Minis questions....

[fourh mom]

Ok... so I'm getting a mini this Saturday and I have a few questions. This particular mini is a stud - not sure about his age, under 2 though. He's not mine, he's just a "take him till you don't want him" deal w/a really good friend of mine who actually has a paint mare of mine on those same terms. Anyway... that was to say that I can't cut him... unless I end up buying him, at which point he WILL be cut post-haste.

The QUESTION is... he's registerable... how much does it cost to register one who's coming 2?

Also, I've been doing a bit of reading and one woman who was interviewed in an article said she believed that feeding hay to a mini is dangerous. Anyone here heard of that? This mini has been fed hay the whole time my friend has had him so.... ??

I would like to plan on keeping him in a hot-wire pen (adjusted all the wires to 'mini' height this week) but I'd LIKE to put my two goats in w/him. They don't tend to chew tails of the other horses but we'll jsut have to see about this mini. He IS a stud so maybe he'll have enough gumption to keep them off him. They are as big, or bigger, than he is though. This mini is in a pen by himself right now but plays w/the family boxer frequently... he's never met a goat.... :)

I plan to train him to jump, drive, be a 'petting zoo' mini, do a few tricks, and PLANNNNNN on bringing him into the house to acclimate him to being indoors (would like to plan on taking him to the local nursing him eventually -- as in a couple years down the road).

Am I crazy? sylvia

[pricestory]

Mini stallions are stallions. They are not pets. At two, he may be ok but he must be treated with the respect of a stallion, not a pet or stuffed toy.
That being said, minis can do all the things you listed. I'm just not sure I would do them with a stallion.
My minis are donkeys. They do ok with goats, just not dogs. Dogs are wolves as far as they are concerned. I did do almost everything you listed that you want to do with my mini jack before he was cut. But donkeys are different.
All the mini's I have known eat hay.
Contact the agency responsible for keeping the registry for information about getting him registered. They can send you the paperwork and tell you the cost, if you need blood typing, etc.

[atr]

Registration depends on height. AMHA (little ones) and AMHR (big ones) both have good web sites with lots of information where you should be able to get the costs and such. I don't think it is too prohibitively expensive.

The hay thing is bunk. My mini lives on grass hay with the occasional handful of alfalfa. The lady I bought him from is a breeder and she feeds pretty much exclusively grass hay.

They are more prone to impactions than the big guys, so you do need to keep an eye on their gut motility, make sure they are drinking enough and that your hay is not to coarse or stemmy. Mine gets a couple of spoonfuls of the big boy's beetpulp and rice bran mix in the mornings just to get something juicy into him.

Most minis are total air ferns and you will be amazed at how little you can feed them before they start to expand like little hairy balloons. However, they deflate almost as fast as they inflate, which is quite interesting...

The goats will eat his tail, no doubt about it. You friend might not be thrilled at that. Other than that, I know nothing of goats and am happy to stay in a state of ignorance about them!

I haven't taught mine to jump yet, but we might have a go at it soon. He's a hoot to drive--loves it, very forward and obedient. I'm looking forward to maybe showing him a bit in harness next year.

At 2, yours is old enough to start ground driving and acclimating to harness, but I wouldn't hitch a cart up for a year or so, personally, and if you aren't an experienced driver, get some help. They may be small, but they are darned strong and drivng can get dangerous if things get out of hand.

I haven't had mine in the house (new floors :))

You will find that there are some breathtakingly scarily ignorant-of-horses people in the world of minis. If you've got big horses and haven't killed them yet, you'll immediately have vastly more knowledge than many people you will meet out there.

I have to remind my husband that he isn't a dog, and he needs to have horse-manners (like walking properly, not snatching for food and dragging him around when he's leading him, which isn't cute, it's a complete pain.)

Mine is 6 and has been gelded about a year. He's very fancy, a halter champion, but on the larger end of mini-dom at 37" and was apparently throwing larger babies, which was a problem. Which is how I ended up being able to afford such a nice little horse!

I'm quite won over by my personable little man. The big horses are fascinated by him, but I keep them separated as I think they might squash him.

[fourh mom]

I have googled for the registry sites and brought several sites up... no fee information on them.

Yes, stallions are not pets.... I mean, No, stallions are not pets... I mean...

