Miniature Horse Breed Profile

in conformation contests where a horses physical traits are evaluated. Driving leadline obstaclerunning and jumping are among the many performanceoriented competitions in which minis participate. Many of these are similar to dog sports.
Moreover miniature horses are frequently used as therapy animals. As guide animals they assist people with vision and hearing impairments. They also can make excellent emotional support animals because of their gentle and affectionate nature.
Colors and Markings
Miniature horses come in every equine color and coat pattern. Youll find solid coats pintos and spotted coats like that of the Appaloosa. Their coats tend to be a bit thicker than those of fullsize horses and they usually have copious manes and tails.
Unique Characteristics
The miniature horses small size is its trademark. Unlike ponies which are often stocky with short legs miniature horses tend to look like a fullsize horsejust shrunken down in size. Theyre similar in size to large dog breeds. This makes the mini ideal for people who live on small acreages where there would be no room for a herd of large horses.
Furthermore miniature horses tend to be intelligent curious gentle and social. They love spending time with people. But its still ideal to let them live outdoors with adequate shelter like other horses for their health and wellbeing.
The 12 Smallest Horse Breeds From Around the World
Diet and Nutrition
Like most horses miniature horses require a balanced diet of grass hay rolled oats and other grains with treats in moderation. Because of their small size miniature horses are easier to overfeed than to underfeed. Its important to feed the recommended amount for your horses weight and activity level.
Common Health and Behavior Problems
Miniature horses are generally goodnatured and easy to train but they are prone to several health issues. For one dwarfism mutations which can cause several health complications tend to crop up in miniature horses. And many horse registries are now trying to avoid miniature horses with dwarfism genes for breeding.
Furthermore many miniature horses are prone to obesity. This is possible because some owners treat them like house pets and dont provide them with the exercise they need. Or they might overestimate the amount of food minis need especially if theyre used to feeding larger horses. 
Miniature horses also tend to have difficult births and dental issues especially tooth overcrowding due to their small size. And theyre susceptible to hyperlipidemia and colic.
Grooming
Miniature horses require the same type of grooming