Conference noted::equitation

	It's "miniature" - for miniature horse. They have
	quite a few farms around Ocala, Florida, the region
	where Foolish Pleasure (not, of course, a miniature)
	is from. They're actually horses, not ponies.

	Anyhow, we were talking with a breeder one day and
	she said that some people buy them as pets - "put a
	diaper on 'em and let 'em come right into the house".
	They are adorable, but...

	-julie

    I know of two "miniature" breeds, Shetland ponies from the Shetland
    Isles in Britain and Falabellas (sp?) which are the smallest breed
    in the world and were named after an Argentinian who found one
    wandering in the wilds.
    
    A working Shetland will be about 36" to around 40" high (they are
    not measured in hands) but because of demand from the US they are
    being bred smaller.
    
    Incidently I know that people pay around �50 to �100 for these small
    Shetlands in Reading market and then charge �2500 and more to Americans
    for them.
    
    I'll try to find more information and post it here.
    
    Mike.
    

    	As stated in .2,miniatures are horses,not ponies. There are
    miniature Arabians,and I think there are miniature Appaloosas and
    Morgans. There are probably several other breeds also.
    	I think the 35" height restriction is correct, and I've seen
    pictures of some that are so small that you can easily carry them.
    One rides in the front seat of a pickup truck. Smallness is desirable
    in these horses,but they must maintain the horse proportions,that
    is they can't have proportionally shorter legs,or bigger barrels
    than the full size horse. I've seen them pull small carts with children
    in them,and once I saw a small child riding one. Other than that
    they are an interesting toy with no real practical use.
    	The ones I looked into were EXPENSIVE,and the smaller,the more
    they cost.
    
    	George
    

    	Sorry,that last note should have said, "As stated in .1"

We saw a herd of miniature paints at the Magnolia Gardens, a plantation
just outside of Charleston, SC. They were trained to pull small
wagons and to perform tricks. They were adorable to watch, but
they did not really seem very useful except as a novelty.

/ed

    The size I believe is correct, but unless treated like HORSES/PONIES
    they are little >*(*(*(*(*(*.   I have officated at shows in B.C.
    where they seem to dominate pleasure driving classes. Too many people;
    owners, spectators think "HA how cute".   I  have very little positive
    things to say but I have never owned one nor came into day to day
    contact with one.  (I know people who own them and they often agree
    they are not THAT cute..... or practical).  Out here it seem only
    little old ladies and middle aged men drive them,  but that is only
    an impression, with no offence meant.  Things are different out
    between east and west at the best of times.
    
    The prices out here are reasonable depending on what you want in
    terms of experience/winning power/breeding.
    
    Good luck and just have fun.

    The Miniature Horse is becoming more and more popular at horse shows
    I've noticed (I'm in New Hampshire).  There a several Miniature
    Horse farms in the state as well as in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
    At first there was just a handful of these little animals being
    shown in-hand in their class.  They have special classes for costumes,
    driving (pulling small carts), trail.  I know that if there's a
    registered Pinto halter class, a miniature horse that is also
    registered with the Pinto Horse Assoc. may also enter and be judged.
    
    They are expensive but I think that's to discourage anyone who might
    be just as happy with a small dog.
    
    

    
    Just a small clarification to Pat's note.
    
    RE: Miniature horses registered with The Pinto Horse Association. 
    
    	They may not be shown in the same class as the horses.  Just as the
    ponies and horses do not compete against each other in halter classes,
    the miniatures also have thier own division which can not be combined
    with any other non-miniature division.
    
    Dani
      

    Where does one purchase such an animal????

    .8
    
    That's odd, Dani.  Last year at one of the shows held in Deerfield,
    NH a registered pinto "miniature" horse was entered in the registered
    pinto halter class.  It wasn't an all pinto/paint show, would that
    make a difference?
    
    Pat
    

    
    
    Yes Pat, that would be the difference.  That show was not affiliated
    with the Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc.  It was probably a
    N.H. Horse & Trail affiliated.  Any group that offers their own year
    end points can make thier own rules as long as they don't break the
    rules of any affiliated organizations.  
    
    Dani
    

	Here's a note I found in the Classified Ad's notes file.
	Please be aware that I put it under this subject NOT for
	the 'horse for sale', but because this woman is breeding
	miniature horses. If you're interested in miniature horses,
	then you may wish to contact her.

	-j

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       <<< WORDS::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]CLASSIFIED_ADS.NOTE;11 >>>
                         -< Classified Advertisements >-
================================================================================
Note 4646.0                      HORSE FOR SALE                       No replies
BRUTWO::SOBEK                                        12 lines   2-JUN-1988 12:52
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    APPALOOSA GELDING FOR SALE.
    
    14.3 H.  10 YEARS.
    
    EXTREMELY PRETTY AND SMOOTH GAITED.
>>    I reluctantly offer him as we need his stall for our expanding mini
>>    horse breeding program.  "Tuc" is an ideal woman's or family horse
    prospect.  He's a liver chestnut with blanket on hips.  I will consider
    an offer over $1,000.00 TO A GOOD HOME...
      LINDA SOBEK   226-2312          BRUTUS::SOBEK
    
    

    The Miniature Horse to be registered with either of the major
    registries (American Miniature Horse Registry ....a subsidiary of
    the American Shetland Pony Club and the American Miniature Horse
    Association) must be no higher than 34" measured at the base of
    the last mane hair) at maturity.  The AMHR does have a "B" division
    for breeding purposes, for horses up to "38".  There is still alot
    of controvery about that among breeders.  The ideal Miniature has
    the refinement and appearance of a small horse..
    