I know stallions are not pets. :)

Toward that end I fully intend to give him ground manners just like my big horses. I also plan to take his height into consideration. I've got a pony (12.2) and he holds his head up SO high. ;) I think some of it is because he has been handled that way. There was no need to teach him to put his head down so... he wasn't taught that.

I don't like haltering a horse or pony or mini, for that matter, whose head is as high as they can get it. Not only is it quite hard to halter a horse like that but it seems, to me anyway, an indication of level of training and acceptance of training. Sort of an indicator of where they're emotions are... the higher the head, the higher or less-under-control the emotions are. Just my observations.

I've had horses now for almost 9 years, have started a few from the ground up, retrained some 'project' horses, am currently working on my OWN 'training' so I can deal w/different types of horses much better than I've been doing, but... I've not had exposure to stallions. This mini is the only one I've dealt with and he's still so much a baby.

I plan to be fair to him just as I am to my other horses. He's going to be in 'isolation' but he will be turned out w/the geldings when it seems appropriate and he'll have the two goats as company. He's right here in the yard and can see all the comings and goings and I'm pretty sure he'll get a good bit of attention.

He's not a dog... he's a horse. And a STUD horse at that.... but he's so DURNNED CUTE!@!!!!! I mean DURN CUTE. :) I'd like to cut him but he's not mine so....

I did mention a goal of (give or take) two years on the 'visiting' thing. Hopefully, w/in that two year period I'll have bought him outright and can cut him. If not... I still fully believe that's a very reachable goal, even for a stallion. ;) sylvia

[atr]

Here's a little taste of the fun to come :)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/ACTRI/th_driving101033.jpg (http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/ACTRI/?action=view&current=driving101033.flv)

[fourh mom]

OH... about the driving.

I don't have much experience w/driving and actually... the only experience I DO have is teaching a pony how to drive about 2 years ago. ;) We did the ground driving thing and then a grould slide thing (hauling firewood, hay bales, water, pulling logs - small ones). Then we walked him around in the buggy a couple of times but -- then he sold - so. That's it for me. ;)

I do have a dude who can help me but he lives a couple hours away so his help will be infrequent. I DID find the advice of putting tires (preferrabley concrete filled ones) onto the buggy when I first stary leading and driving him in that. I was wondering mighty hard what I'd do if that pony ever did something stupid... he didn't but - at least now I've got a plan. :)

There's the saying, "If you've not been in a driving wreck, you've just not been driving long enough." I don't plan to wait breathlessly for my first wreck but -- I know there are risks and driving is probably a tad more dangerous than riding. Not taking the mini fro granted would be the hardest thing to do when driving them I'd reckon. Their size makes them perfect candidates for 'overlooking' certain warning signs that in a larger horse would affect some training changes. sylvia

[fourh mom]

DOn't know if I'll ever get the video to download (dial-up) but... what a darling little horse! :) sylvia

[goodhors]

When you get around to dragging things, I would NOT recommend the cement filled tires. Way too heavy. With a young animal, you want him to be brave, move into pressure of load. Maybe start with empty tire from small car, then move up to larger tires. Pulling is a constant pressure, wearing but not exhausting. You build up his confidence because load MOVES every time you ask him to try. Then get a little larger empty tire to drag, moving him up in difficulty after he is fit and understands.

Even our large horses, only get up to pulling the dually truck tire, sometimes pull two tires, but not often. We want different finished movement on our carriage horses than true working horses have when moving their big loads.

Two is very young, has not developed much attitude, behaviours yet in most cases. I would be very careful with any work around his mouth, stallions are pretty mouthy, part of being male. Turns into a game, biting, grabbing, tag. We don't do ANY hand feeding of animals under 3yrs. They get treats out of a small bucket.

Not sure if goats would like soap. We put dishsoap liquid on the broodmares tails to prevent foals chewing them off. Soap may keep the goats away, or not! Do reapply if mini gets wet, thins soap down.

I also would recommend waiting to train Mini for driving until next year or later. Lets his brain and bones develop more, so he is capable of doing the job.

[hobbyhorse23]

Registration depends on height. AMHA (little ones) and AMHR (big ones) both have good web sites with lots of information where you should be able to get the costs and such. I don't think it is too prohibitively expensive.

