Staff writer
While children petted miniature horses and led them on a nature trail Saturday, many remained unaware of the history of the diminutive horses.
Marion High School freshman Cara Martin works with miniature horses at Tiny Trails of rural Marion, and she has learned some of their history.
She received a $400 grant to help enhance the business and educate the public about nature and agriculture. Minifest was a chance for area residents to become familiar with miniature horses.
In the 1800s, miniature horses were used to haul carts into and out of mines. Their small size allowed them to work in smaller tunnels than full-size horses.
Miniature horses were brought to the United States in the early 1900s. As time progressed, they were increasingly kept for recreation.
Eventually a new job was discovered for miniature horses, Martin said. In some places, miniature horses are used in place of guide dogs. They can be trained for similar tasks and usually live longer than dogs.
Miniature horses are defined as being no taller than 34 inches at the withers while still having proportions similar to a horse rather than a pony.
Martin said they do not require specialized care. Miniature horses are less expensive to keep because they eat less, but they are not big enough for adults to ride.
Some people claim they can be kept in a back yard — local laws permitting — as long as an owner can take them somewhere to run, Martin said.
She got her first miniature horse when she was 7 years old. Now she has four of them.
“They’re just kind of the right size for everybody and they are very even tempered,” Martin said.