What can you do with a mini horse?

The most common question that we’re asked is “What can you do with a mini horse?” The answer is: lots of things. Mini horses are used for companionship, show, as therapy animals, for investment, or any combination of these things.

Miniature Horses as Pets

Miniatures are great as pets/companion animals. They’re smaller than “big” horses so they can be kept in the back yard just as you’d keep a dog or cat, and are lower maintenance than other breeds of horses. They take up less space, eat less, make less of a mess. In some cities where the zoning is more liberal like Austin, Texas, USA, they can even be kept in the back yard. Plus they don’t require shoes like many other breeds. They can be handled by children (I started showing when I was 3), or by the elderly (one of our customers bought a mini for his mother’s 96th birthday). Any age will do.

For people who are intimidated by big horses or had an accident with them in the past, or simply don’t have the energy for them anymore, miniatures are the perfect alternative. They’ll allow one to still be able to enjoy the beauty of the horse.

Showing Miniature Horses

At miniature horse shows you can do anything you do with a big horse except for ride. That might sound like a joke at first, like there’s nothing left if you take riding away, but boy would you be wrong. The two major associations for miniature horses, the American Miniature Horse Assciation (AMHA), and the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) and their clubs offer lots of classes. A few are: halter, color, liberty, showmanship, jumper, hunter, obstacle, driving obstacle, and costume classes to youth, amateur and open exhibitors at local, regional, and world level shows.

One of the closest things you can do to riding is drive miniature horses. They’re quite strong and can pull a cart with two people without problem. Any miniature horse can be trained to drive; though they ideally training begins at three years of age.

Miniature Horses as Therapy Animals

Many have probably heard about miniatures being used as therapy animals. The seeing-eye-miniature horse idea got some publicity for a while there. However, our favorite use of them therapy-wise is done by Hearts and Hooves. Hearts and Hooves is a non-profit organization that takes miniatures to hospitals, nursing homes, and many other places to provide emotional healing. It was founded by one of our customers, who purchased her first mini from us and found his companionship to be very healing during cancer treatment. From there she decided to pay it forward and founded the group and began using them to help others heal. Therapy works particularly well with miniatures because they’re small enough that they can easily go into buildings. This helps them visit people who can’t easily make it out to a ranch to be with full sized horses.

Mini Horses as Investments

Finally, miniatures, like many other animals, can be used as investments, with values that range from a few hundred to a hundred thousand dollars or more. Successful breeding programs and horses that produce quality foals will up the value of your miniature horse. While the American Miniature Horse is a relatively young breed, there’s still a rich history behind it and the stallions that founded and have progressed the breed during its first 40 years. These bloodlines add value! Some notable names to look for in your mini horse’s bloodline are Boone’s Little Buckeroo, Orion Light Van’t Huttenest, First Knight’s Billy Idol and SMO Bolero de Suerte.

Also, developing a winning history in the show ring can increase a miniature’s value. The highest titles awarded at the American Miniature Horse Association’s World Championship Show each year are the “World Grand Champion” titles. These are given for halter stallions, geldings, and mares at both junior and senior levels, and for each of the driving divisions.

What can you do with a mini horse: Lots of things!

What can you do with a mini horse? Keep them as pets, show them, use them as therapy animals, or an investment. Do you do something different with your mini? Let us know!

Little America Miniature Horses is one of the the United States’ largest miniature horse breeding operations, with over 150 miniature for sale. Our herd features bloodlines from notable stallions in the industry, as well as World Grand Champions and progeny of World Grand Champions. Find your next miniature, or first miniature by looking at the horse section of our site today! Then come back and tell us your answer to: “what can you do with a mini horse?”

–Lauren Greaves