Mary Allen
Miniature horses and dwarf ponies have one thing in common: They are small and their joe effect is all the bigger. But what is the difference between the two cute four-legged friends? What is necessary for species-appropriate husbandry and are the animals an adequate substitute for dogs?
While the tiny ones among them hardly come close to a Bernese Mountain Dog, the big ones have a stick size of a good one meter. This is also comparatively small, which is not surprising, after all, we are talking about mini horses and ponies. The ponies are rather small and stocky, while the horses are also small, but appear much more elegant.
All proportions of the physique, the bones, but also all the gaits and character traits of the “minis” should correspond to those of their larger relatives. There are now various breeds in miniature format, including, for example, the Argentine Falabellas or the British and American miniature horses. The best-known breed, however, is the Scottish Shetland pony, which measures a maximum of 105 centimeters at the highest point of the withers. The so-called mini Shetland pony, with a maximum height of 87 centimeters, is a breeding form of it.
Their original home, the Shetland Islands, is around 170 kilometers north of Scotland. Due to their robustness due to their rough nature, but also because of their ability to learn, gentleness, and good nature, the “Shetty’s” conquered large parts of Northern Europe more than 2000 years ago. Initially, they were used as livestock during the industrial revolution, for example in mines and agriculture. After all, powerful animals can pull twice their body weight. They are now popular all over the world, whether as a beginner’s horse for children, as a driving or therapy pony.
Even smaller than the Shetland ponies are the Falabellas, which are at most 86 centimeters high. The South Americans also go back to the sturdy Shetland ponies but have a comparatively small head and small ears for ponies, which makes them appear a bit more graceful. The reason for this lies in the crossbreeding of elegant English thoroughbred horses that are bred specifically for racing.
The Falabellas are known to be intelligent, trainable, friendly, and calm. However, they are considered less robust and relatively susceptible to diseases. They are just as unsuitable for vigorous work as for riding. They pull light carriages at most once in a pair or four-in-hand. The main task of this breed are appearances as show and fashion ponies. In the USA, they are also often kept as pets and pets.
Desire for Attention
Another variant is the so-called American Miniature Horse. At around 86 centimeters, it is the same size as the Falabella and is a combination of different small horse and pony breeds. The small horses appear very graceful due to their balanced proportions, strong muscles, and large eyes, especially compared to ponies.
Contrary to what the name suggests, the miniature horse does not originally come from the USA, but from Great Britain, from where it found its way into many European royal houses in the 17th century, where it was primarily used as a playmate for children. Due to the wars of the following centuries, these companions were threatened with extinction at some point. Luckily, some of them were brought across the pond, where the breed thrived again and was first officially documented there in 1888.
What all little ones have in common is their sociability and their desire for attention. They want to be busy and need exercise. Characteristics that sound like those of a dog. Nevertheless: Horses, whether small or large, are not a substitute for dogs. “A dog is not comparable to a pony,” clarifies Sandra Schaeffler from Swiss animal protection STS. She emphasizes the complex attitude. It is impossible to keep ponies in the garden like pets since the animals have to have hearing, visual and olfactory contact with other equines.
Not to be underestimated are the costs incurred for feed, stables, vet, dentist, hoof care, blacksmith, and much more, which may seem low for conventional horse owners, but are many times higher than for dogs. And the money has to be raised much longer since Equidae usually live more than twice as long as dogs. Nor is pasture equal to pasture. Especially ponies put on weight quickly, since many of them come from a rather barren region, they are considered good feed converters. For this reason, plants on the pasture that are too high in fat and protein are taboo.
Minis Have Some Flaws
The cliche of the perfect playmate is also more of wishful thinking. “Ponies can be very idiosyncratic and are not better suited for children just because they are smaller than horses,” explains Schaeffler. Tosso Leeb from the University of Bern, however, points out that horses are the “most dangerous species”, as they are responsible for a relatively large number of serious injuries and even deaths in humans.
The danger potential has something to do with the size. A horse weighing 500 kilos or more is unsuitable and too dangerous for a small child, says Leeb. “A small pony is more suitable due to the shoulder height and the significantly lower weight and is therefore also more child-friendly.”
Like most «breed products», however, minis also have some flaws. Shetland horses, for example, develop very slowly and should only be broken in from the age of four, otherwise, the skeleton and muscles could be damaged. Due to their breed, they are also prone to laminitis, mallenders, and summer eczema. And with such small breeds, there are more difficult births and teeth problems because there is not enough space for the teeth. Knee joint injuries or fertility disorders can also occur. However, if you can cope with such shortcomings, you will enjoy the sociable and interested Minis.