36 / 40
Everything Horses and Livestock Magazine ®
Everything Horses and Livestock®
|
August 2017
|
EHALmagazine.com
36
My Life with Miniature Horses
By Featured Writer Delana “Dee” Hay
People ask me all the time, ‘Why do you want a
miniature horse’? What are they good for? With-
out hesitation I tell them all the things I do with
them. I purchased my first “mini” six years ago.
Since then I have acquired many more as they
are like potato chips—you can’t stop with just
one!
The main activity for minis is driving. This has be-
come very popular in the last few years not only
with children but also with middle-age women.
The reasons are obvious. . Women (and kids) do
not have to lift heavy saddles up on a big horse.
Minis take up less space, eat less and their up-
keep is “mini size”.
Minis have their own horse shows. They have the
capability to do many things from halter, show-
manship to in-hand obstacle courses. They also
serve as therapy horses and companions.
My main activity is driving. I train all my minis to
drive and pull a sulky (a two wheeled cart with
shaves). Minis like to have a job and driving
seems to be a perfect job for them. They seem to
have a knack and ability to pull a cart. Personally
I like to pleasure, trail drive and drive in parades.
My minis have been everywhere. I take them to
nursing homes and host birthday parties. They
also entertain at all kinds of parties here at Prairie
City Miniature Horses. My mini, “Sweet Potato”
once performed on stage in a ballet! My mini,
“Polka Dot”, has been filmed for an episode on
the Discovery channel for this fall.