How much does a miniature horse cost?
Miniature horses are an equine breed that typically measure from 34-38 inches tall. Miniature horses come in a wide variety of colors, including Paints, Pintos, Appaloosas, and Brindles.
Whereas the average size of a horse is generally above 14.2 hands, miniature horses stand between 35-37 inches tall. A miniature horse is not considered a small horse, but rather is a horse classed between the height of a pony and horse.
If you are considering purchasing a miniature horse, it is important to invest in a healthy miniature horse, from a reputable breed of miniature horse.
What are the Miniature Horse Characteristics?
The Miniature horse is slightly larger than the average pony, and smaller than the average horse. Miniature horses usually range between 33 and 38 inches at the shoulders, with an average height of 35.5 inches.
Miniature horses are able to live well in an environment that is urban or rural, shared among children or horses, or even being the only horse on the property.
Miniature horses require lots of care and attention if they are not being used in competition. They will still need to be exercised and ridden periodically. But, horses do enjoy, and require, a daily brushing and grooming routine, as well as a daily feeding schedule.
The monthly costs of owning a miniature horse
Horse Feeds and Supplements
Horse feeds and supplements can really pile up, so it's a good idea to try to buy the least expensive brand possible. Many feed stores will give deep discounts for old horse feeds and also supplements. You will have to shop around for these savings to find the best price.
Waste Management
Your horse will create around 100 gallons of manure per day, depending on diet, metabolism, and activity level, so you will want to plan for a good way to deal with this. Obviously, this will be something that will need to be looked at often.
A good bin for the manure will allow you to separate it from the bedding and the water supply in your barn. The bedding will also need to be kept in a container or stall. Since the manure will be in its own bin, you can start composting it so long as the manure and bedding are kept dry.
Bi-monthly, and Annual costs of owning a horse
Miniature horses are smaller in size, shorter in stature, and the perfect choice for many. While there is a huge range in pricing to take into consideration, miniature horses aren’t cheap.
In planning your budget, you’ll need to be certain what you want and what you actually need. The better you have defined your goals, the easier it will be to envision what price range works for you. A common issue with selecting a specific breed is customers take on a project and "wish" for a certain type of horse, later discovering it was not the best choice for them. This is why assessing your goals prior to your horse purchase is paramount.
In addition to the price of your horse, there are also annual and bi-monthly expenses you’ll want to consider. Annual costs include farrier care, vaccinations, and property taxes.
Bi-monthly costs are those that occur every other month. There are no specific bi-monthly expenses, so it’s normal to not have popular opinions on what items are necessary, so have an open dialogue with your horse care professional prior to purchasing a horse.
Trimming and Shoeing
Like a full-sized horse, your miniature horse needs to have its hooves regularly trimmed and have horseshoes placed on its hooves each month.
Having the hooves trimmed will help prevent the hooves from overgrowing while having the horseshoes provides the shoes with leverage to help the horse better negotiate the terrain.
When trimming a mini horse, you should always trim one side of the hoof at a time. It’s best to have someone stand on the opposite side of the horse's body to help hold the horse still. The trimmed hoof should be cleaned with an antiseptic to prevent infection.
Horseshoes need to be checked every time for tightness. An inch or two of play is OK. If the shoe is too tight then the foot could be damaged. If the shoe is too loose then the horseshoe could be lost or fall off.
Miniature Horse Health
Home Sweet Home. Facilities
And Costs.
Miniature horses, as any horse, require suitable facilities. A bare minimum is a large paddock, however, when fully grown, a miniature horse may require a minimum of 30 feet of trailer space in a trailer stall.
The cost of land or stabling will vary according to the specific location and available facilities. Miniature horses have been boarded with success at horse facilities, usually for a premium.
Riding facilities specifically for miniature horses are not as common as those for full-sized horses. Miniature horses can compete in most horse riding competitions.
All the ribbons and all of the Glory… sort of…
Minis are a lot like horses but smaller, more energetic, and less expensive to feed. They come in all colors and sizes and can be any type of horse you can imagine. They come in all ages, all breeds, and work in any discipline. These little horses are found doing what horses do here in the states and around the world, jumping, racing, showing, working cattle.
All genres of the miniature horse world are united by various registries, associations, and organizations that govern and facilitate membership registration, tracking membership and lineage, community events, shows, fun shows, horse sales, auctions, and shows.
Part of the joy of being a mini owner is showing their pony to the world and presenting him for showmanship. Training is a lot of fun and can take many forms. That can be anything from trail riding to harness racing to hunting to competing in western, English, and many others. Minis are a great horse for kids to be involved in the competition world, showing, or showing.
Minis can be great partners for adults too. They may not be the type of horse to work cattle or carry a rider all day long but they are eager to learn, and very willing to please and are perfectly suited to do trail riding, pack riding, or riding on a cart.
Cute as a button
And friendly as can be. Meet Pinto, a miniature horse.
Miniature horses average between 44-68 inches tall from hoof to shoulder. They can fit in rooms, in trailers, in vans and up stairs. They are not a problem in public places. You can even board one.
Pinto is a 22" tall sorrel minature horse. She is extremely gentle and friendly for whoever has the opportunity to meet her. She lives on a ranch in South Florida.