Rescuing a Mini...

FutureVetGirl · 10-06-2008, 05:46 AM

I'm just wondering what kind of opinions you guys would have on this.

My first horse is not going to be a rescue... but a normal sized horse, loving and caring, one that I could ride several times during the week and then on weekends. One that I could take to a couple shows, etc. It would be one that would be at my grandparents place for one year until I move out there (either Katy or Hamilton... both are an option), and live there for my Senior year.

So... I am wanting to rescue. All animals. And I was thinking that my first horse would be a Mini. I would be living in the same place as the horse, like the horse would literally be right outside my door.

So... would you suggest a mini as a first rescue? I've WORKED with Shetland Pony rescues... but they haven't been MINE. They belonged to someone else. But I do have that kind of experience.

So... just throw me your thoughts!

BettaBlossoms · 10-06-2008, 06:12 PM

I suppose you have to start somewheres..and its a little safer to deal with a mini having a fit, than a larger animal lol

Ceilidh · 10-06-2008, 06:28 PM

Really depends on the mini too. A friend of mine raises world class minis (a horse of her breeding won reserve at World's this year) and she had one stallion, Scout, who was as hard to handle as a full sized stallion at times and sometimes even harder. With the lower center of gravity, Scout pulled her husband off his feet a few times to get to a mare. They were glad when they retired that bad boy.

Are you zoned for livestock?

FutureVetGirl · 10-07-2008, 12:24 AM

What do you mean by "zoned"?

bay_blnd jmpr07 · 10-07-2008, 07:02 AM

Zoned means allowed to have livestock on your property. There are zoning laws that say "1 horse per acre and then a half acre for each additional horse". That's my town's zoning law, that differs from town to town though.

Minis can come with a lot of problems. If you go the mini route get one that is not a dwarf and one that has no possibility of being pregnant. Both of those have special needs, more so then a big horse. A neglected pregnant mini can run into all sorts of problems and have a very dangerous delivery called "Red bag"...very scary. And dwarfs have a whole bunch of health problems and need even more special care.

I adopted a mini. I had been working for a mini breeder for awhile and knew what they could and could not eat and learned about health conditions and how to deal with them. Mine turned out pregnant. Somehow she had a textbook delivery (I think it might still be online somewhere...). No red bag. But, she was infested with parasites and her foal was infested, but the foal can handle them as of now. I did lose my mini mamma after 1 1/2 years. She was barely 9 years old. It was heartbreaking and I still miss her dearly.

FutureVetGirl · 10-07-2008, 09:30 AM

Both of my grandparents have over 50 acres each. One set of Grandparents (in Katy) live on land where they breed and raise cattle. My second cousins who share the land have horses, one of them being a mini.

My other grandparents have plenty of land, and in the past they have had goats, horses, chickens, cows, pretty much anything you can think of. They no longer have any of the animals... just one dog. But if I end up living with them... I'd be allowed to get any animal I'd want. As long as I'd pay for it.

So yeah... I most definately think that all of the zoning laws are under control.

That's really sad. I'm unsure as to what route I'll go for when I get my first rescue horse... it's still another two years before that will happen.

Thanks for the information. I'll research some stuff on that. Thanks.

bay_blnd jmpr07 · 10-07-2008, 10:12 AM

Miniatures are very interesting. You should research them, I think you'll become facinated with them. Bute is toxic to minis. Banamine is fine. Most of them are the sweetest funniest little things ever

And they get into EVERYTHING! haha Their health conditions, while tragic, are still very interesting.

Ceilidh · 10-07-2008, 10:16 AM

If you'd like to learn about minis and see what they can look like, check out my friend's site
http://www.wolfcreekminiatures.com/

bubba8167 · 10-07-2008, 10:20 AM

To me, at first glance, it seems that they, generally, have a lot more energy than full size horses... A lot of the ones I've dealt with are HYPER.

Ceilidh · 10-07-2008, 10:23 AM

With the exception of Scout, my friend's minis are sweet little micro Arabs that have super dispositions.

10-06-2008, 05:46 AM	#1
FutureVetGirl Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Serbia Posts: 1,214 Images: 3	Rescuing a Mini... I'm just wondering what kind of opinions you guys would have on this. My first horse is not going to be a rescue... but a normal sized horse, loving and caring, one that I could ride several times during the week and then on weekends. One that I could take to a couple shows, etc. It would be one that would be at my grandparents place for one year until I move out there (either Katy or Hamilton... both are an option), and live there for my Senior year. So... I am wanting to rescue. All animals. And I was thinking that my first horse would be a Mini. I would be living in the same place as the horse, like the horse would literally be right outside my door. So... would you suggest a mini as a first rescue? I've WORKED with Shetland Pony rescues... but they haven't been MINE. They belonged to someone else. But I do have that kind of experience. So... just throw me your thoughts!

