Miniature Ponies
A Beginner's Guide to Miniature Ponies
A pony is not a baby horse, and a miniature pony will not grow into a miniature horse. They are entirely separate breeds, and each is bred for its own special purposes.
Miniature ponies can be found almost anywhere in the world, and they come in a variety of coat patterns and colors. A mini is determined by the animal's height, which varies according to each registry involved. Miniature ponies are smaller than traditional ponies and miniature horses, but they do retain some of the characteristics of ponies and horses.
Miniature ponies interact very well with people, and are generally friendly. They can be kept as pets for the family, but you must remember that they are horses, not dogs, and need to be fed as such. Mini's, like fully grown horses and ponies, need a very specific diet, and you can't give them treats like you do dogs. They can give them carrots or apples, though.
Mini's can also be trained as companion animals, just like working dogs. Miniature ponies can work indoors when they need to, but it is still considered more healthy for them to live outdoors, as their ancestors did. They need shelter from severe weather, but most of the time, they enjoy grazing outside.
They are very hardy animals, as are traditional ponies, and they can live longer than some of the full-sized horses. A mini's average life span tends to run between twenty-five and thirty-five years.
Around the world, there are thirty to forty registries for miniature ponies. Some of these groups emphasize breeding minis with characteristics of horses, and some wish to maintain the characteristics of the pony. A mini should be a sound, small and well-balanced animal, and should give you the impression of alertness, agility and strength. Minis should be friendly and eager, and not skittish.
There are many chances to show miniature ponies. You can show in halter, which judges the minis on conformation, or the way they are put together. You can also show in costume, driving and showmanship classes. There are competitions on the local level, and all the way up to the World competitions.
Miniatures of pinto coloring were developed from several different sources. They are basically bred for their diminutive size, but breeders are interested in infusing different color patterns, too.
Back in the seventeenth century, miniature ponies were bred to be pets for the royalty of the time. Minis were numbered along with the other animals in the zoo of the King. But not all minis were pets to be pampered. Some were workers, just like their full-sized relatives. Many even worked in the dark coal mines of Europe as “pit ponies”, hauling carts that weighed more than they themselves did.
Miniature ponies are favorites for young children, and they can brighten the day of elderly patients in nursing homes. They have a better life now, far removed from the coal mines of Europe.