Question on Miniature Horses

[jesz9]

Hello everyone!! I have a 6 year old gelded quarter horse, and i think he is lonely. Do mini's mix with the big horses ok, or is that a bad idea? Just trying to get some input. Thanks for your time!!

Jess

[Joecorny]

they useually work best if they are the same gender, but it could work either way. have they met each other?

[jesz9]

The mini i'm looking at is a gelding also, no they have not met yet. Do you think they make good companions?

[RabbitMage]

Minis usually make excellent companions. Mine have always mixed and played with my big horses with no problem. Just be careful with the first introduction, as you would with any horse.

[Joecorny]

i some who put a 16 hand horse with a mini and one night the big horse rolled over the mini and killed it it was realy sad, and to make it worse i was the one to find it. :(

[Shrelana]

Like rabbitmage said, just be careful with introductions like you would any horse, make sure they're getting along before you leave....

[MTAussie]

My ponies had no problem being with the big horses. Although I would be careful. Depending on the temperment of your horse and the pony. They might become best companions, but if not, it might be dangerous for your pony. Good luck!

[jesz9]

Thanks for all the replies so far everyone! Great advice! When introducing them, should i maybe keep them in separate fences...and just let them smell each other? Or how do you reccomend doing intros. Thanks!

JEss

[Reilly122602]

If he is the only horse that you'd be introducing him to then introducing them right away may be the best bet.

[jesz9]

Yes, he is the only horse. Will it be normal for them to kick at each other a bit, or is that when i should start freaking out and separating? Thank yoU!!

Jess

[Reilly122602]

It'd probably be best to read this so you can get all of the information to ensure a safe introduction-

http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/introduce.shtml

[KellyP]

Mini's are like any other horse, some will get along fine, while others may fight. How is your horse with other horses? If he is agressive it's best not to get a mini. Since thier so small a large horse could easily hurt or kill them if they get angry or play to roughly.

[lneill84]

Minis are fun but i've met some evil ones. They are extremely smart and bored easily. The majority of ones i've met could be described as little Napoleons. There was one named Skippy, and he ruled the paddock-17 hand horses were scared to death of him. Just make sure that things are "mini-fied" for him-for example, if you have a step up trailer, it works for a large horse, but might be too much jump up for a mini and be scary. Ive noticed silly things like that that no one realized. Same with hanging buckets and hay nets-don't hang them at normal horse height, hang them at mini horse height. Seems silly, but i was amazed at how it never occured to many of us.