The Establishment of Cranage Miniature Horses
I came across the name for my Miniature Horse Stud when I discovered a copy of my family tree in 1996. Cranage is the name of a little village in England where my family tree was planted. The name had a certain “old world” feel about it that appealed to me.
I would have loved to live in a world of horses and carriages. But I think I could do without the washing boards, dirt roads, and lack of modern conveniences!
I dream about visiting my roots in Cranage some day. Perhaps there are Miniature Horses there too!
Miniature Horses are so tiny….. what can you do with them?
To answer this question I have to say there are essentials necessary to have a happy horse and owner enjoying their future together.
With these three essential points below combined with knowledge and the love of the horse anything is possible for you and your miniature.
- Temperament
A good harness, jumping, trail, halter or liberty horse must want to work with the owner and be happy and bold enough to accept the challenge, always eager to learn
and possess a forgiving nature. - Conformation
Without correct conformation eg. good angulated shoulder, a well set on neck and head, good length of rein, well sprung ribs, strong short back and most of all a muscular round rump and four sound correctly conformed legs, then the life of a miniature horse in any athletic field will be miserable. - Movement
Given that the miniature horse has correct conformation, then good movement will almost automatically follow. The trot gait will demonstrate best the movement of the horse and soundness as it is a two beat diagonal gait with a moment of suspension when all four hooves are off the ground. If the horse has good conformation, strength, balance and impulsion then the horses troting action will seem to “float” above the ground as it moves in the trot. This is best displayed in the extended trot, which uses energy from the front to the back of the horse through engagement of the hind legs forward under the body, this impulsion can only be seen in the canter and the trot. The trot is mostly used in harness as it is a “economical” gait where it covers the ground using most of the muscles involved with movement but does not tire the horse as a canter would do. The trot is most desired in Liberty as it not only shows the movement and the moment of suspension but it shows the beauty of the horse in motion.
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