Hey everyone,

Got a mini question. MY wife is trying to talk me into getting my daughter a mini..

Of all things.. and she tells me that they don't even wear shoes? now is that something that is breed into them, or do they just don't grow as fast and trimming is all that is neccessary?

I want my daughter to have a pony and since she is only three. And loves to ride I am considering it..

How are their temperments.. I don't know alot about them..

I have had a mini for about 2 years now and I think she is really neat. I have never put shoes on her. she does just fine. her and my goats and dogs play together all the time . sometime I wonder if she even knows if she is a horse. lol I would not give her up for anything. I take her for walks down the street all the time. I do have her trimed when I get the big horses trim. I don't put shoes on any of my horses. they are all bearfoot. I don't know if this will help you but I hope it does a little. KOVERGIRE

Cowboy dad,

They are good for kids my niece and my boys started on my parents mini's. The ones that the kids rode were broke to drive also. You would want a larger mini for riding at least 36 inches. You really don't want one any shorter. Also the max weight would be about 50-60 lbs. on their backs. You don't have to shoe them just get them trimmed every 6-8 weeks like the big ones. They are EASY KEEPERS, practically live on air, Although grass hay is the best, a bale last forever. The kids love them because they can do all the work themselves. Catching, haltering, picking feet, grooming, mucking their pens, etc. They have great personalities, and ares have always been turned out with the big horses. If anything they can be pushy to the full size horses. You know little man syndrome I have run acrossed a few that were naughty, but put them in their place and they normally turn around quickly, They are pretty smart and some people because they are little tend to spoil them and they will pick up bad habits quickly. They just need to be treated like any other horse.

Also if you get one that drives after your little one is to big to ride, she can still use the mini by driving it.

To bad you didn't live closer I know a great little mare that is broke to drive and ride and is the sweetest thing around. She has done it all from being a mama to driving in parades.

Just a word of caution, they are like potato chips, you can't have just one.

Sure as a backyard starter pony they are great. Almost self sufficient, very hardy in most climates, minimal amount of feeds and all your buildings,stall size,pasture size,fenceing,water trough, cut in half. About the same for a large dog. But as p8nt stated they are SMALL and even though they are a perfect size to learn with and handle, they are very soon outgrown for riding. Typically if you have one that rides it also drives as I have yet to meet a trainer small enough to sit on one. So they are taught to drive and the riding is really just changeing the weight from behind[pulling] to on top of[squishing]
As for the feet and no shoes- That is not a breed thing. Every horse should be able to be barefoot. The 2 reasons to put shoes on, are injury[ multiple kinds] or traction. Horses don't wear shoes just because.

Cowboy Dad,

Since you are just up the road (in relative terms) I thought I would share a California link for minis.

http://www.miniaturehorsefarmsdirect...cat=1&subcat=5

I've watched several minis foal in the last week on Marestare, but most of them have been back east. They sure seem to have an easier time than full-sized mares (and so much quicker, < 15 mins in several instances!), but when things go wrong, it's just as ugly.

And I can really see how addicting it would be.

Go here: http://www.mulligansrun.com/FoalingDates2007.html and scroll down to the bottom. Despite what the address says, this is THIS years crop of foals. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and watch the videos. Shannon playing with the babies. It's soooooo cute!

Okay the pictures have been moved, they are now at: http://www.mulligansrun.com/FoalPage2008.html There is a 3rd video that is really special too. Check it out!

I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner. My son who is now 10 was given a mini before he was a year old. So him and his horse literally grow up together. Manny has been a great way for my son to learn everything on-grooming, saddling, riding, everything. He did and still does every once in a while to have an attitude, but nothing terrible bad. I have some great pictures (not on the computer, but can scan them) if you would want to see them. Manny is now 12 years old and we will never get rid of him, he is a part of the family.