A few questions...

[Roselawn Estates]

Hello. My name is Dawn and Im new on the boards and with minis. :saludando: My family and I decided we wanted to buy two or three minis and start up a little farm. We all have a HUGE passion for these little ones and we are very excited to start owning a few! Of course, we wanted to do as much research as we could before we started our little farm up! My dad will be talking to a few breeders for information but I figure everyone on the boards can help us too! Zoning laws are okay too, just to let everyone know! So I have a few questions for everyone: (You dont need to answer them all)

- What do you feed Minis? (What brand/type of grain or pellets)?

- How often and when do you feed your minis?

- How much hay do they get and when. What type of hay is the best?

- What type of fencing is best for making a small pasture? We just want to fence in part of our front and side yard for turnout.

- Do your minis live outside, or do they also have a stall?

(We have many trees on our property and when it rains and its windy, a lot of branches fall so we want to be able to have some kind of shelter for them. We are looking into getting a shedrow barn because it takes up the least room possible and is the best thing I can find!)

- Do you need to get a pre-purchase exam done for Minis before you buy?

- As far as pleasure driving minis, can you drive them on public roads, parks, legally?

- When and what type of blankets do they need?

- Can minis be shown in regular horse halter classes?

- What should be used on the floor of the stall, shavings or some type of straw?

Thanks in advance everyone. If I have anymore questions, Ill be sure to ask! :bgrin

 

[Dona]

Gosh....those are a lot of questions all at once. There is no "pat" answer for many of them....but, I'll do my best & answer how we do it "here".

-What do you feed Minis? (What brand/type of grain or pellets)?

I feed a good quality grassy/mix hay, as well as a "balance rationer" pelleted feed.

- How often and when do you feed your minis?

I feed twice a day...morning & evening.

- How much hay do they get and when. What type of hay is the best?

It depends on the size of the horse & whether they are an "easy keeper" how much hay they get. A good rule of thumb to start with is to feed 1 to 1 1/2 lbs of hay for every 100 lbs of body weight. So... a mini weighing 200 lbs...would get 2 - 3 lbs of hay a day. Of course, you will need to adjust up or down depending on each horse and how well they do on that amount.

I prefer a soft, grassy hay for the Minis. I think that straight alfalfa is just too rich for most minis & can cause diahhrea.

- What type of fencing is best for making a small pasture? We just want to fence in part of our front and side yard for turnout.

Since this is going to be around your house....you want something that looks good...but is also functional & safe for the minis. A nice polymer/vinyl board fence would be good. Fencing is such a "personal" thing tho. The main thing is to remember that it must keep the minis in...and be safe.

- Do your minis live outside, or do they also have a stall?

Both.....our minis are outside for a several hours each day (weather permitting)...but always in their own stalls inside the barn at night.

(We have many trees on our property and when it rains and its windy, a lot of branches fall so we want to be able to have some kind of shelter for them. We are looking into getting a shedrow barn because it takes up the least room possible and is the best thing I can find!)

Sounds like a good plan to me.

- Do you need to get a pre-purchase exam done for Minis before you buy?

Only if you feel it's necessary, or if you don't feel confident enough in your own experience to evaluate the minis your are considering buying. If you want to buy mares for breeding....you could have your vet check them to accertain whether they are breeding "sound".

- As far as pleasure driving minis, can you drive them on public roads, parks, legally?

This is something that you may want to check in the area which you live. Rules can be different in different areas.

- When and what type of blankets do they need?

I never use blankets unless a horse is sick in very cold weather....or if a foal is born in cold weather. New foals have difficulty in regulating their body temp right after they are born....so I always put a foal blanket on them for the first few days if they are born in cold weather. Minis are blessed with a very thick, dense winter coat that "insulates" them against the cold very well. If you put a blanket on them...it will flatten out this hair & it won't be able to insulate them properly.

- Can minis be shown in regular horse halter classes?

Again....this depends on the show. Most "open" shows will allow Minis to show in them. But some will stipulate certain breeds only. Something you need to check out for each show.

- What should be used on the floor of the stall, shavings or some type of straw?

