Can you keep a mini horse with normal sized horses?

[RackinRudy]

Check out this little man ... only 2 years old, 26 inches tall ... he's in the kill pen at new holland. I wonder what people's thoughts are about keeping a tiny horse like that with an 11hh pony, 15hh horse and a 17hh horse. We have 9 acres fenced in so they wouldn't be crowded by any means.

He's just so darn friggin cute!

[oursarge]

My friend keeps her minis with the big horses. She has a blind horse and when the blind one is outside in her pen there is a mini with her for a seeing eye horse, the mini helps the other. It's pretty amazing.

That is a cute little mini.

[shewasmyshadow]

Get him! He's adorable!! My mini did fine with my horses. Even the bully mare knew better than to get too close. Those mini's can get pretty good at aiming. Dolly was never top horse, but she was never bottom.

[cyb]

He is adorable! Go get' em

[RackinRudy]

here's his youtube video - YouTube- M4H00051.MP4

[WashingtonBay]

I think Steve has a mini... or at least a really small shetland... in with his Clydes. It depends on the dynamic of the horses... and making sure things like feed routines and other competitive events are made safe for the little guy. :) Oh - and fencing...

[grandmadeb]

The people that live down the road have 2 minis and a regular size horse and they are out together all the time. That little one needs to be saved because he is just so darn cute!!!

[shewasmyshadow]

If I had a place I'd take him!! :D We brought my mini home in the back of a mini van when she was that size.

[RackinRudy]

If I had a place I'd take him!! :D We brought my mini home in the back of a mini van when she was that size.

Well he's in Pennsylvania, I'm in Michigan. I'd have to have him hauled here. I don't have time to go pick him up myself. I know, just so precious.

[Dakota Sunrise]

My neighbor has her mini in with her horse, and there was a time when he ran with three big ones. He is a bigger mini, but still. I think it would be okay. I know lots of people who have minis with their full size horses.

[KanoasDestiny]

I know of several people who have their minis with normal sized horses and have never had a problem. On the other hand, I am on a mini forum, and there have been several members who have had bad experiences with doing so. My minis are 32" and 34", and personally, I would never take the chance. Mine have been next to "big" horses, and the size difference scares me. I'd be too worried that they would get kicked during play, or picked on.

He's a cutie for sure! Looks like he needs a new loving home. ;)

[shewasmyshadow]

I think you just need to monitor and control introductions. ;) If your horses are pretty low key, then I think the risks are pretty minor.

[TheRedHayflinger]

Depends on the horses...and that includes the mini.

I know some people won't chance it because a kick from a big horse that is mild to another big horse can break mini horse bones.

I kept my horses with a friend for awhile and we had everything from my haflinger, to my TWHs to a QH to my belgian in with a full mini, a 3/4 mini 1/4 shetland and a mini/shetland. The QH hated all the little ones, the other horses quite liked them and would protect them from the QH gelding. Once he realized the big belgian mare would come after him if he went after the minis, he stopped doing that.

Right now my friend still has that QH and she still has the mini, as well as a thoroughbred she is trying to give away (know anyone looking for a 6 year old TB gelding, never raced, pretty much zero saddle training? LOL...he was a rescue). She keeps the mini separated from the two big guys just because they WOULD go after him. But there is a fence between them and all is well. They don't try to go after him through the fence or anything.

[jeezitsjacki]

I have heard a lot of people having them together, but it does depend on the temperment of your horses.

WB: I know that steve has a mini, and im pretty sure that he keeps them together as well, it may just be side by side though, cant remember 100%

[vicklynn]

Oh what a cutie.
A mini Mystic....I need that cutie pie!!! well, not really, but sooo cute ya know

[Horseaholic]

Prado, another 16.3hh and a 17hh were all in with a mini and she kicked every single one of thems butt's lol

although prado did bully her a bit occasionally she always stood her ground

[missyfritz]

He's such a cute little bugger! :p We had a mini at my old barn in with the rest of the herd and never had a problem.

[miatapony]

OK i think you need him .. he will fit right in in your herd.!!!

[Toodlestoo]

OMG--he's so cute. Let me know if you're taking him. I would really consider it if you're not. I'm in western PA so I don't know how far he is from me. I'd have to check out the costs to ship. My mini donkeys are with my drafts without any problems at all.

[RackinRudy]

OMG--he's so cute. Let me know if you're taking him. I would really consider it if you're not. I'm in western PA so I don't know how far he is from me. I'd have to check out the costs to ship. My mini donkeys are with my drafts without any problems at all.

I believe they only have til Sunday. He's $450 plus $100 extra for fees like processing etc. It's the New Holland Auction in PA. I believe they have haulers all ready to go and I believe cheaper than most. He's on this page - http://ac4h.com/BrokerOwnedProgram.htm and all the instructions to buy them are on there. They have quite a few minis this week and also some gorgeous drafts!

So I'm not 100% sure yet on him only because I don't want him to get hurt by my horses. But then again, it's worth the chance if he's going to slaughter anyways. :(

[WashingtonBay]

Well, it wouldn't be too hard, Rackin, to fence off a small area in view of each other for them to safely get acquainted. It's good to quarantine new ones anyway (especially ones from en environment like that). After a few weeks of seeing each other over the fence, the meeting and greeting will have a lot less excitement and risk in it.

[shewasmyshadow]

I believe they only have til Sunday. He's $450 plus $100 extra for fees like processing etc. It's the New Holland Auction in PA. I believe they have haulers all ready to go and I believe cheaper than most. He's on this page - http://ac4h.com/BrokerOwnedProgram.htm and all the instructions to buy them are on there. They have quite a few minis this week and also some gorgeous drafts!

