When you go to a county fair or an animal show, you would most likely see a cute and small horse that one would often mistake for a pony. You may actually be looking at a horse miniature. The difference between a pony and a horse miniature is that a pony looks rather stocky around the bodice, while the latter has correct bodily proportions which are actually similar to a regular horse.

The horse miniature was developed by mixing various horse breeds which include Hackney Ponies, Shetland Ponies, Arabians and many others.

According to the American Miniature Horse Registry or AMHR, horse miniatures look exactly like the regular horse when photographed, especially when there is no indication of its actual size. The AMHR created two divisions of horse miniatures, depending on their size.

How big is a horse miniature? The biggest horse miniature would be 9.2 hands high, or 92 centimeters, which is around 38 inches. This horse miniature would fall under the Division B of Minis. Those that are below 8.2 hands or 82 centimeters or 34 inches would fall under Division A Minis, as classified by AMHR.

Horse miniature are actually very small; hence only a child will be likely to ride on them. However, this horse has a lot of qualities that makes it a very useful animal. For instance, they are often used as guide animals for people who are either blind or hearing-impaired. They also have a very long lifespan of up to 40 years, making this guide animal a good investment, especially for people with disabilities.

Horse miniatures are calm and seldom aggressive, making them amiable even in public places. They are seldom distracted by people and they do not panic when in the middle of a crowd. They execute great judgment as well, making sure that the person they are guiding is led to safety. They are also sturdy, hence they are also used as cart or wagon pullers.

Surprisingly, this breed of horse is considered to be therapeutic. They interact well not only with the disabled but also with the elderly and even autistic children. They are good companions – much like a dog minus the frequent allergic reaction that you may get with mutts.

One of the best things about miniature horses is that they can be taken cared of easily. You don’t need a large stable, just enough to make room for this small horse. Brushing of their main is necessary and changing shoes is also important. Can you believe that this horse breed can also wear sneakers? Yes, the horse miniature is no longer just a horse but also a pet, a companion and a friend.