| Where can I buy a small miniature horse?
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As is the case with most animals there are several sources available. At IAMHA we admit we are prejudiced toward our American Miniature Horses and usually have a very good selection for sale. We would encourage you to contact us by email at information@iamha.net. These horses range in price depending on their breeding, conformation quality, size, color patterns and movement as they walk and run. We enjoy sharing information about our minis; feel free to ask your questions.(back to top)
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| If I buy a miniature horse can it be delivered?
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Yes. American Miniature Horses are transported all around the world. In the United States they will typically be transported by one of our preferred equine partners. The minis travel very well. We only have a concern when mares are in the last couple of months of their pregnancies.(back to top)
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| Do people show miniature horses?
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Yes. Definitely! The two most recognized registries, AMHA and AMHR, each have several shows all over the US each year. Sometimes these shows are collocated. There are also other independent miniature horse shows and we are planning one later this year. Please check out our website at www.iamha.net for details. We plan on giving away thousands of dollars in prizes to the winners. You still have time to get a mini, attend our show and win. (back to top)
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| How much Vet care do miniature horses need?
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Yes. Vet care for a miniature horse can be comparable to that of a dog. Yearly immunizations are required, and bi-monthly de-worming is required to keep the miniature horse healthy and protected from disease. All horses have worms and a de-wormer (such as Ivermectin) can be administrated orally by you. The mini horse also needs a farrier to trim their hooves every six to eight weeks depending on the type of soil your mini is on. As always those of us at IAMHA will be glad to help with any questions or requests for more detailed or specific information so feel free to contact us at information@iamha.net.(back to top)
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| Do miniature horses get fleas?
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No. Fleas have a natural aversion to mini horse skin so they do not get fleas. They do get worms and must receive de-worming paste every two months.(back to top)
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| Do miniature horses have weight problems?
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They can easily become obese. Owners must carefully watch the diets of miniature horses. Since they evolved on the barren Shetland Islands, most miniature horses are "easy keepers", and metabolize food extremely efficiently. Miniature horses should never eat people food, and some miniature horses need low-feed muzzles to keep them from getting obese. Feel free to contact us at information@iamha.net for help in this area. (back to top)
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| Do miniature horses stink?
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The natural odor of a miniature horse is not at all strong and they can be kept virtually free from odor with regular grooming and periodic bathing. Miniature horses can be trained to stand still for bathing, and they typically enjoy being outside on a nice warm day enjoying a bath and grooming. Care must be taken not to bathe them too frequently to avoid washing away their natural coat and body oils. It will be hard to groom your minis too much. (back to top)
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| The baby miniature foals are adorable, are they easy to breed?
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The American Miniature Horse is easy to breed. Attention must be paid when the mare is ready to foal given the small size of these mares. The larger the mare the easier the foaling will be. It is important to plan your breeding strategy, as well as your breeding stock. Too many miniature horse owners simply buy a male and female and breed them without seeking the advice of experts and doing the requisite pedigree research. The reason the horses breed, shown and sold by our members perform and sell at higher levels is not accidental. If you want to have horses that win in the show ring and sell for more than a few hundred dollars, contact us at information@iamha.net for help in this area. (back to top)
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| What are the most common problems with miniature horses?
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Probably the most common problem we generally see associated with to feeding. It can be too much or in rare cases too little. Next there will be problems that can be traced to improper care of hooves or teeth. At IAMHA we are COMMITTED to helping the American Miniature Horse enthusiast FIND, BUY, KEEP and ENJOY your minis and will gladly help with your questions and share our experience.(back to top)
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| How did these miniature horses get to be so small?
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While the exact origins of mini horses have been obscured over the centuries, early incunabula texts refer to miniature horses being kept as prized companions of Hapsburg royalty as early as the 17th century. Just as dogs have been bred to be small, centuries of selective breeding have resulted in miniature horses with calm dispositions. Many early American Miniature Horses are extremely small because of the deliberate breeding between the smallest horses available. In the last twenty years the breeding focus has been to breed the American Miniature Horse for the best conformance and physical balance. Look at the picture below and see if you can tell if this is a full sized horse or mini.(back to top)
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| How well do miniature horses see?
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All horses including miniature horses possess amazing vision. With their eyes mounted squarely on the sides of their heads, they possess nearly 350 degree vision. They only have vision issues directly behind them and directly in front of them. The miniature horses are also extremely sensitive to motion in their field of vision and often detect a potential hazard before their sighted owners. Miniature horses also have excellent night vision and can see clearly in almost total darkness.(back to top)
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| Are miniature horses a recognized horse breed?
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Miniature horses are not a genetic horse breed like Quarter Horses, Morgans, etc. They are a height breed. While there is no recognized breed wide standard for miniaturized horses, and there are many separate registries that have emerged for miniature horses, each has their own unique standards for conformation and size.
