What is a Miniature Horse?
A Miniature Horse is a scaled down version of a full size horse. Purebred can be registered in various associations like the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) or the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA); many qualify for registry in both. The main difference in the two is while the AMHA registers only Miniature Horses under 34 inches, the AMHR has two divisions; the “under” Miniatures are under 34 inches and “over” division Miniatures can be 34 to 38 inches. Minis are measured at the last hair of the mane.
There are two main types of miniatures, the refined Arabian look and the stockier Quarter Horse look. The Standard of Perfection specifies a small, sound, well-balanced horse, possessing correct conformation, so either body type is acceptable.
Minis are found in all horse colors, including sorrels, bays, roans, appaloosas, pintos, palominos, and silvers to name just a few.
Where did they come from?
The Miniature Horse breed is the product of nearly 400 years of selective breeding. Many trace back to the early 1700’s, when the small horses were used to pull ore carts in coalmines of England and Northern Europe. The miniatures were brought to the United States in the late 19th century for that same use. The European royalty were known to keep the smallest minis around as pets.