AMHA (little ones) and AMHR (big AND little ones, actually) do both have the fees on their websites. Both registries are closed to hardshipping at this time so in order to register him he must have registered parents, all the appropriate paperwork, and in some cases be parent qualified through DNA testing with mane hairs. It's not very expensive for a gelding but for a stallion it's $$$$. I wish you the best of luck. AMHA is for horses 34" and under and he cannot be "brought permanent" until he's five years old. AMHR is for horses under 38" at the last mane hairs and he can be brought permanent at...oh goodness, my memory is slipping. 3? 4? Eeek! I know it's sooner than AMHA.

The only problem I've ever heard with feeding them hay is with the coarse stuff and possible impaction in their little guts, same as ATR said.

While I do shake my head over some so-called "mini people" I have to admit I find the comment that "If you've got big horses and haven't killed them yet, you'll immediately have vastly more knowledge than many (mini) people you will meet out there" a bit offensive. :sigh: I know you didn't mean everybody who owns one, but still. Many people downsize to this breed after many years with larger horses because they are more manageable and easier to handle. Some of us of course just think they're too darn cute not to own one! :lol:

Anyway, minis are great fun and as long as you're careful to handle him like the stallion he is you may find that he's far more manageable than most large stallions would be. Some are very sweet. (Others are holy terrors. :D)

Leia

[pricestory]

My minis are with my horses. The only times I keep them seperate is when ready to foal and about a month or so after the babies are born. They always have access to a seperate pasture and shelter but they do fine with the big guys (actually one large pony and only 28yr old QH). If anything, the mini jack used to pick on the horses, not the other way around.

[fourh mom]

WHERE!!!!!!!! is the fee list? I just cannot find it. :( I have looked and looked.... it's probably like the proverbial snake... *sigh*

As for training him... he is so very small. I mean, you can pick him up and carry him around! Part of a day's work when you breed them I'm sure but -- rather amazing to a big horse owner. <lol> And I meant to mention this but didn't -- I've got 4-wheeler tires and I wouldn't put much concrete (if any) in them. Like I said, I've trained one (only one, but at least one) pony to pull a ground slide and small logs. He had a BIG stopping problem and pulling that ground slide w/us on board made him happy to find the 'whoa' button. :) I always try my best to train w/an eye toward growing confidence - in me, in their job, in themselves. I'm not out to make him snatch 200# tires around. ;)

We'll start like I do w/any horse - ground manners, respect, leading manners, standing, jumping small things, trailering... stuff like that.

Goodhors, I understand what you mean and it's a good idea for alot of folks to leave the mouth alone -- horses can get nippy very easily but -- I don't personally believe in leaving their mouths alone. There is a way of handling their heads and mouths that makes them respectful. I guess it's just my own thing but -- even on a mini stud that little mouth is mine, not theirs. I control where it goes and what it does when I'm there and toward that end I want it handled and I want him used to having his mouth and head handled. It's like handling feet, the more you do it - correctly - the better they get about it.

We had a show bull and I was told, "Leave his head ALONE!" *grin* I didn't. I rubbed his head all over and did so everytime I was around him. I would hold his head and hug it and rub his mouth and put my fingers in his mouth and flop his lips and even grab him by that little scruff on top of his head and pull him around. If he wanted to be 'bully' I'd correct him until he relaxed and let me play w/that big ole head.

He's coming 4 this Dec. and you can STILL go out and catch him and handle him for worming or even halter him and move him from pasture to pasture... and I still handle his head. I can ask him to stand still so I can approach him or I can tell him to "GIT" and his does.

I don't know how many other folks handle their stud's head but I am going to be one of 'those' who do. Just a personal opinion I suppose. At any rate... I really appreciate all the advice ya'll have given.

Question: What do you mean by 'course' hay? We have grass hay, not legume. It's bahalia - fertilized bahalia - and it's not what I would call course (as in the bedding straw 'course) but it's not bermuda or timothy by any means either. It's nice hay but some bales are a bit softer than others. I supposing that by 'course' you mean bedding straw and that most of the hay we have would be suitable for him.

I don't want to start obcessing over the whole thing but I do want to not kill him.... <lol>

The dish soap is a great idea. I'll certainly try it. The goats are a bit scared of most of my horses and I'd imagine a flick or two of his tail and a couple little kicks and they'll leave him alone.... I hope. ;) Dish soap is on stand-by though.

Both of his parents are registered but not sure which registry. I'll have to find out. I just really wanted a ball-park figure before I did too much research and stuff.

I mean... will it be $100? $75? $400?? Could someone post a direct link to the fee page?????? :) It eludes me. sylvia

[hundredacres]

I believe the theory that minis should not be fed hay is a scary, scary one. I would not assume because this woman believes it, that it is legit. Many horse people do some really strange things.

