Miniature Horse History

The Miniature Horse has a unique and fascinating history. Ancestors of the true miniature horse of today were first bred in the royal courts of Europe during the 16th century. Kings and queens of Europe included miniature horses in the royal stables as part of their personal fortune. Prior to this historic period there is no record of a miniature horse breed. As the great kingdoms of Europe began to decline, the miniature horses found their way into European traveling circuses. The breed almost became extinct. Fortunately, a few of the finest miniature's managed to survive and were scattered throughout the world.

In the 18th century, Miniature horses in the English midlands and in Northern Europe pulled ore cars in shallow-seamed coal mines. These coal veins were very narrow and only about four feet high, so miniature horses were used. These miniature horses were of the draft type and extremely powerful for their height.

The first herds of miniature horses brought to the United States in the early 1930"s were from Europe. Electric motors were not yet available, so they were also used to haul coal cars up from the depths of mines in Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. Miniature horses were still working in some mines here in the United States as late as 1950.

Miniatures were also imported from England, Holland, Belgium, West Germany and Argentina. Another source was the breeders who selectively bred for a "smaller" horse from such breeds as the Shetland pony, several of which appear in the pedigrees of some miniatures today.

The American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) was founded in 1978 and maintains complete pedigrees on each horse and publishes the official magazine, "The Miniature Horse World." There are hundreds of AMHA approved shows held throughout the country each year, culminating in the AMHA National Show.

Although the breed is a height breed, meaning that a horse must measure no more than 34 inches in height at the last hairs of the mane, they are judged on balance and conformation, just as the larger breeds of horses are.

At maturity a miniature horse weighs approximately 175 to 190 pounds and must be under 34", and at birth they weigh approximately 20 to 25 pounds and are 16 to 20 inches in height. A miniature horse eats approximately one to three cups of grain a day and a small amount of hay morning and night. Also, miniature horses come in a tremendous variety of colors and have sweet dispositions.