Miniature Horses: The Future of Pets?
Everyone loves horses. Horses are smart, strong, majestic animals that show affection but can also take care of themselves in ways that other pets can’t. Even cats need cat insurance for cat owners. Children the world over dream of owning a horse or a pony at some point in their lives, and that dream doesn’t leave them as they become adults.
Yet for most people, owning a horse is not very practical. Horses are extremely large animals that require a lot of feeding, a lot of exercise, and space for all of the droppings that horses tend to leave behind.
Enter Miniature Horses
Around the world, various organizations have begun to breed miniature horses. Miniature horses stand about as tall as a medium to large size dog, and are equally as intelligent. They are strong and powerful for their size (like horses), but are small enough to take indoors.
Benefits of a Miniature Horse
Miniature horses are extremely unique animals that may someday have a lot of benefits for future pet owners. Some of the benefits of miniature horses include:
• Long Lifespan – Miniature horses live an average of 20 to 30 years or more, and a few have lived as long as 50. This lifespan is greater than almost every common type of pet besides birds.
• Strong Animals – Miniature horses are powerful animals that can handle some of the physical stresses that they may undertake. They can be trained to do light labor without any health repercussions.
• Calm (in general) – Miniature horses are not as excitable as other pets, and won’t suffer from the same regular tantrums. They are prone to being frightened by predators. They also tend to jump at loud noises. But with a lot of time with your pet you can train them out of those behaviors.
Miniature horses are intelligent and easily trainable. As far as intelligence, lifespan and temperament, miniature horses make fantastic pets.
The Future Most Popular Pet?
Still, if you are looking for a new pet, miniature horses are not yet a viable option for most families. They are most often used as “Guide Horses” (like guide dogs) for the blind. They require a great deal of care and must sleep outdoors. They also make a big mess, need more exercise than dogs, and need to be trained out of scaring easily by a trained professional. This training takes a lot of time and effort.
They are also difficult to legally own, since they are still classified as livestock by most countries. With the exception of those that live on or around ranches, or have enormous yards, it is difficult to own and care for a miniature horse as a pet. It is not impossible, but it is an uphill battle that most families cannot win.
How the Future Will Change Pet Ownership
Despite these difficulties, do not be surprised if miniature pets become more popular with pet owners in the future. It wasn’t until 1999 that organizations began to look out for miniature horses and began to use them as guide pets. With such a short history, it is no wonder they are not commonly seen in big cities.
If you are looking for puppies for sale, it would be easy enough to find one. Yet society is always changing, and it would not be a surprise to see miniature horses become a popular pet with homeowners in big cities in the next several years. They will take a lot of work, and are going to need a great deal of care over the course of their life, but with long lifespans and an intelligence that rivals that of dogs, miniature horses may quickly become one of the most popular pets in the near future.