MyBoyChe
Well-Known Member
Other than lowering the stable door and the fence line, any helpful tips please?
Miniature horses - anything I really need to know
- Thread starter MyBoyChe
- Start date
Auslander
Well-Known Member
They can dislocate every bone in their body to squeeze through the tiniest gaps
paddi22
Well-Known Member
our ones also seem to have manes that they can use as a shield to protect them from electric fences
paddi22
Well-Known Member
main things with minis, is the lami risk.. the majority of ones I've had get footy with frosty grass or the first flush of grass.
Nasicus
Well-Known Member
What bones? I'm pretty sure they're just a small, horse shaped blob of sentient oobleck.
MyBoyChe
Well-Known Member
So good fences then 
wills_91
Well-Known Member
1 is never enough.
Elf On A Shelf
...
Miniature horses are a total waste of time. I don't even think they look pretty. They are too dainty to ride or drive, too pansy-ish to be out in the rain. They are essentially Miniature thoroughbreds. Though tb's are tougher. Oh and good luck trying to find rugs to fit them. They all end up too big round the neck/chest.
Miniature Shetlands are a different breed entirely. They are Hardy wee so and so who could actually be driven and do more than mow the lawn.
Miniature Shetlands are a different breed entirely. They are Hardy wee so and so who could actually be driven and do more than mow the lawn.
nagblagger
Well-Known Member
Ask Julesjoy, she has some and i must admit they are cute.
chaps89
Well-Known Member
Oooh there’s a poster who has/occasionally breeds them and they’re adorable. She has a lovely big bay as well and I think she might be in Ireland but why can I not remember her user name 
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
This. My experience is they can be hellishly metabolic. I had a 2 year old with hot feet who turned into a 3 year old who couldn't touch a blade of grass.
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite
Well-Known Member
I live in Devon and not far from me there is the Munchkins Miniature Shetland pony rescue. They do a wonderful job of rescuing and rehoming these tiny little ponies.
Just a suggestion, but it might be worth reaching out to them - as they will be experienced in dealing with Dwarfism issues in equines - which causes a LOT of health issues with these little ones. And I mean a LOT. And a very expensive vets-bill LOT......
I have a Dachshund; who also have the dwarfism gene - and my little man is already experiencing difficulties in his front legs caused by this.
I really would urge you to research dwarfism and this type of pony before you make any firm commitment. Should you decide to go ahead I fear you will need a VERY deep purse.
Just a suggestion, but it might be worth reaching out to them - as they will be experienced in dealing with Dwarfism issues in equines - which causes a LOT of health issues with these little ones. And I mean a LOT. And a very expensive vets-bill LOT......
I have a Dachshund; who also have the dwarfism gene - and my little man is already experiencing difficulties in his front legs caused by this.
I really would urge you to research dwarfism and this type of pony before you make any firm commitment. Should you decide to go ahead I fear you will need a VERY deep purse.
Gamebird
Well-Known Member
Your farrier and vet will both stop returning your calls!
And your EDT will start taking holidays to Barbados, funded entirely by you.
(I am only partly joking!!)
And your EDT will start taking holidays to Barbados, funded entirely by you.
(I am only partly joking!!)
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Elf On A Shelf
...
A miniature horse is not a dwarf, it's been bred to be the size it is. A miniature Shetland is also not a dwarf just a result of breeding smaller and smaller ponies. There is no denying that some do have dwarfism and there is a lot of testing now going on in Shetlands - both standard and mini - to stop breeding from ponies that carry the gene. A pony can carry 1 copy of the gene and not be affected by it. But if you cross 2 carriers together you risk them both passing on the gene resulting in a dwarf.
Might be an unpopular opinion here but I think dwarf foals should not see out 6 months, much less if the mother would cope with losing the foal. A Stud gave one of their mares and dwarf foal over to the vets to study until weaning time when the foal would be pts. Beforehand if necessary if it had no quality of life. I'm not sure what the vets found out over the 6 months of the study but I am sure it will be published at some point when they have had enough dwarves gifted to them to make more of an informed theory.
The Fuzzy Furry
Getting old disgracefully
Hasn't Munchkins closed down earlier this year?
Crugeran Celt
Well-Known Member
Having just one doesn't seem to be a possibility, they tend to multiply before your very eyes. They are fun, easy but love breaking fencing while trying to find the greener grass. Never, ever leave them in the garden with your doors open, they will come in and try and raid the cupboards. Warn the farrier to check his van before he leaves as if the doors are open they will try to get in. Love mine and wouldn't be without them.
Auslander
Well-Known Member
And don't make the mistake of thinking that things that are left out of reach are actually out of reach...
meleeka
Well-Known Member
You commented on having to lower the stable door and fence. You should be aware that the difference between a stable door that’s the right height and one that’s too low they can just jump over is about an inch! same with fences.
Kaylum
Well-Known Member
Not sure but it's still open according to their Facebook posts.
Pinkvboots
Well-Known Member
Someone used to show a dwarf shetland at our local show they were always there the kid used to ride it and do in hand it won and got placed quite alot.
No one ever said anything about it
My friend often judged there and she said if it was ever in one of her classes she would ask them to leave the ring, just to add its conformation was awful.
MyBoyChe
Well-Known Member
Aus, thats a great pic
Elf On A Shelf
...
Someone used to show a dwarf shetland at our local show they were always there the kid used to ride it and do in hand it won and got placed quite alot.
No one ever said anything about it
My friend often judged there and she said if it was ever in one of her classes she would ask them to leave the ring, just to add its conformation was awful.
I got beaten by a dwarf with DumDum
the judge said "he's not very well behaved is he" after DumDum did 3 strides of canter instead of trot but otherwise didn't out a toe out of line. The same could not be said of the Welsh pony she put 2nd who spent the majority of its time on its back legs boxing at its owner or jogging sideways same judge also once said to an exracer Competitor - I don't like your horses legs, the cannon bones are far too short.She now works for us....
Pinkvboots
Well-Known Member
It's bad they shouldn't be shown.
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
It's much cuter to cut a hole in the stable door than lowering it 
asmp
Well-Known Member
Was the cute pony on the Amazon ad a dwarf? For the life of me I can’t remember what the ad was about though.