How Tiny Tails Miniature Horse Farm Began...
Miniature Horses? I had never heard of them until just a few years ago.
I grew up with horses but when I married and raised children, we really didn’t have the space for grazing or money enough to care for full-sized horses. I really missed having horses. Later in life, after the children were grown and gone I moved from a home on a half-acre lot to a 5 acre farm, it was time to get horses again. My husband wasn’t comfortable around horses. So I thought that I was not to have a horse again, until someone mentioned MINIATURE horses.
I began asking questions, gathering information and locating others in my area that raised minis. I learned that these are REAL horses, just smaller in size.
We started with 2, a mare and her foal, but soon added a rescue animal to the mix. We later found a good home for her. Soon we were encouraged to build a 7 stall barn, which we quickly filled, then expanded to 10 stalls.
We have been successful in breeding our mares, producing great foals and finding caring homes for them.
Along the way I discovered miniature horse shows in our area and got my nieces involved. (They show their own full-sized horses, but love to work with the minis as well). While the horse shows are competitive, they are great fun and promote a wonderful sense of camaraderie among miniature horse owners. There are several miniature horse clubs in the area, each with its own series of local shows, leading to combined events in the Fall at some of our NH State Fairs, such as Hopkinton and Deerfield. www.yankeeminiaturehorseclub.com
I have found the miniatures safer to work and play with and easy to train. They cost much less to feed than a full-sized size horse and caring for them fills that part of my soul that wants to interact with a horse. These little horses keep us active and outdoors and they are my source of mental and emotional renewal after a stressful day at work.
We really enjoy sharing our minis with visitors. Our ‘interactive farm’ features flower and vegetable gardens, chickens, a fruit orchard, Christmas trees and a maple syrup operation. Visitors and supervised children are welcome on Sunday afternoon, (1-4 pm, or by appointment). There is no cost to visit. You can brush and handle the horses and tour the farm. We might even hitch up a cart and take you and your children for a ride! But call first (603-364-5834) to let us know you’re coming.