First Steps to getting your First Baby or Yearling Miniature Horse Home

First Steps to Getting your First Mini Home

1. A trailer that is intended for livestock. It can be for a horse, or pig. Pig trailers can be great as they are the preface hight and nearly the same kind of trailer with the same safety features for your animals. 
2. Your own halters and lead ropes. For the A and R registered minis you will more than likely need a medium to large halter size for a horse just weened or older. The small size is more for newborns to 4 months old. 
3. A barn with a stall. When you get your mini home they do not know you, they don't know your horses, and if you have farm animals they are not familiar with they may see them as monsters.  For the first 5 or so days you want to keep them in the stall or barn. They can see and nose with the other animals but the most important part is that they see their stall and barn as a safe place to get away and decompress. I would not let them out into the pastures or pins unless they make a friend. 
4. You can also spend that time just sitting with them and letting them get to know you But don't push them too far! This is supposed to be their safe place. Sitting low to the ground so you don't seem like a giant monster helps them build confidence around you. Also if they want to approach you from behind LET THEM. If you are a predator to them they are not going to approach you from the front where your teeth are. Also letting them see other horses come to you and treat you like another horse will make them curious about you. 
5. DO NOT: Rush them into making friends with your other animals. While minis will bond with anything they will only bond with animals they are comfortable to start with. Other horses are best for them off the bat. But young minis will always gravitate to other hoses no matter what size the other horses are. 
6. DO NOT: Just put your young horses in a filed, pin, or paddock with no place to run and hide or safe place to go. 
7. DO NOT: Just start introducing young screaming children to them right out of the gate. Minis and kids can go together awesomely. But a young frightened mini can not handle the loud noises of a screaming, clapping, or running mini monster humans. Many children do not know how to behave around an animal like a horse and young kids need to be trained just as much as the mini. Even adult minis who have a lot of kid experience need time to get used to their new home. Don't introduce kids and minis until they have their 5 days in the barn to adjust. 

Every miniature horse is different and some adapt faster than others, some even slower. But let them tell you if you want a long happy relationship. You can tell them all you want how things are going to be, that they are going to see your kids within 5 minutes of them coming to your home, they will go into the pasture with the monster donkeys this instant, and they will say that they are going over, under, or through the fence. 

Games to play with miniature horses

Now thats a new question LOL :) We love it!

Games to play with your mini's range widely and will depend on your mini's intelligence and the games they like to play. We have had some boys that are so smart they have figured out how to unscrew caps on water lines. Some love to untie lead ropes. We have had one boy that would untie a lead rope knotted quadruply, let himself lose, then found me in the barn so that I could retie the rope for him to untie. Jolly Balls, horse toys, or just games you play with your dog are great things to entertain Mini horses. Many of them love to problem solve others just like to chill, but they all need some kind of social interaction or mental enrichment. Some minis love to swim as a hobby and around 25% of our mares just love to splash in their water troffs, or run under sprinklers. We do not always fix a hole in our hoses because while we are watering all of a sudden everyone is running and kicking and bouncing under the waterfall.... then they roll in the dirt and have a mud facial :P

Minis learn what is fun from you or other mini horses. But be aware what you may teach them or the other horses. That one horse that like to splash in the water troff may teach another who will put a whole in the bottom. Untying knots... well we can all see how much trouble could happen there. Swimming in a pond that they don't know is like sending your 6 year old kid in. So far the water hose having a whole in it had been safe... for now! 0_o

Are miniature horses safe from coyotes?

Yes and no. 

When they are in a herd of about 5 or more, and depending on how big the coyote population is. They will keep each other safe. Now that dose not mean that the coyotes will not try to go for a baby when the horses adults aren't looking. And in weening season those brand new weenlings are most at risk if they do not have an adult horse, or guard animal like a mule with them. Even then with only one guard you will still want them closer to the barn. Or close to your home where you can hear a ruckus. 

At Ferrand Triple K Farm, with our herds of 8 or more we have very little worries about coyotes but even we have the odd attack when they coyotes just have nothing to eat because of drought. We have lost only 2 babies in our 20 years of breeding. Both in times of drought, both because the babies where weened away from the adults. On the first occasion we didn't have a guard animal, hadn't learned about it yet, and we got a mule. Now my old Quarter horse Fritz is the guard for the weenlings and he loves it. On the other occasion only 3 years ago we had an extremely bad drought and their was nothing for the coyotes to eat so they took a risk. That morning we had one dead baby partially eaten and 2 dead coyotes. Now the weenlings are with Fritz in a turn out by the barn. 