Horses need forage - Mini's need waaaay less. A fat mini will die, or will founder or will at the very least develope an insulin sensitivity or resistence. It is inevitable.

I wish you could cut him. There are too many mini's out there in this world. Seriously. They are shuffled around like long-lived hamsters or gold fish (from time to time finding themselves living in tractor trailers or garages and junk yards).

And one last thing - I am hoping to have my pony certified eventually to do the nursing home thing too - but I would NEVER in a million years do it wih a stallion. I know people will go on and on and on about how wonderful their stalion is - but I wouldn't do it simply because it shouldn't be done. There are too many stallions in this world. They have no business visiting non-horse-savvy people in wheelchairs.

Best of luck with him regardless. they are fun - but they are not to be treated exactly like a horse as far as health is concerned.

There's lots of mini-talk on L'il Beginnings Miniature Horse forum, BTW. It's the biggest mini forum I know of.

[hundredacres]

Oh, I *think it's somewhere around $165 to register AMHA.....go to L'il Beginnings...they'll know for certain.

[atr]

Hobbyhorse, I certainly didn't mean to offend... I'm just frustratedly tearing my hair out at the moment at a particular ignorant owner situation which I believe is going to end in tears and which I am utterly powerless to do anything about. And it isn't the first and won't be the last.

[olehossgal]

Since I've had(owned, bred, on a very small scale-never more than 3 foals in a year, and usually, only one or two-and not at all since '02-trained, shown, and most of all, ENJOYED!), miniature horses since 1984-and 'fullsized' horses since 1950-I feel qualified to comment!
Ridiculous to think that miniatures should not have hay! That said-I FIRMLY believe that more-than-averagely intensive management of how miniatures are fed is key to maintaining them in good health! Like other small equines, they ARE more prone to laminitis and founder due to overly 'rich' feed(including lush pasture). Any GOOD quality hay that is not over-mature(i.e., big ole thick tough stems) should work for miniatures; 'rich' hay such as high quality alfalfa, however, should be utilized very carefully...I myself feed part good alfalfa, part good grass hay, because of the excellent nutritional qualities of PROPERLY-PRODUCED alfalfa, though I would NOT feed alfalfa as the only hay. Miniatures CAN be 'air ferns'; it behooves the caretaker to provide adequate nutrition, adequate fiber in the diet, yet w/o 'overdoing' the calories! I like Triple Crown 'LITE' for accomplishing this.
I heartily second not trying to use a stallion as a 'therapy' horse. A stallion is a stallion--no matter what size it is--and almost certainly NOT suitable for such.
As for registration--although the AMHR(which accepts registration of horses up to 38" in height -MEASURED AT THE LAST HAIRS OF THE MANE, and NOT at the withers--IS now closed to hardshipping of horses of unknown background, they still WILL accept registration of a horse that already has valid AMHA papers! AMHA is NOT yet closed to hardshipping of horses of unknown/unrecognized(AMHA does NOT 'recognize' AMHR papers...)origin, but the hardshipping process IS pretty expensive, and has a number of "hoops" to jump through. From the '06 AMHA Rulebook(can't locate my '07 one at the moment)-straightforward regis. fees for a horse over 24 mo. of age--$60 Member, $100 non-Member. This is for 'Temporary' registration; in AMHA, horses may be 'Permanent' registered at 5 years of age; there are 'Advancement' fees for that, and they apply only if the advancement is done within 6 months after the horse's actual 5th birthday...for a stallion, $50,Member;$100, non-Member.Hardship fee for a stallion is $1200, Member OR non-Member-plus there will be additional costs, such as DNAing, and the costs of having the horse inspected. Membership is $75 for the initial year you join, $55/year renewal-or was, in '06...on the AMHA website, try looking for the 'Rulebook' for the current price list of costs--in the printed Rulebook, it is near the very back of the book. In AMHR, horses go into 'Temporary' registration until age 3, when they can advance to "Permanent'....the AMHR is wholly owned by the American Shetland Pony Club(ASPC), BTW, and has one set of rules for regis. Shetlands, another set for AMHR miniatures. By and large, their fee structure is somewhat less expensive than that of AMHA.
I hate to, but would have to in many ways agree with the statement about the abysmal lack of knowledge of horses among MANY who own miniature horses--it is sad, but in my observation, often all too true. That said, I do see that this has changed a good deal since I got my first minis in '84--and of course, if the Mini owner CAME FROM a 'fullsized' horse background, and a knowledgable one(just having owned horses, even for years, does not necessarily mean that you are a genuinely knowledgeable horseman, you know!!), that's a whole different thing! I'll say this--I believe the equine world is going to see a greater and greater interest in miniature horses...they offer many ways to satisfy a 'horsey' interest/'NEED', and can be especially suited to those who, for whatever reason, cannot deal with fullsized horses any more, or perhaps, ever. On top of everything else, Miniature horses are, almost without exception,VERY endearing little critters; I know that I hope NEVER to be without at least ONE, unto the end of my life!
Hope I've included some information that will be of help!