10-07-2008, 07:02 AM	#5
bay_blnd jmpr07 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: N.Granby, Connecticut Posts: 11,047 Images: 424	Zoned means allowed to have livestock on your property. There are zoning laws that say "1 horse per acre and then a half acre for each additional horse". That's my town's zoning law, that differs from town to town though. Minis can come with a lot of problems. If you go the mini route get one that is not a dwarf and one that has no possibility of being pregnant. Both of those have special needs, more so then a big horse. A neglected pregnant mini can run into all sorts of problems and have a very dangerous delivery called "Red bag"...very scary. And dwarfs have a whole bunch of health problems and need even more special care. I adopted a mini. I had been working for a mini breeder for awhile and knew what they could and could not eat and learned about health conditions and how to deal with them. Mine turned out pregnant. Somehow she had a textbook delivery (I think it might still be online somewhere...). No red bag. But, she was infested with parasites and her foal was infested, but the foal can handle them as of now. I did lose my mini mamma after 1 1/2 years. She was barely 9 years old. It was heartbreaking and I still miss her dearly. __________________ Semper Paratus Fiona's First Class-Oldenburg/Arabian mare Waldemar-Hanoverian gelding Illusive Legacy-Miniature filly

10-07-2008, 10:12 AM	#7
bay_blnd jmpr07 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: N.Granby, Connecticut Posts: 11,047 Images: 424	Miniatures are very interesting. You should research them, I think you'll become facinated with them. Bute is toxic to minis. Banamine is fine. Most of them are the sweetest funniest little things ever And they get into EVERYTHING! haha Their health conditions, while tragic, are still very interesting. __________________ Semper Paratus Fiona's First Class-Oldenburg/Arabian mare Waldemar-Hanoverian gelding Illusive Legacy-Miniature filly

10-07-2008, 10:20 AM	#9
bubba8167 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Nappanee, Indiana Posts: 227 Images: 51 Blog Entries: 8	To me, at first glance, it seems that they, generally, have a lot more energy than full size horses... A lot of the ones I've dealt with are HYPER. __________________ Stop the Violence! Transgender day of remembrance. Click here for more information

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10-06-2008, 06:12 PM	#2
BettaBlossoms Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Crown Point NY Posts: 605 Images: 18	I suppose you have to start somewheres..and its a little safer to deal with a mini having a fit, than a larger animal lol

10-06-2008, 06:28 PM	#3
Ceilidh Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wetaskiwin, Ab, Canada Posts: 483 Images: 3	Really depends on the mini too. A friend of mine raises world class minis (a horse of her breeding won reserve at World's this year) and she had one stallion, Scout, who was as hard to handle as a full sized stallion at times and sometimes even harder. With the lower center of gravity, Scout pulled her husband off his feet a few times to get to a mare. They were glad when they retired that bad boy. Are you zoned for livestock?

10-07-2008, 12:24 AM	#4
FutureVetGirl Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Serbia Posts: 1,214 Images: 3	What do you mean by "zoned"?

10-07-2008, 09:30 AM	#6
FutureVetGirl Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Serbia Posts: 1,214 Images: 3	Both of my grandparents have over 50 acres each. One set of Grandparents (in Katy) live on land where they breed and raise cattle. My second cousins who share the land have horses, one of them being a mini. My other grandparents have plenty of land, and in the past they have had goats, horses, chickens, cows, pretty much anything you can think of. They no longer have any of the animals... just one dog. But if I end up living with them... I'd be allowed to get any animal I'd want. As long as I'd pay for it. So yeah... I most definately think that all of the zoning laws are under control. That's really sad. I'm unsure as to what route I'll go for when I get my first rescue horse... it's still another two years before that will happen. Thanks for the information. I'll research some stuff on that. Thanks.

10-07-2008, 10:16 AM	#8
Ceilidh Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wetaskiwin, Ab, Canada Posts: 483 Images: 3	If you'd like to learn about minis and see what they can look like, check out my friend's site http://www.wolfcreekminiatures.com/

10-07-2008, 10:23 AM	#10
Ceilidh Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wetaskiwin, Ab, Canada Posts: 483 Images: 3	With the exception of Scout, my friend's minis are sweet little micro Arabs that have super dispositions.