Different preferences for different people. Straw is very hard to clean & lots to throw out. The only time I use straw is for foaling stalls. Shavings are good. But, I prefer to use pelleted bedding (the kind the breaks down into a sawdust material)....like Woody Pet or Guardian. It is extremely absorbant, smells good & lasts a long time if you handle it properly.

 

[CharmedMinis]

Like Dona said, a lot of these questions don't have exact answers, but I too will do my best.

- What do you feed Minis? (What brand/type of grain or pellets)?

My minis get hay and Nutrena XTN for grain. A lot of Minis can do fine with no grain, most of mine don't need it. But because I have a few that do need it, everyone gets a little bit.

- How often and when do you feed your minis?

Mine get fed twice a day, AM and PM, not on exact set time schedule but somewhere around 7 and 5.

- How much hay do they get and when. What type of hay is the best?

Hay depends alot upon what else they are getting. Mine get no pasture so they get quite a bit of hay. About 4 to 5 pounds total per day per horse. There is no best kind of hay, but I feed Bermuda Grass hay and some alfalfa.

- What type of fencing is best for making a small pasture? We just want to fence in part of our front and side yard for turnout.

This is a personal preference question, and you will also have to factor in what type of outside predators you have in your area that you don't want to be in your Minis area. We have 6 foot horse fence here strung between 6 foot railroad ties that are set every 6 to 8 feet. That is our perimeter fencing.

- Do your minis live outside, or do they also have a stall?

(We have many trees on our property and when it rains and its windy, a lot of branches fall so we want to be able to have some kind of shelter for them. We are looking into getting a shedrow barn because it takes up the least room possible and is the best thing I can find!)

Mine all have individual corrals with shelters, and I have 2 big turnouts as well. My barn consists of 2 stalls that I mainly use for foaling only.

- Do you need to get a pre-purchase exam done for Minis before you buy?

Since you seem to be new to this world of Minis having pre-purchase exams done is probably a good idea.

- As far as pleasure driving minis, can you drive them on public roads, parks, legally?

It's going to depend on where you live and the zoning and city laws. Where I live I can drive my minis pretty much anywhere I please.

- When and what type of blankets do they need?

Most minis don't need blankets at all, as most of them have quite a bit more hair than big horses, and they do really well in extreme cold. As long as they have some form of shelter to get out of the weather they do great. There are a few who need a blanket and of course if you are showing and keeping them body shaved they definitely do.

- Can minis be shown in regular horse halter classes?

Only if the show is open breed, or 4-H. Minis have quite a few shows all their own, including Regionals and World.

- What should be used on the floor of the stall, shavings or some type of straw?

Again this depends on circumstances and preference. I have dirt floors in my 2 stalls and I don't put down any bedding unless I have a mare who is about to foal. During foaling time I use paper shavings.

Hope all of this helps. Welcome to the Mini World!!!

:

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Welcome neighbor and lots of great questions. As said you will get diffrnet answers from each individual and so you can put it all together and make up your own plan. On the Lil Beginnings main site we have a wonderful info page.

What do you feed Minis? (What brand/type of grain or pellets)?

I use Purina Omelene mostly. I like it all seasons and the minis love it. Lots of us use the KISS method to feed (Keep It Simple Stupid

: )In winter I add some Purina Complete Advantage that is a beet pulp based feed so they'll drink more at nite. Just me.

How often and when do you feed your minis?

I feed am & pm, I also go out at 10 pm and toss them more hay as it's pretty cold here in NY.

- How much hay do they get and when. What type of hay is the best?

In winter they get free chioce grass hay all day and I personally, like the grass hay best as they can have all they want without that nasty hay belly.

- What type of fencing is best for making a small pasture? We just want to fence in part of our front and side yard for turnout.

I love my electric fence. I have a 3 strand one and did it myself with step in (really pound it with a hammer

: ) posts. My dream would be wooden fencing with one strand electric inside and out.

- Do your minis live outside, or do they also have a stall?

Lots of differing opinions soit's very personal choice wise. Me? I bring them in at nite to a closed barn for their protection. We have bears, coydogs and coyotes. Then they go right out in the morning.

(We have many trees on our property and when it rains and its windy, a lot of branches fall so we want to be able to have some kind of shelter for them. We are looking into getting a shedrow barn because it takes up the least room possible and is the best thing I can find!)

