Miniature Horses

With an adorable appearance, tiny proportions, and friendly dispositions, the Miniature Horse is a popular companion. Just don’t call it a “pony”! They may be small in size but the miniature horse is just that: a pint-sized horse.

Miniature horses may be the size of large dogs, but they are all equine and their natural horse behavior includes the fight or flight instinct. They are believed to have come from a variety of sources, including English and Dutch mine horses and Shetland pony bloodlines. History reveals that miniatures were once bred as novel pets for royal European families in the 1600s. Lady Estella Hope and her sisters continued breeding some of those early English bloodlines and today, many of the minis in America trace back to the Hope line. The first miniature horse was imported into the United States around 1888 and they can now be found in over 30 countries around the world.

Today, miniature horses are popular as pets and can be trained as service animals for people with disabilities. Many therapy programs use minis and take them into nursing homes and hospitals to visit residents and patients. While larger minis can be ridden by lightweight children, most owners use them for activities other than riding. At horse shows, they are shown in many different classes, such as driving, halter, obstacle, and jumping (without a rider). Their size and eager-to-please, people-oriented dispositions attract people of all ages.

Noah is a miniature horse who was caught up in the August 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster that struck Louisiana and Mississippi. After the storm, animal rescuers went into flooded areas and brought out abandoned horses and ponies with many being saved by boat and fire rescuers. These poor animals, many of them stressed, injured and starving, were evacuated to other states where people provided foster care until they could be reunited with their owners. Noah was in a convoy shipped out to Pensacola, Florida. Eventually he was picked up and taken to an Ocala farm with several other horses by volunteer Laura.

Although the other horses were eventually found and claimed by their owners, no one came forward to claim Noah. As a result, we know very little about his previous life. He is slightly lame in his left front foot and limps when he walks because he has one foot smaller than the other. He has an obvious dent in his face that looks like he once endured a blow that could have fractured his skull. We adopted Noah to finally give him his forever home at Story Book Meadows where he is much loved and cared for. Whatever trauma Noah lived through in the Katrina hurricane, he is healthy and happy with his new life. Noah moved with us from Ocala to Ontario in May 2013.

Noah is very gentle and affectionate and genuinely loves children. He seems to particularly enjoy letting little kids pet him and lead him around. He loves treats and you’ll find him at the fence ready to greet all visitors, especially the tiny ones. He spends most days wandering the barnyard and laneways with his donkey friends, Matthew and Nicholas. Noah was named after the bible story of Noah’s Ark, because he survived the flood.

Height: 38” Weight: 390 lbs Color: Chocolate Palomino Sex: Gelding