Miniature Horses

[jwstewar]

My daughter is crazy about horses. We've been putting it off for as long as we could. This past Saturday we were at the Apple Orchard's Family day, they had a guy there selling Miniature Horses. Monica all but told her she could have one if Papaw agreed to buy it. He agreed to buy it. Incidentally Alex has already drawn a Thank You card for him.

Anyway, this seems like a good compromise. I know nothing about horses and neither does Monica. These seemed like a good way to get familiar with them w/o as much fear of getting hurt - me or Alex. Since she is only 8, I think she is too you to "turn loose" w/ a normal horse - especially since I don't know what to do to help her or the horse to become better w/ each other. I figure this horse will be good for her to get the "routine down" of scooping & shoveling and the bathing and brushing.

The guy seemed real knowledgeable and nice. He also didn't live far from us (maybe 4 or 5 miles). He said he would deliver to us for free. I'm sure if we had questions or problems he would be willing to help out. I also have a few friends I could count on for some horse knowledge, though these are "normal" horses.

I'm thinking we probably should have a pair to keep it/them from getting lonely. Also we are thinking about getting a little cart for them to pull the kids on and figure 2 would be better than 1.

Price is $400 each, seems pretty reasonable from what we can tell. Now the good/bad part all at the same time. These horses tend to live longer than normal horses. They typically live 25 - 35 years and some as long as 50. I don't want to be 80 years old out taking care of a horse that is 50 because my daughter couldn't take it with her.

We are thinking about taking our 8x16 shed and turning it into a "stable" for it. Just need to move it and build an outside area for it. Probably won't have time this year, but I'll eventually need to put water and electric to where we move it to. For this year I'll probably just run a cord for the water bowl and carry water to it.

Any one have any experience with these and willing to give advice? Are we way off base in our thinking? Are we just plain stupid and spoil our kids too much? Wait a minute, I already know the answer to that one.

 

[Melensdad]

Oh man I so pity you!!!

My daughter went through the horse phase several years ago. It lasted a couple years and I was able to say NO to the whole thing but it got close a few times.

Let us know how it goes, I'm so glad I am not you!!!

 

[Tractors4u]

Lucky you. A pint sized horse for $400. I was roped in (pun intended) to a full size horse for $2000.

 

[XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq]

I'm fighting the horse thing already. I'm also fighting the chicken thing, the puppie thing, the kitten thing, and the rabbit thing. I caved on the small fish tank though.

 

[jwstewar]

I thought after a year or so it would pass. It start when she was 4. She will be 9 in February, so at least this is more than a passing phase. Everything else comes and goes, but the horse thing has lasted. So I figure I'm screwed either way. We get the horse and she is at the end of the phase or we don't get the horse and she is mad at me for the next xx years.

I don't think the fact that Monica always wanted a horse but her parents always had an excuse (we live in the city, if we move. Then they move to the country. well.....) So now she finally gets one too.

 

[dzalphakilo]

I don't have any experience with them, but my neighbor up the road (about 500 yards) sells them. Seems like he doesn't has much luck selling them, but honestly, they seem very easy to take care of and low maintence (ONLY and observation).

They've got a nice field enlcosed with an electric fence, and they always seem to be having a "good time" (as good of time as horses can get) when I drive by them.

 

[Passingtime2]

Hey jwstwer.....we raise miniature donkeys. They are very easy to take care of, low maintenance, and a pure joy. They follow you around like puppies, won't run off if let out, and are very smart and trainable. We often just open the gate and let them roam the yard when we have people over.

Before considering a miniature horse try to find someone in your area that have some little donkeys and take a look. You might change your mind.

 

[Erik]

Nica,
one of these days i have got to come meet these critters of yours - I'm just afraid to bring the wife with me when i do, or I might be heading home with plans for new "family members".
now some of those miniature cattle they're breeding these days, that's tempting! 42" at the shoulder, 800 pounds mature weight, only eat about 1/3 as much as a full size cow...

 

[jwstewar]

Hey jwstwer.....we raise miniature donkeys. They are very easy to take care of, low maintenance, and a pure joy. They follow you around like puppies, won't run off if let out, and are very smart and trainable. We often just open the gate and let them roam the yard when we have people over.