So I'm not 100% sure yet on him only because I don't want him to get hurt by my horses. But then again, it's worth the chance if he's going to slaughter anyways. :(

Wow. $550 for that mini? At our local auction last fall I saw similar horses go for less than $100. I'd bet my right arm no meat buyer would pay $550, that is for sure and certain!

[Ranger44]

My two minis are with the 6 bigger horses. The minis were the first here and one of the 6 was born here. They get along fine and the minis kick just as hard and lot lower where things are sometimes more tender.

[RackinRudy]

Wow. $550 for that mini? At our local auction last fall I saw similar horses go for less than $100. I'd bet my right arm no meat buyer would pay $550, that is for sure and certain!

I asked Voices For Horses (a rescue group that takes alot of these horses) the same thing. They try to sell them for more before the meat buyers give little $$$ for them. If you take a look at the link I put up, none of it makes sense as far as meat buyers prices. They'd be paying the real big bucks for the drafts and the minis should be going for pennies. They take our kind heartedness in trying to save them for profit.

[lisakaye]

Wow. $550 for that mini? At our local auction last fall I saw similar horses go for less than $100. I'd bet my right arm no meat buyer would pay $550, that is for sure and certain!

Yes at New Holland they do pay those prices.. If you really want him I can pick him up for you and meet you 1/2 way or work something out. They only have a few days. Usually Friday eve or Saturday. Call me if you want to try and figure something out. i am sure I could keep him at my barn for a few weeks. She has 2 ponies he could be with. Be aware though that you will need 30 days QT. After purchase. There has been a very high rate of illness with the auction horses at both Camelot and New Holland. I have learned a lot from getting Chance at auction. If you really want him I will work with you to help in any way I can.

[HoustonFarrier]

You can keep them with GIANT horses too !!! :D
http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=54&pictureid=17040

Steve

[shewasmyshadow]

Yes at New Holland they do pay those prices.. If you really want him I can pick him up for you and meet you 1/2 way or work something out. They only have a few days. Usually Friday eve or Saturday. Call me if you want to try and figure something out. i am sure I could keep him at my barn for a few weeks. She has 2 ponies he could be with. Be aware though that you will need 30 days QT. After purchase. There has been a very high rate of illness with the auction horses at both Camelot and New Holland. I have learned a lot from getting Chance at auction. If you really want him I will work with you to help in any way I can.

Could you go to the actual auction and buy him for a better price?

[lisakaye]

I do not think so. I had asked the same question and was told no. Personally I think that you can but they don't want you to know that. I don't understand how the prices can be so high on the Broker page either but I do know that the horses at the Camelot Auction in NJ are going for similar prices. The average price there right now is $450. The prices dip and climb withthe season. I go onto a site called Alex Brown Racing Forum and watch the threads on the auctions. Every week they post a new thread for horses at auction that needs a home. That is how I was able to pull Chance. I did not see Chance in person until we got him on Thursday after the auction. I bought him from a picture taken. Although at the time I had no idea how emmaciated he was. Camelot has a lot of Standardbreds and drafts each week and some really nice gaited ones also.

[RackinRudy]

You can keep them with GIANT horses too !!! :D
http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=54&pictureid=17040

Steve

Thats a great picture! :)

[Toodlestoo]

Hubby said no. :( Hopefully, you'll take him RR!

[RackinRudy]

Hubby said no. :( Hopefully, you'll take him RR!

Well if not me, hopefully someone will. They still have a few days. I've been watching these auctions for a couple months now and they all get bought. My hubby don't care but my worry (at this moment) is getting a renter into our condo. Each month we lose $800 so it doesn't make sense adding another horse to my bunch if we are losing so much money. Had a showing last night, i have one this morning and one tomorrow. So hopefully someone takes it!

[Toodlestoo]

It wasn't the money for us either. We just have 4 horses and 3 donkeys for the 2 of us and hubby wasn't thrilled about adding another to the mix. Plus, we're in FL for part of the year. I'd be willing to contribute a little to someone if they would take him. He really tugged at my heartstrings. Meanwhile, I'm still working on hubby.

[Kara]

I have to keep my minis apart from my big ones. Corona kicks and chases everything.

But when I have Corona up, they are fine together, Ringo has fun keeping his girls FAR away from the others.

[RackinRudy]

well 4pm today is the deadline for this mini! :( ugh ... i thought for sure someone would of gotten him by now.

[RackinRudy]

sweet! little dude got a home!

[jeezitsjacki]

thats great!

[PaintedDreamer_0110]

Aww I say go for it! It depends on your horses teperment. I keep my mini mare with my 15.2hh paint horse gelding 24/7 and they get along great. She try's to boss him around at feeding time but he just ignores her and goes about his ways :rolleyes: lol. I do turn her, the paint and my quarter horse gelding out together all the time. The QH tries to cut her sometimes but she just gets out of his way cus she is smaller and alittle more agile and a lot closer to the ground. She hasn't ever been kicked at or towards. She loeves to boss the bigger guys around lol. I think you should get him. He is cute and I agree, why not if he is just going to go to sluaghter :(

just read the last bit of the thread! That is great, I'm glad that little guy got a home! :)

[saddlebum]

A friend of mine has a mini. She was told by the breeder that it was dangerous for the mini to be kept with full size horses. My friend's mini is in with all the big ones and doing fine. She does bring him up to our arena sometimes and the horses who have never seen him before get pretty curious. I think I'd get them used to each other and see what happens. Hope you can get him.