If you already have a horse barn, you can adapt a regular horse stall for a mini. Simply swap out the door and lower the water and food bucket hooks to a mini’s height. If you are showing your miniature horse, you may want to keep it in a stall in a barn to keep it clean. However, be sure that the horse’s stall is set up specifically for a mini. It should have short walls that the horse can see over and a lot of air flow to keep the horse healthy.
Giving your miniature horse time in a pasture will give it access to grass and will give it daily exercise. While the pasture does not need to be as big as you would use for an average-sized horse, a miniature horse should not be kept in a small space, such as a dog run. You should provide approximately 1/4 acre per miniature horse. [4] X Research source
A miniature horse will not need fencing that is as tall as that made for an average-sized horse. Make sure the fencing slats are close enough together that your mini can’t jump through, but wide enough that it won’t get a leg stuck.
Miniature horses are social creatures, so they should never be kept alone. However, you do need to take their individual personalities into consideration when choosing a companion for them. For instance, if you have a grumpy horse, you will want to give it a companion animal that will give it some space and will not respond poorly to its stubbornness.
For example, a miniature horse that weighs 200 pounds (91 kg) should be given 2–4 pounds (0. 91–1. 81 kg) of forage every day. Miniature ponies that aren’t worked and are on a good grassy pasture typically don’t need to be fed hay if there is enough grass. In fact, if they are fed too much it may cause them to become overweight and it could even cause colic, a digestive illness. However, if a horse is worked regularly they should be fed to keep a stable weight.
In general, most miniature horses can eat approximately 1 pound (0. 45 kg) of grain every day, split into 2 feedings. Miniature horse owners should feed their horses a pre-mixed combination of grains. These mixes typically include corn, oats, wheat, and barley grains. They are specifically created to meet a miniature horse’s dietary needs and typically contain a mix of dietary supplements as well as grain.
An easy way to tell if your horse is at a good weight is to feel along its sides for its ribs. If you can feel its ribs but not see them, your horse is at a healthy weight. If you can see the ribs, the horse is underweight; if you can’t feel or see the ribs, it’s overweight. Miniature horses are prone to becoming overweight. The ideal weight for a miniature horse is anywhere between 150–300 pounds (68–136 kg), depending on the size of the horse. Keep an eye on your horse’s size in order to fine-tune its diet so that it can stay at an ideal weight.
Clean water containers weekly so that they do not harbor harmful bacteria, which could affect your horse’s health. Simply rinse the container with cold water, add a few drops of dish soap, scrub it down with a brush, and then rinse it out. You can add a drop or two of bleach to the horse’s water to keep bacteria and algae at bay. This will not harm the horse and will keep the water more palatable. [11] X Research source
You can tie up a horse using a variety of knots, such as a quick-release knot. You should always have a quick-release option, in case your horse gets stuck or distressed.
You can approach the horse from the side and touch it as you do so but never come up on a horse from behind. This will eliminate the chance of a fear response if you touch them when they don’t know you are there.
Once you have cleaned out a hoof you should look at the surface to determine if it’s healthy. Look for injuries or swollen areas inside the hoof. If you spot a problem, seek out the treatment advice of a veterinarian. Many miniature horses also need their hooves trimmed because they typically grow faster than they are worn down. In general, a miniature horse will need its hooves trimmed once every 5 weeks or so.
To keep your miniature horse’s mane and tail untangled and shiny you should also brush them every day. Brushing is especially important for miniature horses that you plan on showing, as the state of their manes and tails will be judged. Brushing your horse every day is a great way to bond with the animal. It is quality time when you can show the horse that you care for it and that you are not a threat to it.
A rug is a blanket that is put on the back of a horse. They can be bought from a local riding shop, although rugs for miniature horses are harder to find than those made for average-sized horses.
Common diseases that minis are often immunized for include tetanus, rabies, influenza, and rhinovirus. [15] X Research source
Deworming medications given to miniature horses will typically protect them from strongyles, ascrids, pinworms, roundworms, and other common parasitic infections.
Check your horse’s teeth regularly to make sure their teeth look healthy and that their bite is normal and is creating even wearing on the teeth.
