How Much Does A Miniature Horse Cost?

Miniature horses are cute, sweet charming animals, but how much does a miniature horse cost?

Horses are beautiful animals. Most people look up to large horses both figuratively and literally.

But, average horses are interesting, too.

More often than not, mini horses are left out.

This could be because they are just thought of to be small horses.

The great thing is that, behind their small size, mini horses have their own bright side, too.

Ponies vs Miniature Horses

More often than not, ponies and miniature horses are mistaken for the other.

Ponies are considered to be ponies because of their stance and posture.

On the other hand, miniature horses were bred to be like a mini version of full-sized horses.

Shetland ponies are usually compared to miniature horses.

A Shetland pony is taller than a mini mare.

They have more compact bodies than mini horses.

The necks of mini horses can be longer than theirs.

Like other pony breeds, a Shetland pony can carry kids on its back.

Some mini horses can only carry kids, but not adults.

Minis make good pets while ponies are a perfect match for outdoor jobs.

Why Own a Mini Horse?

There are many reasons why you should get a mini horse.

The American Miniature Horse Association promotes miniature horse breeding, use, and preservation of a standard of equine excellence.

First, because they are smaller than regular horses, then this is good news.

Because of their miniature size, they don’t need that much space.

They can work in a place with less space compared to the average space that larger horses need.

One or two horses of this small stature can fit perfectly in a small acre—1/4 of an acre per horse.

Large horses might need at least an acre of land but this limited space is enough for miniature horse breeds.

Pet food can be costly.

Luckily, for this type of horse, you can save up on your feed costs.

They don’t need that much hay to get by.

Giving them good grass and enough hay is good to keep them going.

They need less hay and because of this, feeding them with more hay can lead to unwanted health conditions.

A good place to let your mini horses stay is near large horses.

Though their temperaments may differ, these two types of horses usually tend to be good friends.

It is an excellent choice to get your big horses a mini horse as a companion.

More than half of the breeds of horses out there were born to help out in the barn.

Miniature horses aren’t excluded, too.

These horses can be trained to drive and pull on small carts.

Bigger mini horses can even carry small children on their backs.

These little horses are also therapy horses.

Studies show that socializing with these horses has helped in reducing stress and increasing socialization.

This is also one of the reasons why it’s a good idea to own a mini horse.

They can be the perfect companion to anyone who needs someone to be there for them.

It’s also interesting to note that miniature horses are also considered to be service animals.

The idea of service animals has actually been taken from the actions of herd animals.

A sighted horse always accompanies and guides a blind horse on its way.

It’s a sweet gesture and we can see how they take good care of their own flock.

On the same note, miniature horses need just a little training to help people with health issues.

They can be great guide animals for blind persons or someone who has a problem with their visually.

They can be great companion animals for people who are in need of special care.

How Much Does A Miniature Horse Cost?

Another reason to own them is that a miniature horse costs much lower price range than normal horses.

There are many things that affect the costs and they all add up to having smaller costs as compared to normal horses.

You just don’t save up on your purchase price, but you save up on all other costs.

The purchase price for a miniature horse could differ from a few dollars to thousands of dollars on other breeds of horses.

Mini horses for domestic use can cost cheaper than high-end show mini horses.

A specific breed can cost much, especially when its breed quality is high.

Upkeep costs for miniatures are also very low as compared to that of full-size horses.

You can also save up on your monthly costs.

Most miniature horses only need hoof trims on a regular basis and this kind of farrier care could sometimes cost you much.

Farrier costs could be one thing you would like to consider, too.

They need to make a trip to the farrier once every 4 to 6 weeks.

But, the upside here is that it only costs around $15 to $20.

General care for horses also includes dental work.

Horses usually need to be checked for dental care once every year.

Vaccinations are also counted here.

These horses should be kept in either a barn or a dry lot.

You could also find a great place for boarding facilities.

However, the cost of a miniature horse might spike up if you choose to keep it in a traditional boarding facility as these could cost you around $300 to $700 a month.

The average cost you spend in a month could fall between $50 to $150, giving you annual costs of around $600 to $1800, which is way cheaper than what you would have spent on regular horses.

For more information on how to better budget for a horse in your area, check out my post on How Much Does a Horse Cost?

Conclusions

Adding up everything, the miniature horse price doesn’t really add up too much. You even have less upkeep to think of.

Having a horse farm with a small herd of miniature horses might just be a beautiful idea.

Miniature horses aren’t just small horses. There’s more to them.

You don’t only get to save on your bills, but you also get to get yourself a sweet service animal.

For ADORABLE pictures of miniature horses, check out this post: 39 miniature horses you don’t want you kids to see!