Before considering a miniature horse try to find someone in your area that have some little donkeys and take a look. You might change your mind.

Funny you should mention that. That would be right up my son's ally. He likes Donkeys. I'm assuming just to be "different" from Alex and he also loves little things. So a little Donkey and he would be all set.

BTW, I may have bought myself some time - at least until spring. I sprung that idea on her last night. That way you can get to know each other all winter and I can get the corral built and the water and electric run. We'll see......

 

[Passingtime2]

Erik.....your welcome anytime. There's always something interesting going on around here.

I've heard about the miniature cattle but I haven't seen any yet. We went to the St Fair in Hutch....I didn't think to look for them, but there might have been some entered.

jwstewar....sounds like a good plan.

I've posted a picture of my granddaughter and a couple of our babes.

 

[cowgirl]

They are adorable.

 

[rback33]

Man..too bad we are traveling through with other people. We are going to a game in Alva Saturday and heading right south passed your area.

 

[Passingtime2]

Man..too bad we are traveling through with other people. We are going to a game in Alva Saturday and heading right south passed your area.

We are only 2 miles off 281.......love for you to stop if you have a few extra minutes..........coming or going....pm if you decide .....I'll pm phone no.

 

[wolfman]

Nica,
one of these days i have got to come meet these critters of yours - I'm just afraid to bring the wife with me when i do, or I might be heading home with plans for new "family members".
now some of those miniature cattle they're breeding these days, that's tempting! 42" at the shoulder, 800 pounds mature weight, only eat about 1/3 as much as a full size cow...

And the nice part is, they won't take up much freezer space, when you get tired of having them as a pet.

 

[Erik]

And the nice part is, they won't take up much freezer space, when you get tired of having them as a pet.

dingdingdingding!
we have a winner!
(and since my wife is a vegetarian, I don't need a full size cow in the freezer anyway - i can't eat it all that fast!)

 

[lifesaver91958]

that's cool

 

[jwstewar]

Well, here it is September again and we are back at this. We went to the Kentucky Horse Park as part of vacation. That changed the want of a horse to a need of a horse. Then this weekend, a friend of mine was camping over at the horse camp by our house. We went over and the kids rode one of his horses. Unfortunately, he wasn't there, because his wife had fallen off of one of the others and they had to Life Flight her w/ a collapsed lung. His daughter walked the kids around. Anyway, I found a trailer on Craigs List that I'm going to call about today. Monica also found a few different horses that she would like to look at. We aren't considering anything that isn't broke to ride. Now, sounds like I'm back to where we were last year at this time. Hurry up and get a barn, fence. Oh, and now, if I buy the trailer I'm looking at, I've got to install a gooseneck hitch. Couldn't have found a nice bumper pull that I'm already set up to tow.

Guess I should add, we've moved beyond the miniature horses because they (including Monica) want to be able to ride them.

 

[EastTexFrank]

now some of those miniature cattle they're breeding these days, that's tempting! 42" at the shoulder, 800 pounds mature weight, only eat about 1/3 as much as a full size cow...

That's more my style for around the house. I looked at them in a casual way a while back and they are pretty proud of them.

At present when we slaughter a steer we end up with every freezer at the farm and the house stuffed with meat and a couple of hundred pounds of ground beef. Now, I like hamburgers but I can handle only so much meat loaf.

 

[Erik]

and that's why I haven't jumped on the Dexter wagon as well.
maybe next year... (after I bring all the fences back up to snuff)

 

[muleman]

Don't rule out a good mule. They are a better trail ride than most horses. Rode on a lot of tough trails and given a choice would take a mule any day. They pick their way through brush and won't panic as quick as a horse. That said I gave away my big Quarter horse to a young girl who rides 4H and he is in hog heaven with all the attention he gets. It is a win,win situation as her mom is battling cancer and their home burned to the ground last fall. He keeps her busy and she keeps him busy. Whatever you buy, if they can't keep their feet on the ground walk away and keep looking. Nothing ever stays in my barn if they don't have good ground manners. No need to let an injury ruin a fun activity. There are plenty of good riding animals out there so be picky. "You can't ride pretty" When you go to look at an animal you want to be able to pick up all 4 feet and clean them or you will have your hands full later. If you can't you will have a hard time getting a farrier to trim and shoe for you.