Boy I tell you, these horses should thank their lucky days to have found you. You are really a godsend to them if you know what I mean. As far as the miniatures, it is a real shame when folks allow the breeding programs to start producing dwarfs etc. It is something that should not be perpetuated in any breed, but espicially in miniatures. We have about 135 - 140 of these little guys at our farm and have worked with them for over 20 years so if there is anything we can do for you as far as information is concerned let us know.

As far as the digestive system being any different on miniatures than on big horses. It really is not, where that belief has come from is the natural propensity of folks to not really recognize that these guys weigh generally 300-400 pounds on average as adults. Therein is where the problem comes in, a half cup of feed differnce in the daily intake is a massive amount of change. It would equate to feeding a large breed an extra 4 - 8 pounds of feed daily, in comparison to the animals metabolic rates and size. Therefore as in big horses, if too much feed or feed of too high a protien level is fed they will founder etc.

The typical regimine for our adult horses consist of a handful of coastal hay, 1/2 cup of Omeline 100, a 1/2 cup of beet pulp, 1/2 cup of crimped oats per day split in two feedings. Along with that they are given free range pasture grazing.

Let us know if we can be of help,

John Cherry
Cherryville Farms

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