They will love treesbut protecting is a must. My run in shed is quite wide 12' and the lenghth of the barn about 32'. Also be aware what type of trees you have in the paddocks. Many are toxic.

- Do you need to get a pre-purchase exam done for Minis before you buy?

Many folks do request a pre-exam on a prospective horse but it would be at your expense not the seller. Most don't bother with it for the minis.

- As far as pleasure driving minis, can you drive them on public roads, parks, legally?

Definitely but be sure the horse is road smart and trained for it. You would have to inquire at each park, most do not allow equines.

- When and what type of blankets do they need?

Minis rarely need a blanket as they grow their own perfect fuzzy one. I keepthem on hand for sick or injured ones or should one shiver.

- Can minis be shown in regular horse halter classes?

Absolutely! Look on the AMHR & AMHA sites for show dates near you. WE have several nice shows here in Horseheads NY.

- What should be used on the floor of the stall, shavings or some type of straw?

Living in Amish country I use rough circular sawmill sawdust. Many use shavings, some use straw. No matter what it cannot be dusty. Remember these guys are low to the ground.

You will need a good vet who can come for emergencies and also regular annual things. A farrier to do hooves every 8 weeks. Look on our breeders connect link to see if one or memers is near you. Looka nd learn and once again welcome.

 

[midnight star stables]

First of all, welcome from Ontario Canada! :saludando:

I'll just fill out afew:

- How often and when do you feed your minis?

Once at 8:00am, and again at 6:00 pm

- How much hay do they get and when.

Our 31' yearling get 1 flake at 8:00am, and again at 6:00 pm

Our two 20+(years) (34-35'' tall) minis get 3-4 flakes at 8:00am, and again at 6:00 pm

- What type of fencing is best for making a small pasture? We just want to fence in part of our front and side yard for turnout.

We have mesh with wood posts.

- Do your minis live outside, or do they also have a stall?

Stall.

- Can minis be shown in regular horse halter classes?

Yes, If its an open class.

- What should be used on the floor of the stall, shavings or some type of straw?

We use shavings.

-Desiree

 

[Marty]

- What do you feed Minis? (What brand/type of grain or pellets)?

 


Purina Omelene 200


- How often and when do you feed your minis?

 


twice a day 7:30 am and 5:30 pm

 


- How much hay do they get and when. What type of hay is the best?

 


I put hay out for them to graze on during the winter when the grass is dead. Orchard grass hay is available in my area so that is what I feed for hay. I also give them hay at night when they are put up in the stalls for their dining pleasure and bed time.

 


- What type of fencing is best for making a small pasture? We just want to fence in part of our front and side yard for turnout.

 


Field fencing. Then I back it up with hot wire to keep them from wrecking it. No escapes.

 

 


- Do your minis live outside, or do they also have a stall?

 


They each have their own stalls. Please refer to my website to see our barn construction and click on Diary of a Barn page. www.BraveLittlePrancers.com

 


(We have many trees on our property and when it rains and its windy, a lot of branches fall so we want to be able to have some kind of shelter for them. We are looking into getting a shedrow barn because it takes up the least room possible and is the best thing I can find!)

 


No, a shed row is nasty. I have been batteling shed row barns for years. Too hard to work with them in bad weather. Mine had to have top shutters put on too to keep the driving rains out. I had a great time burning it down to the ground.

 


- Do you need to get a pre-purchase exam done for Minis before you buy?

 


If you are spending more than say $1500 to $2,000 it would not be a bad idea. Ideally, you should get references from satisfied customers for horses that are lesser in value. However, if you are not a experienced horse person at all, then you should have an experienced eye with you or a vet.

 


- As far as pleasure driving minis, can you drive them on public roads, parks, legally?


Not sure but I certainley wouldn't be driving one on a public road with traffic.

 


- When and what type of blankets do they need?


They don't. Only if you have shaved them and then you do need to replace that hair. I sell some on my website that are very nice. You may want to keep one or two on hand though in case of illness or emergencys.

 


- Can minis be shown in regular horse halter classes?

 


If you mean in local open shows, why not? We have.

 


- What should be used on the floor of the stall, shavings or some type of straw?[


I prefer shavings. /b]