    There are many beeders in the New England area where I live and
    any of us could expand for hours on the joys and pleasure of having
    these little guys around.  I have had minis for about 4 years, our
    first foal having been born just over three weeks ago... 20" high
    and about 40 pounds at birth.  The temperament on them is great...they
    will follow you everywhere if given the chance.  I can put a bunch
    of them in the back of my Ford van....
    
    There are shows with mini classes from April through Sept. with
    as many as 70 minis at the shows this year...  The National Champion
    mare ('86) and the reserve National Champion Stallion ('87) are
    both in Mass..  Classes include In-Hand, Showmanship, Trail, Hunting,
    Jumping, Driving, etc.    Most minis can pull 1 - 2 adults.
    There are also several Fun Days and Fun Trail Drives for minis in
    New England.
    
    The prices on minis, as with full sized horses, can vary... from
    $0 from a neighbor to $140,000. for a top placing stallion.  Breeding
    animals can be expensive, but one of my minis is a 28" flaxen maned
    gelding I bought quite reasonably.  He's everything a mini lover
    could want for a pet or for showing...
    
    I am the newsletter editor for The New England Miniature Horse
    Association. We support several shows and have a banquet with year-end
    awards each Fall.  I would be glad to provide more info. to anyone
    interested.
    
                        Linda Sobek
                        Frostpocket Farm
                        P.O. Box 3125
                        Westford, Ma.  01886
    

    Linda, could you please explain to me how you show a mini in a hunter
    class or a trail class if no one rides them.  is it all on line
    or what?  
    
    Just curious
    stephanie

    A miniature horse hunter or trail class is all done "in-hand". 
    If the side rails on a jump are high you would have to jump also;
    if the side rail are low you have the option of running past the
    obstacle while the horse jumps.  If I remember correctly, in the
    jumping classes the horse in judged on clearing the obstacles, while
    in the hunter classes form, etc. also are judged.  In the trail
    class the horse may be asked to back through parallel poles, cross
    water, jump brush or any other test the course preparers may think
    of.  Usually pressure on the lead/rein of the show halter is used
    to guide the horse.  A few exhibitors have trained their horses
    to follow hand signals, and although on a line, appear to be working
    almost "at liberty".  Miniature exhibitors like to be taken seriously
    and tend not to show at "open" shows with miniature trail classes
    unless they are offered a challenge.  A few shows have offered just
    a log to step over. Often show sponsors will promise to provide
    more in future shows once they realize the exhibitors are serious
    about what they are doing and will support the classes.
    
    Fun Days can be quite a different thing.  A relay race would probably
    be run with two or three different people leading a horse to various
    "posts" where they pass on the horse as well as a bucket or baloon...
    A barrel race would probably have you leading the horse with one
    hand, holding a pair of oversized pants up with the other hand,
    while you push an overturned barrel accross the finish line with
    "whatever". Prizes might be hoof picks, vet. thermometers, etc.
    
    A few mini owners like to drive their horses in a reproduction antique
    vehicle at various coach & carriage day functions.  It makes quite
    a picture.  I've seen pictures of 8 horse hitches on a stagecoach,
    but not in this area yet...                                                               
    

    Does anyone have any experience in purchasing equipment for/
    training/driving miniatures.  We have just recently added two
    miniature burros to our barn. Supposedly they are trained to
    drive as a pair, but I'll believe it when I see it. Brutus and
    Caesar have to be the cutest creatures I've ever seen. I'd 
    like to try and locate equipment for them before the onset of
    winter. If anyone has any information on where I can get a 
    team harness, cart and driving information I would be greatly
    appreciative. I have a driving instructor who will be doing the
    ground work with us, but I'd like to gather as much info as
    possible in the meantime.   Do any of you have miniatures??
    
    Thx
    Marianne
    

    I have a friend  who's heavy into miniature horses - don't know
    if she drives or not, but she's likely to know where to find some
    info....
    
    Stephanie Welsch
    Gypsy Magic Miniature Horse Farm
    10504 Vincent Rd
    White Marsh, Md 21162
    
    Her minis are ADORABLE, and she has been very successful showing
    them.  
    
    I hope you have someone small to ride in the cart behind these tiny
    critters!!  Good luck!
    
    Claire

    Thanks for the  info Claire. I'll give her a try. 
    Btw, the two burros hitched as a pair can pull up to 4 adults 
    without any trouble. (don't have any intention of doing such, but 
    they're very strong individuals..)
    
    Marianne
    

    
    
    		can anyone point me in the direction of miniture horse
    		breeders?
    
    
    					thanks, lora
    					dtn 223-3698

    Cindy and Harvey Moses breed minis....very nice ones I hear, alhtough
    I have not seen them myself.  They are located in Bow, New Hampshire,
    which is right outside of Concord, NH.  Don't have a phone #, but
    you could call information.
    
    If you talk to Cindy, tell her Joyce Smith said "Hi."  I used to take
    riding lessons from her years ago.  She's a really nice person and
    takes super care of her stock.  I'm sure you would get a top quality 
    mini from her.