Margo in New Mexico

[Thomas_1]

This particular mini is a stud - not sure about his age, under 2 though. OK this isn't a stud and its not even actually a stallion (well if you were in Europe it wouldn't be anyway until it was older).

Its a colt.

So its a youngster with testosterone and needs to be managed and handled as you would with any horse.

I plan to train him to jump, drive, be a 'petting zoo' mini, do a few tricks, and PLANNNNNN on bringing him into the house to acclimate him to being indoors (would like to plan on taking him to the local nursing him eventually -- as in a couple years down the road).

Am I crazy? sylvia Not the actual word I would use. But I think you are just SOOOOOO wrong at every single level. And this is sounding very like a disaster waiting to happen.

feeding hay to a mini is dangerous poppycock!

I don't like haltering a horse or pony or mini, for that matter, whose head is as high as they can get it. Not only is it quite hard to halter a horse like that but it seems, to me anyway, an indication of level of training and acceptance of training. Sort of an indicator of where they're emotions are... the higher the head, the higher or less-under-control the emotions are. Just my observations. More of the above !

I don't have much experience w/driving and actually... the only experience I DO have is teaching a pony how to drive about 2 years ago. We did the ground driving thing and then a grould slide thing (hauling firewood, hay bales, water, pulling logs - small ones). Then we walked him around in the buggy a couple of times but -- then he sold - so. That's it for me.

I do have a dude who can help me but he lives a couple hours away so his help will be infrequent. I DID find the advice of putting tires (preferrabley concrete filled ones) onto the buggy when I first stary leading and driving him in that. I was wondering mighty hard what I'd do if that pony ever did something stupid... he didn't but - at least now I've got a plan. And IMO this is gob-smacking at every single level.

I've NEVER seen a book on DIY brain surgery and I've NEVER heard of folks having a go at neuro-surgery without knowing what they're doing. So why try to break a pony yourself when you can't even drive and don't even know how to begin?

Best if you entrust this about to be much beloved "pet" to those that know and don't let enthusiasm override common sense.

[hobbyhorse23]

Hobbyhorse, I certainly didn't mean to offend... I'm just frustratedly tearing my hair out at the moment at a particular ignorant owner situation which I believe is going to end in tears and which I am utterly powerless to do anything about. And it isn't the first and won't be the last.
(((hug))) Understood! I know one person (I won't identify them more than that) who drives me insane as they exercise their new foals and yearlings with the whole herd in the roundpen at a gallop for 20 minutes. The foals are ready to drop, look exhausted and can barely keep up but they just get after them with the whip and shrug when I ask about it. They say the foals always toughen up and after all, they keep up with the herd in the wild don't they? :no: They breed lovely horses and have many many national titles to "prove" their methods, but I would not buy anything but a brand-new foal from them because I'm afraid of the joint damage these young horses have incured by the time they are two year olds. :sigh: They are affectionate towards their horses, but.....

As for registration--although the AMHR...IS now closed to hardshipping of horses of unknown background, they still WILL accept registration of a horse that already has valid AMHA papers! AMHA is NOT yet closed to hardshipping of horses of unknown/unrecognized(AMHA does NOT 'recognize' AMHR papers...)origin, but the hardshipping process IS pretty expensive, and has a number of "hoops" to jump through. From the '06 AMHA Rulebook...straightforward regis. fees for a horse over 24 mo. of age--$60 Member, $100 non-Member. This is for 'Temporary' registration; in AMHA, horses may be 'Permanent' registered at 5 years of age; there are 'Advancement' fees for that, and they apply only if the advancement is done within 6 months after the horse's actual 5th birthday...for a stallion, $50,Member;$100, non-Member.Hardship fee for a stallion is $1200, Member OR non-Member-plus there will be additional costs, such as DNAing, and the costs of having the horse inspected.
Margo, thank you for clarifying for me! I knew something wasn't right in what I said about hardshipping being closed. I know a friend of mine is waiting for her AMHR stallion to turn five so she can hardship him into AMHA for $1,000+. Since this horse did not appear to have AMHR papers though for all intents and purposes he can't be hardshipped into either registry unless he gets into AMHR through regular (if late) registration. It's a lot cheaper to register a gelding no matter what.

