What Are The Going Prices For Miniature Horses?

[Relic]

Thankyou susan O l agree. Shame to think someone who works with horses would say such a thing..

 

[Rachel K]

Someone directed me to this site. There are two registered and bred mares for sale on it within my price range. I wanted to see what you guys think of them quality wise? Its kind of hard to tell since they have their 'winter underwear' and have baby bellies.

http://midnightmini.googlepages.com/

 

[Minimor]

I think Nathan is totally overlooking the fact that a horse that is crap to one person may be another person's diamond! Not that I'm condoning the use of low quality horses for breeding, but I think the wording Nathan used was, well...a very poor choice of words.

I've seen some very poor quality horses but I don't ever recall thinking of them as "crap".

Rachel, you ask for opinions on mares shown in the link above. There is a forum rule that we cannot critique horses that aren't owned by the person posting the photo or link--and expressing opinions on whether or not these mares are good ones to buy ends up amounting to a critique. Perhaps someone will PM you with opinions.

 

[Mercysmom]

Trust me, your foal sales are not going to equal enough to buy show quality horses in addition to the foaling and care for the mares til they foal and that's even if there are no compliations.

If you're breeding pet quality, you will get pet quality prices, just my observations.

You are best off to buy ONE nice quality mare, and either have her bred or buy her bred to a nice stallion. Build your herd slowly rather than playing the numbers game. Not saying you might not find a diamond in the rough, but it's less likely esp. if you are not as experienced....pet quality is priced that way because it's usually not hte best breeding stock.

If you honestly think someone would pay you enough to make more, then go ahead, but be warned that it isn't the "gold mine" you hope for to breed pet quality horses, I just haven't seen it...I barely make anything breeding good to very good quality horses, and I still get pet quality from my best attempts....(not putting down "pets" as mine are pets as well as show and breeding horses where they are good for it).

Liz

Excellent advice...let me also step on the soapbox...

Breeding and raising Miniature Horses is not as easy as it sounds....take a look at the board when mares and foals are lost due to pregnancy and delivery complications (and getting the veterinarian out is no guarantee you can save them)....and it happens to the experienced breeders and the inexperienced. Got out of breeding minis as if I lost my girls I would be devastated...and one of them almost did not make it into the world due to a bad dystocia and the vet would not have made it out in time to save her.

Been breeding myself since 1986 (big horses, ponies before and after the minis and minis I tackled for the past 15 years) and miniatures have given me the most trouble!

Dwarfism lurks out there as well... my former stallion had no characteristics nor anyone in his pedigree who had dwarves, he was a multi champion halter horse for me yet he sired three out of four dwarf foals. Gelded and sold at a major loss (but he has a good home with a family who adores him).

There is no guarantee that a mare can carry a foal...she can be infertile or genetically not capable of carrying a foal to term. Had one of those myself... thousands in veterinary bills, 4 absorbed pregnancies...no foal ever. Sometimes that lower cost is due to the fact a mare cannot conceive/carry a foal.

Buy the best, breed the best and hope for the best is the best advice I have ever received and there are still no guarantees. No sense in going into the market with pet quality horses - as Liz said even show quality horses can produce and sire animals of lesser quality...and with the prices for double registered colts running below $1000 (I have seen them as low as $250), that does not cover a stud fee, registration papers, veterinary care or mare/stallion upkeep. Many folks want the fillies but there is no guarantee you will get one.

Gelding the colts can be expensive in some areas... I have used Cornell U for lower cost gelding for our boys.

Horse breeding is not a gold mine... yes, there are successful breeders out there but it is still a big game of risk and luck.

My show girls are pets too, and one is a therapy horse - the "pet" designation fits many animals.

Good luck,

Denise

Silversong Farm