# We gots a miniature horse! Come take a look :) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048 "2004-07-20T18:59:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/1 "2004-07-20T18:59:23Z")
I’m starting an after school club next fall at the junior high where I teach that will be geared toward teaching underprivileged youth (my district is in a low income, high immigrant area) about horses. Kids will earn “hoofpoints” to visit my horses and interact with them, learning grooming, gaits, anatomy, behavior, etc. in a hands-on situation. (And yes–we’re taking all kinds of precautions re: liability.) My Arabian mare Ferrana is a complete doll and will be great for the program, but she’s still 900lbs and 5 feet tall at the shoulder–intimidating to adults unfamiliar with horses, nonetheless kids. Solution? Meet Firefly, our 5-year-old American miniature mare: [Posing with 6’4" DeathLlama–a good size for him, dontcha think?](http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL21/73667/4792795/60650328.jpg) [Firefly, just off the trailer](http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL21/73667/4792795/60649985.jpg) [Firefly and Ferrana meet for the first time (Ferrana’s not blindfolded–that’s a fly mask to keep the buggers out of her eyes)](http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL21/73667/4792795/60650061.jpg) [The 1.5 horses of our stable and I pose for the camera](http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL21/73667/4792795/60650214.jpg) Firefly was brought to us all the way from Fort Worth, Texas. She foundered last winter and her owner wanted to find her a new home. (Founder, also known as laminitis, is a condition in which the hoof bone/coffin bone rotates and begins to slide down into the delicate hoof tissues, perforating the bottom of the hoof in most severe cases. It is excruciatingly painful and cannot be cured, only stopped or slowed. It was Secretariat’s ignoble ending in 1989.) Founder can sometimes be causes by a high carbohydrate diet or one of lush grass, and her Texas home had gorgeous rolling green acres. She could no longer go out and graze with her buddies, so her owner felt it would be best for Firefly to find another home. Too much lush green pasture is decidedly NOT a Southern California problem, so we brought her here. We only had to pay for the shipping to bring her here. BTW…Firefly’s founder seems to have been stopped, or at least controled. She’s sound and happy–just gets no grain, very little grazing on grass, and has her feet trimmed every 4 weeks. Anyway! That’s our new little gal, all 36" and 310lbs of her. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/2 "2004-07-20T19:19:48Z")
Say…that’s a little horse. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/3 "2004-07-20T19:26:33Z")
Hee! [This one](http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL21/73667/4792795/60650061.jpg) looks like a forced-perspective shot–“Firefly, I am not some cheap showhorse! I am not trying to rob your grain!” Cute. And a great idea, too. Good luck with the kids. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/4 "2004-07-20T19:35:03Z")
Why isn’t there any audio to go with those pictures of her? What’s that you say? She’s just a little horse? I’m so sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/5 "2004-07-20T19:51:26Z")
Cute ! Congrats on the new little friend 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/6 "2004-07-20T19:53:53Z")
I am so jealous! I have always wanted a mini horse! (S/he would go great with the Mini Cooper I want, don’t you think? 😛 ) She is beautiful. I hope things with the kids work out! ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/7 "2004-07-20T19:56:17Z")
She’s cute! One of our neighbors breeds miniature horses, and the foals are the cutest things _ever_! Was the mare doing the “_snort!_ What is _that_?” dance? ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/8 "2004-07-21T00:13:22Z")
Naw, **Cowgirl Jules** , Ferrana was fine with Firefly. She’s seen minis before, and they’ve never weirded her out much. She was pretty fascinated the first time she saw one, though…kinda like “Ooh, a baby! I _love_ babies! …Waaaaaait a second, something’s not right here…” Thankfully, Ana has a pretty good head about such things. I’ve known horses who spook at white ponies, pintos, appaloosas, minis, etc; Ana just kinda looks and says, “Huh. Small/colorful/weird looking horse. Well, back to eating…” 🙂 Firefly, btw, may be pregnant. While her previous owner and I were in discussions, she escaped (something I’ve discovered she’s good at at her new home, too!) and got in with the woman’s stud. We don’t know if she’s in foal, but if she is, her previous owner will pay for all the foal’s care and will pay to have it shipped to her when it’s weaned…so we get to have the fun of raising and playing with a teeny baby, and then send it on to someone else. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/9 "2004-07-21T00:20:19Z")