Full grown Stallions that have bred, unlike mares, will chase down threats and fight them head on. Mares of all ages, the youngest being 1 year, will gather into a large group and chase predators as a giant mass of stomping running feet with the babies trailing behind them. This is a learned behavior that I have no idea what mare started it on our farm. They may have learned it from the stallions but so far other breeders are telling us its pretty unique.   

If you only have one mini and a lot of coyotes take them inside at night. One mini can do a lot of damage to one coyote but against a pack of 5 the mini doesn't stand a chance. 

Are miniature horses typically friendly? Do they bite and kick?

This is a loaded question. Yes, they are typically friendly, happy, silly animals that play pranks and run away laughing. But yes, they do have the ability to bite and kick. Let me explain.

Our first key with horses big or small is that they are all mentally 5 years old. They learn, are intelligent, but throw tantrums, have fits, and make a big seen that will humiliate you in public. And that may include hitting, kicking, and biting. 

Lets start with their education. On our farm while not every horse may be perfection for the vet or getting there feet done, we teach them that there is no reason to kick at us. Mini horses mostly kick when they are cornered and afraid. Our horses know that we are never going to hurt them, so even when they don't want their wormer and we have to corner them, or push them into a trailer, they know they are not in danger and don't even think about kicking. It is also a mater of having that animals respect. Kicking is a major response in horse culture. It would be like a person punching at your face. What on earth did you do to make another person made enough to respond that way? Now think what where you doing do make your mini react that way.  

Respect is a very big factor for all horses and that includes mini horses. A mini will treat a human as a predator or as another horse. A frightened horse will alway chose to run than fight (stallions not always included). If you are being kicked at, or the most likely culprit with respect, bitten then the mini you have dose not respect you as the herd leader and is putting you in your place like they would with another horse. This could be because you do not spend enough time with them, that you are afraid of them, you did something major they are angry about, or you just don't act like a herd leader should. 

One thing to make note of, and I know very few people are willing to find out, is if your mini while kicking fully extends their legs or are they just butt bouncing. If they act in every way like they are going to kick you but never extend their legs out they are just sending a warning. Look for that warning! 

warning 1: They swing their butts around between you and their head
warning 2: They will start to put their ears back and bounce their back end like they are going to kick but never extend. This could be your final warning to leave the area if its a mare. With a mare you could get all the way up to striking distance before she may struck out at you. 
warning 3: They may back up with ears back to that they are closer. This is your final warning before the kick! Once they are backing up in your direction they mean to make contact because they are done with you not listening to all their warnings. You will see this in stallions more than mares and once they start backing they can back quickly so watch out. You only see this in mares when they are trying to protect a baby.  

Baby minis on the other hand are just like human children. They test you to see what they can get away with. They have accidence and while playing kick out and actually make contact. I had a little girl one time rare up on my back every time I sat in the pasture. She wasn't being mean or being dominant, she wanted to play with me like she did the other babies and since we had bonded so well she didn't realize that we couldn't play like horses. And like children, when a baby mini (or an adult) dose something bad you need to correct them. They may run away after a smack but they will think about what they have done, see if it happens again, and when it dose they will run away and come back again.  All horse understand that their are consequences to their actions, that is the way of the herd, they also understand  fair punishment. Just because they got a smack doesn't mean you are no longer friends. They also understand the difference between a punishment and a beating.  

Now some horses have just had horrible lives and they fear everything and see every situation as though they will be eaten if they do not fight for their life. Sometimes this could all be mental, horses can have mental disorders like people do. But most of the time it comes from abuse and in these cases I can only recommend the people new to horses let a professional handle the horse. In cases of abuse we are talking years of hard work that can all be unwound by a single mistake. 

Sometimes, if the mini in questions starts biting and kicking out of the blue, it could be a result of pain. I see this most often in cases where harness buy a 30" mini for their 8 year old to ride because they rode one at the fair. Minis are not meant to have kids ride them, that is what the shelters are for. Then they argue that the horses at the fair didn't mind it, and my reply always is "you don't know what the owner did to them to make them alright with it. Any that I have seen are head shy from beatings, under nourished, and probably to sick to put up a fuss." When a ridding mini starts to make a big fuss your kids probably to big to ride them. If this is not the case then they may have thrown their back out, hurt themselves, or a host of other things that would make even a human cranky. That is when you need to call a vet to make sure. 

