so simple as two cattle panels, a tarp, and some t posts can get a shelter up and going. General rule of thumb is to have the opening to the South. This is my mini Leaper. Has multiple shelters but prefers to stand outside anyway. And the hay is in the shelter.
COMMITMENT
If you were to go out and buy a weanling, that’s a mini horse that just got taken off mama’s milk about 4-6 months old. You could own that miniature for 25-30 years from what I researched; however, Wikipedia lists it as 40-45 years. And depending on the horse they can come with health issues to be managed for all of that time.
FOOD AND WATER
As with any critter, they need to be fed and watered. I will have to say, compared to chicks/chickens they are a winner in this category for a more hands off depending on your living situation.
I have fed square bales, cubes from the feed store in drought years, and round bales. My favorite is round bales with square bale supplements.
They are prone to founder, so you want to be sparingly with the grains and treats. I’d stick to a low starch for a treat and maybe a cup a day at most. I’ll talk about founder in a bit.
Round bales won’t work for every mini especially if they are prone to be fat, however you can put a net on it to slow them down. My round bales have never been stellar quality so it’s more of a muchie pass time. Where my minis get better nutrition is the square bales.
I do also put them into a net though, to slow down the eating. The nice thing about this is you can get eyes on them to make sure they don’t have any injuries.
Clean fresh water is a must for every animal, horses included. We have a pond, but supplement with water and have to drag the hose a considerable way until they come up with a Bluetooth model, haha. Be sure your shorty can reach in the bucket or tub. You don’t want direct sun in the summer due to algae and you don’t want shade in the winter as it’ll freeze faster and thaw slower. Water is a huge commitment especially her in TN, we have hot, hot, summers, and freezing winters. It does take extra time for chores.
Also, a salt lick will encourage hydration in the winter. They also use the water to clean their teeth of grass/hay.
BE ABLE TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF
We all make mistakes. I’ve made them over and over with my mini horse adventures. I have gotten some I couldn’t touch, I’ve been kicked, bit, stepped on. Thank goodness they are minis because a full-sized horse would have taken me out with what I’ve been through. Minis are fun and raised right are nice little pocket pets. You can train them to drive or just love on them.
I am not a vet but these are some of the things I have dealt with or know about minis:
Illness: Mini horses can be prone to patella issues, overbite/underbite (I have one with an underbite and he needs no special care), obesity, dwarfism, colic, founder.
Patella issues can be mild or serious. Can be fixed with exercise or need surgery. It’s important to really evaluate your mini or get a vet check before purchase.
Obesity: this is usually because they have metabolic issues. You can prevent things like founder by giving them good hay and don’t overfeed grains and sugary treats.
Dwarfism: this is a mini that would be best in the hands of a skilled owner. I say this because they can have other health issues and not just be small. They can have issues with digestive health and their intestines. They can also have a shorter life span.
Colic: sometimes you can do everything right and your horse may still colic. This can range from needing to walk them to needing surgery. This is a life or death so if they are laying down, rolling around a lot, off food and water -call the vet.
Founder: I have a mini that foundered. He got into the persimmons. I still feel guilty for this. He has had aggressive trims and doesn’t limp, but it was a horrible 8 month ordeal. It was caused from sugar overload. That is why no grain is best.
You can easily search online for tips on the best type of hay depending on your location. I use grass hay but timothy, Bermuda, and fescue(as long as there is no pregnancy) can all work well. When I fed cubes I mashed them into bits to prevent choking.
I recommend going shopping for:
A mini halter. I prefer rope like the one above.
A round bale net to slow the feeding and keep the round bale neater.
I use a hay net for square bales like the one below:
A grooming kit like this https://amzn.to/3PO9MUF has all you’ll need in that department. However you will probably find that you need multiple hoof picks and brushes like me because I can’t seem to keep track of them.
You will want to have hoof trimming supplies on hand even if you are not going to trim your own hooves. I use the smaller stuff and it works great because I have smaller hands.
A heated bucket for water in the winter can be found here:
Don’t forget the salt block!
Whatever you decide, I wish you well on your mini adventure!