**SUNDAY!!! SUNDAY!!! SUNDAY!!!** \*!!!Deathmatch at the Coliseum!!! The 3-foot horse takes on the [4-foot rabbit](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=267379)!!! Who will triumph in this battle of the zoological marvels!!! Then sit back and hang on for the Battle of the Monster Trucks!!! \*It’s going to be _ **AWESOMMMMME!!!** _ * * * Seriously though, your horse is awfully cute. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/10 "2004-07-21T01:46:15Z")
Congratulations on your new baby!! We’re going to the Monastery of St. Clare on Friday to see the mini’s. [http://www.monasteryminiaturehorses.com/](http://www.monasteryminiaturehorses.com/) ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/11 "2004-07-21T01:50:08Z")
::looks at **Ruffian** ’s mini horse:: Daddy, I want a mini horse and I want it _nowwwwwwwwww_! \ ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/12 "2004-07-21T02:31:14Z")
Firefly is such a cool name and her previous owner sounds like one heck of a woman to do all those wonderful things to secure a happy home and pay for any possible foal. There is a couple of mini’s down the road from us and they are _so darn cuuuuute_. Founder is not fun. My uncle had to put down his best horse ( intelligence, looks and every other way possible) because of it. And he worked for years with vets trying to retard or cure it. You are a most excellent person to take Firefly in. If you could rig a horn on firefly’s head, she could be a unicorn for Halloween. Wheeeee! ---
**Author:** ![3.885AM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/58956e/32.png) [@3.885AM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3.885AM)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/13 "2004-07-21T02:32:50Z")
We had one come through the airport where I work a few weeks ago. I understand they make great service animals. It was truly bizarre hearing the distinctive clip-clop of a horse in a passenger terminal. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/14 "2004-07-21T02:56:44Z")
Firefly’s adorable, but my heart belongs to Ferrana, who is everything I’ve always wanted in a horse. When I saw the pic of **DeathLlama** and Firefly, I was wondering if SHE could hop on HIS back for a ride! Incidentally, is that color pattern considered to be sorrel, or what? I’ve READ descriptions of sorrel horses, but never seen a picture identifying the color. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/15 "2004-07-21T06:45:54Z")
Awwwwwwwww, she’s so beautiful, Rils. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/16 "2004-07-21T14:14:41Z")
Well I learned something new! Yes, **Lynn Bodoni** , Firefly is registered as a sorrel. But I was trying to remember what distinguises sorrel from chestnut…and at this site I read this: > [@](#): > > Some people (me included) grew up calling the bright and light shades of red horses Sorrel and reserving Chestnut for the darker shades. What terms are “correct” also depends on what breeds you are referring to. Quarter Horse breeders commonly use the term Sorrel for the bright red and lighter shades, while Arabian breeders use the term Chestnut for all shades. > > Regardless of the term used to classify horses with red bodies and red points, Chestnut and Sorrel are exactly the same when it comes to the genes. Genetic experts as well as scientific evidence has proven that genetically, Chestnut and Sorrel are controlled by the same genes, therefore making them the same color, regardless of shade. So all horses with a red pigment base and points are referred to as Chestnut or Chestnut based on this site. Huh! And BTW, since you like Ferrana so (we’re attached too!), here I am riding her a show Sunday: [She’s going too slow for a hunter class, but it was as good ride and I think we did well.](http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL21/73667/2622437/60429863.jpg) The color’s a bit funky in the shot as it’s a scanned image. So I take it you always wanted a grey Arabian? Or…? (More pics of her, and well pretty much everything, are at my online photo album.) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/17 "2004-07-21T14:17:42Z")
adorable=) I love them, can’t afford any more pets…but very cute=) ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/18 "2004-07-21T14:37:38Z")
You have a good seat, **Ruffian**! Ferrana is gorgeous. I’m still a little confused as to the difference between horses and ponies. But mini-horses are indeed horses, right, not mini Shetland ponies or something? Do other horses recognize minis as full horses? Can minis whinny and neigh like big horses? Anyone else seen the commercial with the little horse? Loved it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/19 "2004-07-21T15:41:06Z")
She is just beautiful. If I ever live somewhere I can have one, I want one of these guys. I’ve wanted one ever since I heard about them. A full-size horse would be more than a bit much for me to look after (and I wouldn’t want to own a horse but have to keep it somewhere else and pay for stabling) but I could handle one of the little ones, I think. Maybe someday. What a lovely horse she is! ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048/20 "2004-07-21T16:40:42Z")
“Hey Firefly, why the long face?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-gots-a-miniature-horse-come-take-a-look/256048.md?page=2)