Miniature horses are growing in popularity and many miniature horse owners are now challenging pet ordinances to allow miniature horses as neighborhood pets. As horses take-on a dual role as livestock and pets, miniature horse owners are challenged to understand when miniature horses are allowed in suburban neighborhoods, and how to properly select and care-for these tiny ponies.

* Learn how the legal status of miniature horses has changed to exotic animals and pets. * Understand how to properly choose a miniature horse pet. * Learn the hazards of breeding miniature horses. * Get the proper advice on health care. * See how to be a good neighbor.

About the Author:

As a lifelong horse training enthusiast, Janet Burleson has experimented with hundreds of horse behavior challenges.  With four decades of horse teaching experience, she is the pioneering horse trainer that developed the Guide horse training program. Read about the development of the training program used to train Twinkie, the prototype first experimental Guide horse for the blind and Cuddles  the first Guide horse to enter full time service as a guide animal for Dan Shaw.

Table of Contents:

CHAPTER 1.  Horses in the Hood Classification:               Livestock               Companion animals               Exotic animals Legal residency status case law Suggestions  CHAPTER 2. Miniature Horses at Work Labor (cite pulling power) Riding Landscaping               Yard ornaments               Grass trimming Service Animals              Guide Horses              Therapy Horses               Emotional Support Horses                  (cite dog cases)               Companion Horses                           Describe xxx-phobia –                            “Fear of being alone”                           Physically Disabled                           Elderly                    (cite medical study blood pressure reduced) CHAPTER 3. Buying a Miniature Horse  Pre-qualifying               Initial cost of horse, barn, fence               Zoning/variances               Yearly costs               Commitment to health care –               Pay $4k for a life-saving surgery?               Commitment to lifespan –               Contingency plan - will         Purchasing a Miniature Horse               Internet Resources               Magazines               Auctions               Rescue Miniature Horses                Cost factors                          Age                           Color                           Size                           Athletic ability                           Skills – Driving, saddle-broken                           Conformation                           Pedigree                           Show Record                           Progeny

CHAPTER 4. Caring for a Miniature Horse Providing a safe environment               Housing               Fencing – keeps dogs out               Grazing               Avoiding ingestion of sand (mats, feeders)               Poisonous plants & trees  Feeding               Generic feeding               Foals/yearlings               Elderly               Obese               Underweight Grooming               Clipping               Shedding               Dry Rot               Skin issues  Being a good neighbor                Cleanliness               Poo bagging               Fly control  CHAPTER 5. Miniature Horse Illness  Locking stifle  Club foot  Arthritis  Founder  Navicular disease CHAPTER 6. Miniature Horse Health Maintenance  Farrier care  Teeth floating  Worming  Vaccinations  Sand-clear (for grazing horses)  Vet checks  Wormer  CHAPTER 7. Miniature Horse Medical Emergencies  Colic               Sand               Impaction               Twisted colon               Gas  Founder  Choke  Casting & Shock CHAPTER 8. Breeding Miniature horses  High Risk Required investment Abortion and dystocia CHAPTER 9. Miniature horse dwarfism               Types               List of anomalies                           Legs                           Dental – Monkey jaw – orthodontics                           Facial –                           Torso – roach back, swayback                           Conformation – “low rider”               Acrondroplasic               Brachiocephalic              Minimal Dwarfism              Parallels to canines

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