The
American Miniature Horse extracted from many sources
in the creation of the breed.
The first mention of a small horse being imported into the
United States was in 1888; and research shows little public
awareness of true Miniatures until 1960. Popular belief is
that American Miniature Horses utilized the blood of English
and Dutch mine horses brought into this country in the 19th
century and used in some Appalachian coal mines as late as
1950. It
also drew upon the blood of the Shetland pony, several of
which appear in the pedigrees of some miniatures today. In
the past decade, several breeders have imported miniature
horses from England, Holland, Belgium, and West Germany,
while others have selectively bred miniatures from the
larger breeds of horses. Throughout its colorful past, the
Miniature Horse breed has been bred for pets, novelty,
research, monetary gain, mining work, exhibition and royal
gifts. This information was taken from
www.TheMiniatureHorse.com
At Cub Creek Science Camp we have six
miniature horses one of who is also a dwarf. We have
two paints, Little
Bit, our Dwarf Miniature Horse, is a sorrel and white paint
while Sierra, the other Miniature Horse Paint is a black and white.
We have two Miniature dapple grays named Lacey and Jr. Mint,
mother and son, a Miniature blue roan named Blue, and a
Miniature solid black named Tuck.
They
are housed in the Barn area of the Ranch and during Science
Camp many campers who are horse lovers get to spend quality
time with them in the Adopt an Animal Program.