Fourh Mom, please be aware that Thomas is a very high-level driving trainer from England and expresses views accordingly. It is not at all uncommon for people in the U.S. to start their own minis to drive and if you both get help with the parts you don't know and have a lot of GOOD experience with training animals in general and horses in particular, you can be okay. But you have to be serious about learning this new sport and knowing when to get help. I would not be comfortable starting a larger horse or one who had a spooky personality just because if something went wrong you'd probably ruin the horse. But minis in general just seem to have a whole different personality than large horses (much less "spook," more thought put into things, calmer) and a true horseperson under the guidance of a professional can easily do at least the major groundwork and take over again soon after the horse is in cart. You do need to learn to drive first though! You can't teach a horse what you yourself don't know and there really are a lot of differences between riding and driving. Trust me, I learned this the hard way as have many others on this forum. :lol:

The only other thing I'd like to address is that concrete-filled tire in the cart thing. I wouldn't. Really. Part of making the horse's job easy is having a balanced seat in the cart and keeping the weight off the shafts. Dead weight like a concrete tire is going to be very difficult to put somewhere that it isn't going to unbalance the cart and if something happens and it starts sliding around you could have a real problem. If you want the horse to get used to pulling weight, use a real drag not something in the cart and don't do it until the horse is four and their knees have closed. Minis are not draft horses! I would start long-lining at two, light driving at three, and full workouts at four. I would not ask a colt (which yours still is) to haul heavy things any more than I'd personally put a heavy rider on a baby.

To drive your horse must first have all his voice commands for every possible gait, direction changes, etc. Then he needs to be desensitized to the feeling of ropes around him (including between his legs and under his tail), being constrained, whips touching him and singing through the air near him, objects being dragged past him and behind him, and anything and everything else you can think of like barking dogs and small children. He needs to learn to wear a bridle and be long-lined, responding to the whip and voice cues and standing calmly for long periods of time. Then he needs to learn the feel of the shafts and how to turn with them, and how to pull forward confidently against increasing weights from a slight human pull on his traces up to the weight of a loaded cart. By the time he's been through all that pulling the cart itself with a person in it is an anticlimax!

Leia

[SLW]

Personally, unless breed shows are in your future I wouldn't spend the $$ registering the mini stud. My two were studs when I bought them, they were registered, and I had them castrated w/in 72 hours of setting foot on Kansas soil. The papers are not important to me for how I compete w/ them.

The one disadvantage w/ just using hotwire for a pen is that it doesn't keep problematic dogs away. I mean, if you place the wires 6" apart and go to a height of 3'6" you decrease the odds but still, mini's are a magnet for loose/stray dogs needing to cause problems. My mini's are in a sturdy pen which is inside of a dog-proof perimeter property fence.

I've taken my smaller mini into a nursing home and he did just fine. The key to success in an environment like that is 1. the individual animals temperment (my larger one would wig out in a nursing home) and 2. excellent manners via ground work. It's very rewarding to share a lil horse with others and see them bury their face in the mane and hug them.

[fourh mom]

I wish you could cut him. There are too many mini's out there in this world. Seriously. They are shuffled around like long-lived hamsters or gold fish (from time to time finding themselves living in tractor trailers or garages and junk yards).


It was never my intention to breed him even if he doesn't get cut -- which, btw, he is... going to do -- get cut, that is. ;) I asked about it and she said that she was planning to cut him since she changed her mind about breeding so -- I'm going to cut him. But I do think I'd like to wait til he's coming 4. The reasoning behind this is: I would like him to 'grow a face'. :) Does it work in minis the way it does in big horses? The 'jaw', that is? Second: Geldings grow a bit taller than studs (not scientifically documented I wouldnt' think but it can be somewhat proven...) Any-WHO... I'd like him to not grow that extra inch or so that early cutting would cause.

