“They are ideal for lifestyle blocks – especially once you get past the big horse stage,” Carol told Rural Living.

“And they are such sweet, docile animals.”

“In fact,” added Denise, “they’re more like a large dog.”

Carol and her husband Allan own Longwood Stud in Silverdale. Allan was the founding President of the Association which is now the NZMHA, and the couple  were the co-organisers of the first miniature horse show. They bred their first filly foal in the early nineties and currently own around 50 miniature horses.  In 1991 they also imported their first stallion from the USA. Sierra Pheasant Dreams Stretch.

“I always say miniature horses are like potato chips – it’s impossible to just have one,” Carol said.

With a laugh Denise agreed.

“I started with one and now I have fourteen.”

Minatures are a perfect choice for lifestyle blocks, both women believe, because of their look. 

“They’re easy to look after, hardy, and they don’t’ make a mess of your paddocks,” Carol said.

A height breed, Category A miniatures should be 34 inches or less and Category B horses should be 38 inches or less.  They should be in proportion so that when you see them in a paddock with nothing to give scale they look like a normal horse.

Being a small horse has other advantages too – one tube of horse wormer can last five or six doses.

Like normal horses, there are many varieties of miniature – pintos, appaloosas, palaminos – and all are simply a small version of their larger counterpart.

Show season begins in November and for Carol and Denise represents the busiest time of the year. The pint sized ponies need to be groomed and clipped to look their best – in winter they tend to get shaggy and fluffy. Most A and P shows run a miniature section now and the season culminates with the Royal Easter Show in Auckland each year.

The biggest challenge according to Carol and Denise is resisting the urge to buy more miniatures. 

“You can almost guarantee that if someone looks at them they will want to buy one.”