Last Updated on March 10, 2022
They are adorable and no bigger than some dogs, so the temptation to keep one in your house is strong, but can you house train a miniature horse? It is important to remember that despite its small size, a miniature horse is still a horse. You cannot train a miniature horse in the same way as a dog.
How Big Is A Miniature Horse
Miniature horses are different from Shetland ponies. They have a much finer build, much like a full-sized horse. A miniature horse is similar in size to many large dog breeds.
The average miniature horse stands between 34 and 38 inches tall. They weigh up to 200 pounds. Because of this small size, it is tempting to want to keep them in the house as a pet.
However, horses have different behaviors to dogs and are much more sensitive to what they eat. This means ensuring your miniature horse does not get into anything it shouldn’t; easier said than done!
How Often Do Miniature Horses Go To The Bathroom
You can train a dog to hold it for long periods, so they don’t relieve themselves inside. Horses are a different story. As horses are grazing animals, they are designed to eat for up to 20-hours a day.
As a result of how their bodies function, miniature horses poop several times a day. It is not healthy for a horse to hold it, like a dog, as this can lead to digestive problems. Also, a horse will not give the signs you’d expect to signal that they need to go outside.
While a miniature horse will not pee as frequently as it poops, it will still do this three or more times a day. You must consider all of this when thinking about house training a miniature horse.
Can You House Train A Miniature Horse
The answer to this is certainly debatable. Some will say, yes, it is possible. According to the Guide Horse Association, “when a miniature horse is fully trained, it can avoid elimination for up to six hours.” Here’s an adorable house-trained miniature therapy horse showing how it is done.
How Is A Miniature Horse House Trained
Miniature horses like to relieve themselves in the same location. When training them, pick a spot and take them there consistently. Make sure to keep this area clean. Use a reward-based system and never punish your miniature horse. Punishment will only create fear and achieve nothing.
Decide on a trigger word for urination and pooping. Say this word every time you want your horse to relieve itself. As soon as the horse does what you want, reward it greatly with pets and a small treat. Repeat, repeat, and repeat everything with consistency. Patience is key, and the process can take longer than potty training a dog.
You should note that even though some say that a miniature horse can hold it for up to six hours, this is not ideal. Horses need regular bowel movements to avoid impaction, which can cause colic. It is best to take your miniature horse outside to relieve itself as much as possible.
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The temperament of your miniature horse also affects if it is suitable for house training. All horses are curious. Some horses love to pull at and chew on things, it’s extremely difficult to stop this personality trait. Look for a miniature horse that does not have this trait, otherwise, you will end up with a very messy house!
Due to their trainability and generally quiet temperaments, miniature horses are increasingly used as therapy animals. To do this job, they require training on how to behave in an indoor environment. Some miniature horses have even taken to the sky, traveling as service animals.
Miniature Horses Are Still Horses
While they are small and cute, it is important to remember miniature horses are still horses. Horses like spending time outside. Make sure you have a suitable, safe outdoor space for them to play and graze.
Miniature horses need constant access to forage, such as grass and hay. At the same time, you need to manage their intake carefully, as they can quickly become obese. Hay is messy, so you need to think about how to manage this in your house.
Miniature Horse In House- Conclusion
Yes, you can house train a miniature horse. But to do so, you need to understand the specific needs of horses. If you are inexperienced in this area of horse training, it is best to hire a professional to help you.
Remember that miniature horses need lots of outside time and regular exercise. Consistency is the key to successfully training your horse. Create a strong bond, and you will have a fantastic companion for many years.
How do you potty train a mini horse?
To potty train your mini horse try to reinforce outdoor elimination on cue and reward him for doing the right thing with little treats. From the beginning you should ignore any indoor elimination behavior but pay attention and take your mini horse outside as soon as he shows any signs of trying to eliminate in the house. You should practice this for at least a few weeks, maybe longer, depending on the horse. If you are patient and persistent enough, your horse should learn to wait for you to take him out when he needs to relieve himself. Over a period of several weeks, your horse will learn to wait to relieve himself until you take him out for a bathroom break.
As your horse learns to go to the bathroom outdoors, you should begin to gradually wean him off of his treats that he used to get as rewards for going to the bathroom. Try to wean him off these treats gradually.
How long do mini horses live?
Mini horses can live from 25 to 35 years on average, which is up to one third longer than their full-size counterparts. That means that if you decide to have a mini horse, you need to be ready to have him in your life for a long time. The good news is that they eat a lot less than a normal horse and are therefore cheaper to maintain.
Why have a miniature horse? There are many reasons why you would want to have a miniature horse. One of the most important ones is because they are great fun to look at and play with. They also make fantastic pets. Miniature horses are popular pets for children as they are small, cute and easy to care for.
Are mini horses hard to train?
Training a miniature horse is similar to training a full-sized horse. They require same approach with the groundwork and should be regularly exercised and trained. The same techniques that are normally used on normal sized horses should be used to train miniature horses too. They can help you gain trust and control of your miniature horse.
The miniature horses are generally easy to train. They are very intelligent and will learn new things very fast.
How to get started? You need to decide what kind of training you want to do with your miniature horse. There are some basic things that you can start with such as walking, trotting, and cantering. It is important to remember that the miniature horse’s body is smaller than that of a full-sized horse and certain exercises need to be adapted to their size.
Can a miniature horse be a house pet?
Miniature horses make fantastic companions for children, families and other farm animals. They’re really cute, and generally good-natured towards people, dogs and other animals. They can also be trained to do a variety of tasks. In fact, miniature horses are quite capable of living as a family pet. They can even live comfortably in a household with cats and dogs.
All of the miniature horse breeds are small, and usually have large heads, short legs, and a thick, short mane. They’re very easy to care for, and they rarely require any special grooming.
Michael Dehaan is a passionate horse owner, horse rider, and lover of all things equine. He has been around horses since he was a child, and has grown to become an expert in the field. He has owned and ridden a variety of horses of different breeds, and has trained many to compete in shows and competitions. He is an experienced horseman, having worked with and competed many horses, including his own. He is an active member of the equestrian community, participating in events and teaching riding lessons.
