August 1998

This months horse hint is from Alex & Mary Lou McEachern of L'il Beginnings Miniature Horses

Because of their gentle, affectionate nature and small size, Miniature horses make excellent companions for young and old. Small children that may be afraid of full size horses may show eagerness to embrace a gentle Miniature. People that are handicapped, disabled, or older that cannot physically handle a full-sized horse can enjoy a Mini in a variety of ways, such as driving, showing or simply a companion.

Caring for the Miniature can be performed safely by a person of any age. The cost of maintaining a Mini is about one tenth of our larger breeds of horses, treating them the same but in a smaller scale. The Mini still requires good nutrition, housing, foot care, dental care, training & grooming.

Many people show the Mini at various shows as a family, creating new friendships and sharing their intense interest with other Miniature horse enthusiast. The Miniature horse is easily trained for pulling carts, which many classes are offered at shows for pleasure driving, roadster driving, and obstacle driving for adults & youth. Halter classes are also offered for conformation. There are many classes at most shows that everyone is able to participate in something.

If showing is not a must for the Miniature horse owner, many people just enjoy the small equine for the love of horses. I am sure I have missed many other things that Miniature horses are good for but as the saying goes.... "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of man." I would think this statement applies to all horses whether large or small and to people, young or old.