Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL MINI HORSE FAQ

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Q: What exactly is a miniature horse?

A: A miniature horse is just a like it sounds: a miniature horse! These horses are proportionately the same as a regular-sized horse, but much, much smaller. These special horses have been bred down from small horses over hundreds of years into the sweet little minis you see today.

 

Q: How big is a mini horse?

A: To be considered a mini horse, the horse must measure 34" or less from the withers. On average, mini horses weigh between 150-300 pounds. All of the horses at MTH measure between 29" - 34" and weigh between 119-235 pounds.

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Q: How long do mini horses live?

A: The average lifespan of a mini horse ranges from 25-35 years, a third longer than their full-sized counterparts!

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Q: Is a mini horse the same as a pony?

A: No. Ponies are smaller than horses, but not as small as mini horses. They also have thicker coats, manes and tails than horses.

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Q: What do mini horses eat?

A: Mini horses eat the same things that regular horses eat like hay and grain, but in much smaller amounts. And of course, they love the occasional apple or carrot! Our fabulous sponsor, Star Milling, provides us with nutrient-dense feed that keep the girls healthy and strong. 

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Q: Are your mini horses really potty trained?

A: Yes, the mini girls are all potty trained to ensure our visits are safe and hygienic. This is especially important when visiting medical settings such as hospitals or hospice care facilities.

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Q: Do mini horses wear horseshoes?

A: No. Mini horse hooves are too small and thin to wear a traditional metal horseshoe. When on visits, our minis wear boots made by our incredible sponsor, EasyCare Inc. These boots protect their feet and keep them from slipping on slick surfaces such as a hospital or elevator floor.

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Q: How do you train your horses?

A: The minis have all been trained and continue to train with our founder, Victoria Nodiff-Netanel. Victoria competed in dressage for many years and is an excellent horsewoman. When she started Mini Therapy Horses in 2008, Victoria was able to call upon her decades of experience to train her first therapy horse, Pearl. She has trained every horse since then and, as a result of her excellent skills as a trainer, our program has become a recognized leader in equine therapy with mini horses.

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ORGANIZATION FAQ

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Q: Where is MTH located?

A: The mini girls live at a private home facility in sunny Calabasas, CA.

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Q: Can we visit the facility?

A: At this time, out of an abundance of caution due to Covid-19, we are not allowing visitors at the MTH facility.

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Q: Do you do virtual visits?

A: Yes! As in-person visits are limited right now due to Covid-19, virtual visits are a fun, safe alternative. If you'd like to request a virtual visit, please submit an Event/Visit Request form.

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Q: Can the minis come to my school/workplace/facility/event?

A: Yes! As you can imagine, we receive a ton of appearance requests. Everyone loves our minis! If you would like to request a visit, please submit an Event/Visit Request form.

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Q: How can I volunteer for MTH?

A: We are always looking for dedicated, hard-working, compassionate individuals to join the MTH team. For more information, please click here to visit our Volunteer Page.

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Q: Do you sell or breed your mini horses?

A: No. We do not sell nor breed horses at MTH. We are focused solely on providing equine therapy.

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Q: Was that you in the Rose Parade®?

A: Yes! Mini Therapy Horses has proudly participated in the Rose Parade® in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 (virtual: Rose Parade® Reimagined) and 2022! For more information and photos, please click here to visit our Rose Parade® page.

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Q: How can I stay in touch?

A: You can click here to sign up for our newsletter and you can also follow us on Instagram or follow us on Facebook. 

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Q: How can I help?

A: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we rely 100% on the support of our donors. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation, please click here to visit our Donate Page.