A Look Back: The Magic of Little America Miniature Horses
This feature, originally aired in 2018, takes you behind the scenes of Little America Miniature Horses, where being small is a big deal! From Hollywood stardom to youth programs, our minis have been capturing hearts for decades.
Watch the video to learn about:
- How our miniature horses found their way to Hollywood and TV stardom.
- Our past Thursday Kids Program, where young horsepeople bond with these incredible animals.
- What makes miniatures the horse for everyone—no matter your age!
While this story is a treasured highlight from our past, Little America continues to thrive today. With 130 miniatures and many babies on the way, we’re proud to carry forward our passion for these wonderful minis.
Share your memories with us or schedule an appointment to find your new mini!
Transcript
Reporter: Being small is a big deal here at Little America Miniature Horses.
Tony: They’re called the horse for everyone because I had a friend who was 97 who had about 45 miniatures, and then my daughter started showing when she was three. So they’re for everybody, whether you’re in your 90s or in your beginning years.
Kayla: They’re a lot of fun, but they’re all different. Yes, some like the camera; others prefer to be left alone.
Reporter: But at Little America Miniature Horse Ranch, there’s bound to be a horse for anyone. Sometimes they even end up on the big screen.
Tony: And he has a sister that’s two years old, and she took up a jet plane to Hollywood where she appears on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with another one that went with her. They’re two of our horses that Lisa Vanderpump owns. A young lady from Teen Mom OG, Farrah Abraham, bought his one-year-old sister.
Reporter: Tony Greaves has been raising mini horses for 54 years.
Tony: We have about 175 horses right now, and we usually have anywhere from 30 to 60 babies in a season. They have to be 34 inches or less to be registered with the AMHA [American Miniature Horse Association].
Kayla: They’re just really fun to be around. They all have their own little quirks and different personalities, just like people.
Reporter: Kayla is part of the Thursday Kids Program, something Tony’s daughter started over 10 years ago as a way for younger kids to get to learn more about the minis.
Kayla: I learned how to train your horse and how to establish a bond with your horse and how to get your horse to trust you and for you to trust your horse.
Tony: When we have shows, the kids will come out to work with the horses, getting ready. Some that are home-schooled will come out maybe every day to work with horses.
Reporter: I can see why they enjoy hanging out here at the ranch. And to put it in perspective, here’s me with a mini; here’s me with a Clydesdale! So now we have one of your favorite little minis here.
Tony: Yes, this is Los Arboles Idols Pequeno, but we call him PQ. My daughter actually bought him for me for Father’s Day two years ago. He’s really little and very correct to be as tiny as he is.
Reporter: Well, nice to meet you, PQ! Not for sale, by the way.
Tony: But maybe we’ll have some of his babies that you’d like.
Reporter: So what makes them so unique besides their size? There are open classes for showing.
Tony: Everybody can show in the open classes.
Reporter: And hey, good things do come in small packages.
Tony: Miniatures can take the place of a [full-sized] horse. So whether you’re young or old, a lot of people get into miniatures because maybe they’ve gotten to where they’re afraid they might be hurt by a big horse or maybe they don’t have the room that they used to have. They don’t want to ride.
Reporter: I’ve had a great time out here at Little America Miniature Horses.ther’s Day gift turned fan favorite. (Sorry, PQ’s not for sale, but his adorable offspring might be!)