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The two most recognized registries are the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) and the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR). Some miniature horse registries are concerned solely with the size of the miniature horse or their coat coloration, while other registries reject miniature horses on the basis of their physical conformation, with subjective criteria for dwarfs, midgets, and genetic mutants. At IAMHA we promote the best American Miniature Horses worldwide regardless of their particular affiliation with one breed registry or another. Feel free to contact us at information@iamha.net for more detailed information.(back to top)
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| How much does the average miniature horse weigh?
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The average miniature horse, when mature will approximately 200 - 250 pounds. Foals will weigh 10 – 15 pounds when born and grow to around 100 pounds at one year. (back to top)
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| Do miniature horses bite and kick?
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In their natural setting, miniature horses will naturally bite and kick as a means of establishing dominance within their herd. When a miniature horse bonds with the owner, the owner will be perceived as the herd leader and the mini horse will never bite or kick except when attacked. (back to top)
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| Are Miniature horses a separate breed?
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While the exact origins vary by country, miniaturized horses have been bred-down by selective breeding techniques on every continent. The American Miniature horse was declared a separate breed in 1978 by the AMHA, but many other miniature horse breeds exist, with names like AMHR, Australian Miniature Pony, Dartmoor Pony, Falabella, and others. (back to top)
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| Do Horses have teeth issues?
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All horses teeth grow continuously and an experienced horseman can gauge the approximate age of any horse by examining the horses teeth. The reliable growth of horses teeth fostered the origin of the old saying "Never look a gift horse in the mouth", as well as "Long in the tooth" to describe an elderly person. (back to top)
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| How long do Horses live?
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Horses quite often live to be 25 years old. Some minis have lived into their 40’s. There is a report of a miniature horse who lived with the Horse Protection Society of North Carolina, was among the oldest living mini horses, at an age of over 50 years-old. Minis usually reach puberty by age two or three. On average, miniature horses may live one third longer than large horses. This size longevity relationship is the same for dog breeds. For example, a Rottweiler may live to be 12, while a Chihuahua may live to be 18 years old. (back to top)
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| How small was the smallest miniature horse breeding stallion?
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The records of the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) show the smallest miniature horse breeding stallion was Bond Tiny Tim. In the AMHA stud book records, Bond Tiny Tim is listed as a miniature horse stallion measuring 19 inches tall. Bond Tiny Tim was a dwarf horse who was bred extensively and appears in the pedigrees of hundreds of miniature horses in America. Bond Tiny Tim sired numerous national champions and lent his dwarf genes to generations of his descendents. Currently the smallest breeding stallions are in the 27 to 29 inch range. Please check out “Tiny Tim” below. (back to top)
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| What is the origin of the miniature horse?
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Over the past 100 years there has been a great amount of disagreement regarding the origins and genetic characteristics of miniature horses. Some miniature horse breeds such as the Falabella horse of Argentina were developed in a totally separate environment from the tiny European miniature horses of the eighteenth century, and independent breeding programs have been established on every continent. In the USA in the 1960s, these horses were called midget ponies, while in South America they were known as Falabella horses. In the 1970s a movement arose to change the name of tiny horses to miniature horses, and many registries, such as AMHA and AMHR, were established with standard sizes ranging from 28 inches to 38 inches. (back to top)
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| What is colic?
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Horses cannot vomit, whatever goes in must pass all the way through the digestive system. The number-one cause of preventable death of miniature horses is colic, a severe and painful digestive system irritation that can kill a mini horse if not treated promptly. It is important that you are familiar with this potential if you own miniature horses. (back to top)
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| Do Miniature Horses make good companions?
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Absolutely! Miniature Horses do not possess the same craving for affection that is common with dogs. This does not mean that they are not affectionate. Quite the opposite, a pet Miniature horses will enjoy being groomed, brushed, rubbed and scratched. A pet mini will often follow their owner around, seeking their companionship and affection much like a dog. They love to be scratched and petted and enjoy sharing the daily activities of their owner. Show or breeding Miniature horses may be more aloof.(back to top)
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| What is the difference between a dwarf horse, midget pony and a miniature horse?
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In the opinion of many Veterinarians, all miniature horses and ponies possess some of the genetic markers for dwarfism. Equine dwarfism is a relatively rare occurrence in large horses, but it can be more common in miniature horses that have been bred exclusively for small size. Animal research indicates that there are more than 320 separate and distinct types of dwarfism, each with a unique genetic marker and characteristics. The members of IAMHA have worked diligently for years to only breed the best horses and thereby avoid the production of dwarf horses. Ponies are a class of small horses larger than miniature horses and as in all breeds of horses there can be dwarf animals. The best plan to avoid a dwarf is to deal with the most reputable breeders you can find. You will pay more, but you will have peace of mind. At IAMHA we look forward to working with you to make sure you get the best horses you can.(back to top)
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