It's a horse. . . just a small one

Miniature Horse Talk Forums

Help Support Miniature Horse Talk Forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

RebelsHope

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2003
Messages
179
Reaction score
0
I was recently talking to somebody who is a perfectly capable big horse perosn, but when it came to minis, the questions that they asked were.. well elementary horse questions. I kept thinking to myself, and occationally saying out loud. They are horses, just smaller than most.

Yet as I was getting really irritated with this person I thought. . . that we me 2 years ago. You would have thought I have never even seen a horse with the questions I was asking. Now I look back and wonder . . . what is it about minis that make capable horse people feel stupid?

I am not really looking for an answer, just musings. Have you all noticed this. A big horse person friend who when it comes to minis can't even seem to lead them? I know a trainer and she was asking me how to train one. I'm like... it's a horse.. just a small one.
wacko.gif
 
Yes I have run into this too. I only answer that they need to not be on free pasture like big horses as they seem to get fat lots easier and founder and the mares should be watched as it seems minis have a foaling problem more often...although I am not sure this is really true.

What really irritates me is how amazed big horse people are around here at what I paid for my minis...l
ohmy.gif
They all see to think they are near worthless and should only bring $100 or so...
wacko.gif


Then I try to educate them that they aren't your old ponies from days gone by

some buy it others I can tell think I am real eccentric!
new_shocked.gif
rolleyes.gif
 
I had to chuckle...at the nursing home when I visit, the favorite question is "What does he eat?" Ummmm....red underwear and chocolate milk? It is a horse it eats what horses eat only less.
 
What do they eat...Kool Aid and Pickle Juice !

Just kidding... But seriously, I have had a new vet come and as he was nearing the barn talking about all I wanted him to do, he saw the minis and said "I don't know how much you want to spend on THEM!" I said "THEM are all registered, some double registered, and all worth about $2000 each." He straightened up his attitude right away. Of course it doesn't matter how much they were worth or even if they are registered or not if I was contracting for a service. I know if they were big horses he never would have said that.
 
We have that problem with Judges. Accredited, good "Big Horse" judges just fall apart when they are faced with a ring full of Minis. "What do I look for?? How do you judge them??" Duh!! They are HORSES. take a telescope- turn it round, look at a big horse of your choice- voilà- a Mini!!! It's not rocket science even I can do it so it can't be that hard!!
 
On the other hand, I appreciate it when they (be it a vet, judge, big horse owner, or anyone) ask, rather than just assume they know everyone.

All questions show interest and a willingness to learn, and it's better than many responses. It's a wise judge who familiarizes themself with the breed standards.

When I made an appointment with a new (though highly recommended) vet to have Mingus gelded, I was a bit surprised when the vet tech asked if he was "my baby." Then I realized that even a horse specialist deals with special pets and with horses that are considered livestock. Each type of owner will have a different idea of how much they are willing to spend and to what extent a vet should go in lifesaving procedures. I was very happy that they asked, and it made me feel even better that I had chosen them. (And, yes, they took great care of my baby!)

However, you have a great point, and it IS rather funny!
 
Yes, they are much like big horses, and I treat mine very much the same as my big horses--am a little more fussy about coarseness of hay & such for the little ones, but otherwise nothing too different.

What I find "funny" is how you're now making fun of people for thinking they must be treated/handled/fed differently from big horses, and yet last year around the time I joined this board there were plenty of posts from people here ranting about how just because someone is experienced with big horses doesn't mean they should think they know anything about looking after the Miniatures because some things are so different...
wacko.gif
 
Having had large horses all my life when I lost my last large horse I decided to get a mini and take up driving but my horsey friends are constantly commenting to me why would you ever want a mini, well if you feel like riding a real horse let me know....I have no desire to ride a big horse right now I'm having way to much fun driving my mini everywhere!!
 
what is it about minis that make capable horse people feel stupid?

Actually, that sounds exactly like I was at first. I'm a perfectionist in the equine care department and I just didn't want to screw up. I treaded every so softly.

I needed to cover my bases and had to get the information right. I was confused about feeding and vetting, and especially basic handeling. I was very afraid if I had to correct one, that she could "break" on me. Not that I am hard handed, not at all, but I was very reluctant in the handling aspects on top of everything else. Heck! These horsies are way tiny for what I was used to.

This is why I wrote the Happy Horsekeeping book. Holly and I muddled through an enormous pile of blunders and bloopers trying to down size my big horse knowledge to acceptable miniature proportions. It was, and still remains, a comedy of errors around here.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top