As far as taking a stallion to a nursing home --- it would depend entirely on his personality. AND.... as it happens... he IS going to get cut so -- that is most likely a moot point.

Hey... thanks for the mini website link. I'll visit poste haste.




....provide adequate nutrition, adequate fiber in the diet, yet w/o 'overdoing' the calories! I like Triple Crown 'LITE' for accomplishing this....

...Miniature horses are, almost without exception,VERY endearing little critters; I know that I hope NEVER to be without at least ONE, unto the end of my life!
Hope I've included some information that will be of help!
Margo in New Mexico

Never heard of this... is Triple Crown a brand name like Purina? Or a product name like Strategy?.... *googling*

Thanks for the money info on registering. I don't think I'm going to do that. He's going to be a gelding... and I don't plan on doing any breed shows w/him - just some local stuff and 4H so.... no need for papers.

Most certainly and I entirely agree w/the 'endearing' comment. Thank you so much for all your info!






...Fourh Mom, please be aware that Thomas is a very high-level driving trainer from England and expresses views accordingly.

......The only other thing I'd like to address is that concrete-filled tire in the cart thing. I wouldn't. Really. Part of making the horse's job easy is having a balanced seat in the cart and keeping the weight off the shafts. Leia

:) Yes, HH, I was reading along and became 'aghasted' at that post -- and then after looking at who posted it I calmed down. :)

The tires, I believe, are to be tied to the rear of the cart and would be dragging the ground. The intention would be to give the feel of a load w/out the load. In my mind it would give something to pull against for the first several times of pulling the cart w/out me having to climb in. He could get used to the feel of the cart w/out an empty cart bumping around behind him. ?? Anyways... I'm going to keep it in mind and just see how things go. He's still such a little thing... ;)




Personally, unless breed shows are in your future I wouldn't spend the $$ registering the mini stud.

...The one disadvantage w/ just using hotwire for a pen is that it doesn't keep problematic dogs away. I mean, if you place the wires 6" apart and go to a height of 3'6" you decrease the odds but still, mini's are a magnet for loose/stray dogs needing to cause problems. My mini's are in a sturdy pen which is inside of a dog-proof perimeter property fence.


I don't think I will. The only reason I WOULD have registered him is to show him in 4H (minis have to have papers to show) but I'm pretty sure that this next year they are allowing grade minis. Just to clarify... this mini has papered parents but he was sold for very cheap ($150) because he didn't quite 'make the cut' and he wasn't going to a show home.

Hmmm, I honestly haven't thought of the dog factor. I have dogs of my own and they pretty much keep other dogs run off. Hmmmm, I'll keep an eye out for that.




At any rate... please do know that I am not a stupid person. Far from it. :) I do know minis are not big horses and I'm also fairly sure that's probably all I DO know right now. ;) I'll change my plans a hundred times before this thing is over and I appreciate everyone's advice and experience. sylvia

[fourh mom]

Not sure if this link works or not but... here goes....

http://www.mules.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1183&d=1196637359

[Thomas_1]

:) Yes, HH, I was reading along and became 'aghasted' at that post -- and then after looking at who posted it I calmed down. :) And your point is? Rhetorical question and not really requiring an answer!

I bet you were no where near as aghast as I was when I read this!
The tires, I believe, are to be tied to the rear of the cart and would be dragging the ground.
or this
The intention would be to give the feel of a load w/out the load. In my mind it would give something to pull against for the first several times of pulling the cart w/out me having to climb in.
or this
He could get used to the feel of the cart w/out an empty cart bumping around behind him. ??
or this
I've got 4-wheeler tires and I wouldn't put much concrete (if any) in them. Like I said, I've trained one (only one, but at least one) pony to pull a ground slide and small logs. He had a BIG stopping problem and pulling that ground slide w/us on board made him happy to find the 'whoa' button

Please note you can wreck a miniature horse or small pony and just because they're forgiving and biddable in nature doesn't mean you should think you can just get away with it.

Indeed in my mind, that means its incumbent on you to do the right thing and ensure you aren't taking advantage of their good nature.

[fourh mom]

Thank you, Thomas. I feel quite confident that none of what was in your post would ever have occured to me. So sorry to have 'aghasted' you there, Dude. Just taking advantage of your good nature I suppose. :D Gotta practice up for taking advantage of my mini.

Btw, did you have more responses to my other quotes in your post? You forgot to respond... sylvia