The American Miniature Horse

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The American Miniature Horse
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• What is
• a
• Miniature
• Horse?

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• The American Miniature Horse is a unique breed,
  the limiting characteristics of which is size.
  The miniature horse is considered not to exceed
  34 inches in height at the withers. The horse
  must be sound, well-balanced, possessing the
  proper confirmation characteristics which are
  common in the Arabian horse breed. The miniature
  horse utilized the blood of the English Dutch
  mine horses.

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History of the Miniature Horse

• Henry VIII
• Circus horses
• Nobilitys pets
• Louis XIV
• Pit Ponies

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• King Henry VIII executed the miniature horse
  because he was a large person and found the
  miniature horse to be too small and unnecessary.
• The circus started using miniature horses in the
  early 1800s.
• Miniature horses were used as pets of nobility.
• Louis XIV had miniature horses in his zoos.
• Around the 1800s miniature horses were used as
  pit ponies in the coal mines. The early 1900s
  they were brought to Ohio to be used. They were
  used in some Appalachian coal mines until the
  late 1950s.

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What do Miniatures Horses do?
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• Miniature Horses are used as therapy horses,
  seeing eye service animals (for those who are
  allergic to dogs or want a service animal with a
  longer life span) or can be shown across the
  world.

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Standards of Perfection

• Size must measure not more than 34 inches tall
  at the last hairs of the mane.
• Head in proportion to length of neck body.
  Broad forehead with large prominent eyes set wide
  apart. Comparatively short distance between eyes
  muzzle profile straight concave below the eyes.
  Large nostrils. Clean refined. Even bite.
• Ears medium in size. Pointed. Carried alertly
  with tips slightly inward.
• Throat-latch clean well defined allowing ample
  flexion at the poll.
• Neck flexible, lengthy, in proportion to body
  type blending smoothly into the withers.
• Shoulder long, sloping well angulated,
  allowing a free-swinging stride alert head/neck
  carriage. Well muscled forearm.
• Body well muscled with ample bone substance.
  Balanced well proportioned. Short back lions
  in relation to length of underline. Smooth
  generally level top-line. Deep girth flank.
  Trim barrel.
• Hindquarters Long, well-muscled hip, thigh
  gaskin. Highest point of croup to be same height
  as withers, tail set neither excessively high or
  low, but smoothly rounding off rump.
• Legs set straight parallel when viewed from
  front or back. Straight, true squarely set,
  when viewed from the side with hooves pointing
  directly ahead. Pasterns sloping about 45
  degrees blending smoothly, with no change of
  angle from the hooves to the ground. Hooves to
  be round compact. Trimmed as short as
  practicable for an unshod horse. Smooth, fluid
  gait in motion.
• Color Any color or marking pattern, any eye
  color, is equally acceptable. The hair should be
  lustrous silky.

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• There are many classes that Miniature Horses can
  be shown in
• Halter judged on confirmation, quality,
  presence, way of going type.
• Obstacle judged on performance, way of going
  with emphasis on manners throughout the course.
  
• Versatility the horse performs 3 disciplines in
  1 class harness driving, halter hunter.
  Judged equally combined for placings.
• Jumpers scored mathematically, based on faults
  incurring between the starting line and the
  finishing line.
• Specialty halter (color classes) judged on 80
  on the natural color of the horse 20 on the
  confirmation.
• Costume This is designed to be a fun class.
  Judged on creativity and way of going throughout
  the class.

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• Hunters judged on style, manners the way of
  going with preference given to those horses who
  cover the course at an even pace, with free
  flowing strides, as in a brisk trot or canter,
  but must maintain same gait throughout the
  course.
• Liberty demonstrating the natural beauty of the
  Miniature Horse. Judged on style, grace,
  animation, gaits, presence, music suitability
  ease of catching.
• Showmanship Only the handler is judged. The
  horse is merely a prop to show the showmanship
  ability. Judged on appearance of exhibitor,
  appearance of the horse, conditioning, grooming,
  trimming tack.

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• Driving
• Single pleasure horse should give the appearance
  of a pleasurable drive, be animated should not
  shown exaggerated high action in front.
• Country pleasure judged on attitude, manners,
  performance, quality confirmation.
• Roadster judged on 3 different speeds smooth
  transitions.
• Formal park judged on performance with style,
  presence, finish, balance cadence.
• Multiple Hitches judged on performance,
  presence, quality, manners matching.

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