But for your mini that is both healthy in body and in mind, you don't let them get away with things they should just because they are small and cute, they are friendly and affectionate. But they may try to take a nip at a friend of yours that they don't know to see if they can get away with something their. They are 5 year old children, just because they listen to mom doesn't mean they will listen for the babysitter. Some that are not as familiar with my husband will test him all the time, mostly the babies to 3 year olds, but the older girls that have had more experience with people treat him with the same respect they would treat me.

How big should I make a Miniature horses stall?

That would depend on the size of the miniature horses you are going after. If they are A, R or B grade those are all deferent nights. But the best rule of thumb is to take the length of the horse, as if they were laying down on their side and stretched their neck out all the way and their back legs, and add three feet to that. That should be a good length in depth and length . This will allow for the horse to get up and down, stretch out, and maneuver a baby around to give birth. The extra three feet is for her and for you if she needs help having a foal. Also giving enough room for both mother and baby to get away from each other and for the mother to get up and down without worry of mashing or stepping on a baby.

If you don't intend to breed I would still add the extra three feet. Mini's get sick and you may have a vet out from time to time that will need some of the room. Take the length that I recommended and put that leant in the middle of the stall and then crouch or sit at both ends.

What do miniature horse like to play?

I am not sure what was meant by this question but I will try to answer it. 

Mini horses are like children. Some like to just play by themselves, others are very social and play with everyone, some will play with people like they would play with other horses. We have even had a few that needed so much mental stimulus that we tied 5 lead ropes on the fence with 5 different knocks for him to untie. But horses that smart are few and far between; in 20 years we have only breed 3. 

I will always remember my husband taking a mini out to paster for the very first time. He walked up to the mare and put a hand around her neck, like I told him to, and lead her out to pasture. Then when he let her go she spun around in 180 on him and ran back to the barn with her tail straight in the air. She thought that she was pretty funny leaving him all alone behind in the dust. Sometimes horses just like to  be with you. There is no better toy or game than you and your company. 

Toys: all these toys will work for mini horses too.

Why do miniature horses fight?

Miniature horses fight for a few reason. In their natural setting, miniature horses will bite and kick as a means of establishing dominance within their herd. Like many animals Mini horses have a hierarchy and horses will always challenge other horses of the same age. Some mares never make any friends and will always be cast out from the herd.

Stallions will lower their heads to mares and make an almost snarling face to make the mare stay within the heard when she strays. The mare (if with baby) will often protect the baby which is mostly unneeded, but the mare only knows that she doesn't know the stallion and will kick at him. In other cases a stallion will try to put the moves on a mare that is not ready to breed and there for she kicks and bits to let him know she isn't ready yet. 

Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3wT9ESxsTM&feature=em-comment_received&lc=dyRMftNUhsomgtpqYeuyMwtSzc1fn9dHJnZrx9D7xxc&lch=email

Will a bobcat kill a Mini horse?

They have every capability to do it yes. They will take down a deer and will go after Quarter horses, but only when food is scares and they have no choose. We have never had a problem with our bobcat in Indiana. 

Minis travail in very herds so it makes it very dangerous for a bobcat to go after not only babies but adults. So if you are seeing few rabbits, game birds, or anything that bobcats will usually eat then its time to be worried. The biggest problem for Mini horse owners are the people that only own one horse. For the people that only have one horse keep them close to home and not the the back paster.

Anyone have any thoughts or have problems with bob cats let me know and I will post your stories on this article. Since our bobcat leaves us alone I would like to get others in on this. 

What is a good breeding season?

On our farm we let the stallions loose with their mares so that they have babies from late March to early July. This way we arrange our full time jobs so that one of us is home for a short time while our horses are having babies. 

Others will let the stallions lose all year long with the mares and are not sure when the babies will be born. 

What ever works for you.

What age do Mini Stallions stop having babies and when can the babies not be Registered?

I got asked this question by a dog breeder. When male dogs reach the age of 10 apparently any puppies they have can not be registered. This is not the case with Miniature stallions. So long at they produce the babies can be registered so long as mom has the same registrations. All our stallions have babies up to the year they pass away. 

