Miniature horses are big on charm

Youngster Kate Gow from Bay of Plenty stood wide-eyed while watching a miniature horse show his tricks at Fieldays.

Five-year-old Faylaurs Apaches Lyric and four-year-old Bluegables Glory Be Good are two gelding miniature horses that are on display at this year’s event.

Kate Gow stopped in to visit the horses to see what they can do.

“I love horses they are so cute.”

The horses are on display in the stables today for anyone interested in miniature foals.

The New Zealand Miniature Horse Association (NZMHA) delegates and miniature horses are located within the Equidays Equine display area.

Waikato delegate Jo Duke says miniature horses have to be well trained.

“They are are just like dogs with agility, they must have a lot of discipline and these two mini’s here today have been trained well.”

After sharing a Skyline garage with another exhibitor at last year’s Fieldays the NZMHA ladies are lucky to get a larger site for their demonstrations.

“We had a little pen in the corner of the garage for the one mini last year.  We are so lucky to have this large site this year but that is due to the care of Equidays,” says Waikato delegate Jo Duke.

There are brochures on display for all your miniature needs, which range from their daily care, feeding, grooming, hoof care, and what you can do with miniature horses.

Taranaki delegate Sharon Neville says that miniatures are more then pets.

“They are very versatile, we are here to promote the association and mini’s in general. This is a display to see what they can do and show people that mini’s are more than just pets.”

They have had a great range of people through, from pet owners through to people with registered horses.

“We had a lady here yesterday who was 89, and she has miniatures that are actually driven with carts, they are just the ideal height for her.  She has been around horses all her life and as she is quite frail but she can cope with miniatures,” says Sharon Neville.