The Miniature Horse, Man's New Best Friend?

Don't be fooled by their size, the Miniature horse is actually a very useful member of the horse family. Their small size and gentle nature makes them the perfect first horse for children. Miniature horses have also proven themselves as excellent service and companion animals for the physically disabled, possibly replacing dogs as the preferred service animal.

According to standards set by the American Miniature Horse Association a horse must be no taller than 34 inches at the withers, the part of the horse's back where the first mane hairs grow, to be considered a miniature. These small horses are different from ponies because ponies generally have larger heads and stockier legs than full sized horses. The goal of those who breed miniatures is to produce a small horse that is an exact replica of a full sized horse, with no dwarf or pony characteristics.

With their small size, the Miniature horse is an excellent beginning horse for a child. Not only is the Miniature extremely small, they are also very gentle and docile, making them good with children. Unlike regular horses that are too big for a child to groom, saddle and mount by themselves, the Miniature horse is the perfect size for a child to care for.

In addition to being a good child's first horse, the Miniature horse also works well as a service or companion animal for the physically disabled. For instance, these horses can be used as leaders for the blind. In fact, they are ideal for this task because horses in a herd will instinctively take care of and lead any other horse in their group that loses its vision. Visually impaired people who have used these leader horses have said they are actually better leaders than dogs. The horses are more focused and less easily distracted than dogs.

Some may question switching to horses as service animals since dogs have been used successfully so many years. There are actually several reasons why some might prefer a horse to a dog. For instance, service horses are especially good for people who are allergic to dogs, scared of dogs, or just love horses. Another plus for the Miniature horse is that they often live 30-40 years. This is an especially good point for the horses because a dog's working life is much shorter. Because these service animals are so integral to their lives, the disabled person often becomes highly attached to their animal. After losing a service animal to death, some disabled people shy away from getting another in order to save themselves the mental and emotional stress of having to replace a dog every 10-15 years. Also, horses are more sturdy than dogs and if needed can be used by the disabled person to help pull themselves up from a sitting position, or lift themselves from the floor if they happen to fall.

As you can see, the Miniature horse is much more than just a little horse. They can be your child's best friend, the eyes for a blind person, or companion for a disabled person. Their small size makes them perfect for these tasks.

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