Question of the year: What are the odds of a mini being goared by a deer

Verrrrry tinny. In 20 years of working with minis and having many deer on our property we have never had this problem. 

What about you my readers? Any stories the help this person out? Send me an email and I will add your reply to this post.

Are Mini horses good for children?

Rockyhill's 12' colt named Mystro. 1 Year latter

With out question yes. When going to buy a Mini from a reputable breeder make sure to tell them that you are looking for a kid. Some Miniature horses are better suited for steeling your children and clamming them as your own than others. Like us there are people that love kids and others that can't handle them until they reach an older age. Stallions will think of children as one of their foals and herd them up with the rest of the babies, and mares will never let them out of their sight.

Rockyhill's 12' colt named Mystro. Weenling and
his new owner

Foals will have a little harder time with children sometimes as they are brand new to the world and can accidentally push or shove past kids and knock them down. But they will learn too. Just like buying a puppy they will make mistakes with your children without meaning so you will have to educate them and the kid of proper respect for each other.

Ferrands Triple K Darling Angle and her new owner 

Rockyhill's 12' colt named Mystro.
Weenling and his new owner

Miniature Horses and Dogs

Purchasing a mini horse that is older than 2 or 3 can present a problem with dog owners. Some farms, like ours, have coyotes and irresponsible dog owners that chase and bit at our horses. Thus our older horses have learned to gangue up and chase dogs and bit at them to make the leave the fenced area they live in. Remember that it is very hard for a pray animal to see the differents between a dog and a wolf or coyote. This will be very bad when there are babies being born, but our mares will let the coyotes eat any placentae left at the edges.

What is a mare protecting a baby from other horses for?

A mare will protect her baby mostly from other mares, as young mares or even older mares that didn't have a baby that year, will steal babies. We have had 2 year old mare steal babies from the first time moms, not caring that they have no milk to feed it. Sometime Mare's that are due any day will steal a baby from a first time mom that doesn't know what to do right away will steal it.

A mare protects her baby from a stallion on the off chance that he will hurt the baby. We have never had a stallion harm a baby and it takes a very unstable stallion to hurt young or even new born babies. Now that doesn't mean take the weenlings out from mom and put them in a lot with a stallion. 3 to 4 months is a stallions normal level of child tolerance. We personally have 2 stallions that we can let lose with the young boys and they teach them how to be boys. But we've know theses stallions since they were born so don't try this unless you really know that the babies are safe.

Dose being kicked or bit by Mini horses hurt?

Yes it can. I have been working with mini horses since I was 9 and I have been kicked and had the wind knocked out of me. I deserved it most of the time too as I didn't know how to act around horses at the time. My first horse bit didn't happen until February of 2013 while a mare was in the middle of having a baby. My arm was in the way while she was pushing and she bit down on my arm on accident. She has never tried again and is a sweet girl. Actually she had been overly nice since then so I think she's apologizing. It took 3 months for the knot to go away 3 weeks for the purple to go. It hurt but there was no permanent damage.

Are Mini horses being nice if they nibble (chow) on each others mane?

Yes. They are fine. Just like us they get itchy under all that main hair (in most cases common horse lice) and they are just itching each other when where they normally can't reach.

Why do horses bite each others tale off?

This can be because of boredom. This could also be a protein deficiency. It can be hunger. Lastly it could be a show of dominance, but if they are truly eating the hair it can become a habit so nip it in the butt as soon as you notice it. 

After 20 years my first horse bite!

Do keep in mind that when a mare is having a baby that the pain can be out of this world, even for our veteran mares. Ever birth is different and I got in the way of a scream and she got me. She's never done it before and has not done it since. So remember accidents happen.

But that baby is still worth it

Why would my Mini horse start kicking out of the blue?

There are only 2 reasons a horse of any kind kicks: 1) fear 2) they feel that they have no choice but to fight for their lives. The third less likely reason that never comes out of the blue is that the horse was mentally cracked to start with. Other than our third reason its never out of the blue. Really think about when this change occurred.

Why dose my horse bites my car?

This was a question just posted to me so here is a possible answer:

1. If you use a motor vehicle to feed (a 4-wheeler or a Gaiter) out hay they are trying to get his strange hard animal to give up the food. They know its a different vehicle from the one that feeds them but they could be hoping that it will drop things too.

2. They see their reflection and they don't like what its saying back (body language). 

3. They see their reflection and are trying to get the other horse to scratch their back