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Monty Roberts Equus Online University
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My Join-Up® Experience

Miniature horse

By:
welman.tracy
Date:
Hello!

I bought my grand daughter a miniature horse, they advertised the horse as child friendly and that the only reason they were selling was because their grandchildren had moved away, to cut a long story short the mini is anything but child friendly or rideable, I would say that the horse has never had a rider on her back. Would I do join up as I would if it were a bigger horse and because she is so small, how would I introduce a rider? Cannot risk putting my granddaughter on her as she is only two. Any help, suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you

welman.tracy
Hello!

As a matter of interest, I have never seen Monty work with a miniature, would be interesting to know if he has.

dionne4210 - Denmark.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Hi Tracy.
I have a miniature horse that i bought as a companion to my daughters arabien , i have also been told that miniatures are not built for riding but im no expert.
We have never Tried to put a child on our mini or anything else for that matter.
I have researched that a mini Can be ridden by a child that weighs less than 70 pounds.
I would be sure that join up and all the other training would be the same as for every other horse.
Good luck With that.

Best wishes

Dionne

welman.tracy
Hello!

Thanks Dionne, I am going to try join up with her. I would just need her to walk on a lead rein as my Grand daughter has just turned 2, so she is not ready to "ride" as such.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

Hi
:
So many horses that are mis-sold...I feel for you. While there is lots of practical advice I would like to just ask first. How long have you had the pony and if only a short while how would you feel about returning it to its previous owner, getting your money back on the basis that you have been lied to and getting a more suitable pony. What do you think, is that a possibility?
:
Vicci

welman.tracy
Hello!

Hi Vicci, there were two of them but the one is permanently lame and I have accepted that she will only be a paddock ornament, I have had them for about two months now. When I got them they were terrified and although not thin, they were covered in ticks and looked very neglected. The previous owner explained that she was selling them because her grand children had moved overseas and she did not have time for the ponies. This whole story seemed to be untrue as you could not get anywhere near them. I have now managed to gain their trust a little and they no longer run a mile when you go up to them. I do not have the heart to send them back to a place where they were not cared for.

dionne4210 - Denmark.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Good on you Tracy.
I wouldn't have the heart to do that either.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

I totally understand Tracy, I'm glad these little ponies found your kind heart

Thestral Farms
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed
Yes! Miniatures CAN do join up and all the same training full sized horses can. I have had 4 and they all have done marvelous in training; although, they are stubborn turds sometimes! He he! I don't ever lunge them, always liberty work in the round pen or long lining. This also teaches them the beginning ohases of driving :) 2 of mine ended up being nursing home therapy horses, one is now 24 years old and still doing amazing! 

So Minis come in a couple size variations/classifications. For the most part though, I would never recommend a rider over 45 lbs. Just too hard on their tiny joints. When done right, they are a LOT of fun! We are military and originally purchased one to be a companion to my 17.3 hand Appendix while he traveled. Worked fantastic! But I ended up longing the Minis as much as the big guys! 

Hope you managed to salvage these guys! What a tough and terrible situation! 
Thestral Farms
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed
*** Correction... LOVING the Minis as much as the big guys. ^^^
Mel - Ramsgate UK
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed
Lovely input flyingfarm, we have 2 miniatures which we got to balance out the herd a bit, our Shetland was getting picked on a bit too much by our cob. The idea was to start a smaller herd adding 2 miniatures in with the Shetland, then keeping the bigger ones separate, we did not have to separate them though, the lowest in the ranking is faster than most of them and the cob who was picking on the Shetland cannot catch him so he gave up :D   They all work beautifully now as a herd of 9 ranging from 8hands to 15.2hands :D

Like most horses we get, we are never told exactly about possible issues they have and the mini mare as beautiful as she did have trust issues that we have had to deal with. Her companion we did not know anything about until we saw him, blind in the left eye, gammy front leg and severe locking stifle on both sides.  He is amazing though and a great addition to the herd :D

Mel
x
ranidaley
Hello!
Im sorry you have had this happen.Ive had minis for years. They can do anything a full size horse can do, including join up, riding, an jumping. Just make sure rider and equipment are in proportion to the size of your mini. start slow. The process is exactly the same training wise as any other horse. Good luck. 

PS: some of my best join ups and liberty experiences have been with minis

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