Looking to Downsize Your Horse-Life? Discover Australian Miniature Ponies!

Supreme Performance Pony - Ambaura Tiara - 2012 NSW Championship Feature Show (photo: Tracey Bavington Photography)

Winner Liberty Class - Joemoor Thunder Storm - 2012 NSW Championship Feature Show

2nd placegetter Stallion in Harness - Colina Park Golden Boy - 2012 Sydney Royal Show (Photo: Sarah Lyrren Photography)

Grand Champion of Show - Sterling Bold As Brass - 2012 NSW Championship Feature Show

Breannah Gilmour - Champion Junior Handler at the 2013 NSW Western Districts Championship Show (Photo: Zelvan Footprints)

Grand Champion winner from the 2012 Online Show Pomanoz Strokaluc - exhibited by Graceview Park, Victoria

In the 1970's, a number of Shetland breeders had produced smaller Shetlands which at the time, was not the desire for the breed as Shetlands were used extensively in harness and ridden pursuits. However, a few people started to purchase these smaller Shetlands as pets and the interest grew.

Initially, owners of these smaller ponies would register them with the American Miniature Horse society until the year 1974 when a small group of enthusiasts held a meeting in Liverpool NSW to discuss the future of these miniatures ponies and from this gathering the Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. was formed. Today, the Australian Miniature Pony Breed includes the crossing of small Shetland Ponies, Fallabella, Miniature Horses and small ponies and the Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc has a membership base across Australia.

What is an Australian Miniature Pony? Australian Miniature Ponies are those little ponies you see occasionally at shows - they receive a lot of attention from crowds and other horses, particularly horses who have never seen a miniature equine before.

The maximum height of an Australian Miniature Pony is 87cms. These miniature equines should appear well proportioned and ideally should resemble a pony in miniature with moderate substance through the legs and body. Australian Miniature Ponies can be confused for their miniature counterparts, the Miniature Horse, which has a similar height category but resembles a horse in miniature with more refined substance through the legs and body. Australian Miniature Ponies can also be confused for Shetlands that have much heavier bone structure.

Australian Miniature Ponies are suited to showing enthusiasts in led and harness, as a first pony for children, as a pet and as a companion for other equines. These ponies are exhibited at a number of agricultural shows, Royal Shows and Breed shows throughout Australia. The popularity of Australian Miniature ponies in harness is increasing as well as performance classes where they are jumped (in hand, not ridden) and taken through various obstacles. Miniature ponies can be paddocked and used as companions for larger equines and tend to get along well with ponies and larger horses. Similar to any equine herd, they conform to herd heircharchy with a mix of personalities.

The work invested by an owner to keep an Australian Miniature Pony is dependent on the activity. For instance, Australian Miniature Ponies kept as pets would require the basic horse care similar to any other equine including worming, regular hoove trims, feed, water, etc. Ponies used for showing require much more work in addition to the basic horse care and may include rugging, stabling, exercise, etc. similar to any other equine being shown.

In terms of keeping a miniature pony in a paddock, they can be great escape artists (depending on the pony's personality) particularly if the fencing is too high (or too low) and if there are holes in the fencing - they generally find those holes for the grass much greener on the other side! They do not require as much land as their bigger equine counterparts however, if sufficient grass is not available, they will require additional feed e.g. hay and/or hard feed. The amount and type of feed can be dependent on the type of activity the miniature pony is being used for but the upkeep costs of a miniature pony is much less than ponies and horses. Miniature ponies (not all) can have a tendency to founder if they have access to a lot of rich feed and similar to any other equine in this situation, feeding sessions should be managed.

The Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. has Branches in each state that hold their own events. In NSW, there are 3 promotional Groups and the NSW Branch Committee that each hold their own show. Per season, 4 shows are held - the NSW Championship Feature Show (October), NSW Southern Districts Championship Show (December), NSW Northern Districts Championship Show (January) and the NSW Western Districts Championship Show (February). These shows hold classes for led, handler, performance and harness. The NSW Branch Committee introduced the NSW Australian Miniature Pony of the Year for led, harness and handlers last year - this event was extremely successful and will be held again this year in conjunction with the 2013 NSW Championship Feature Show. The NSW Branch and Promotional groups also hold yearly information and harness days for members and other enthusiasts who would like to expand their knowledge on showing, nutrition, care of a miniature pony, harness training and exhibiting. For the second year, the NSW Branch Committee are holding an ONLINE SHOW that is currently running - entries close on the 31st of May. 

To get involved with events held by the Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc. you will be required to be a member and ponies must be registered with the society. Each Branch in Australia has a website that contains information pertaining to their activities. The NSW Branch Committee produces a quarterly newsletter for members and each member in Australia receives the National Magazine Small Talk.

Raise More $$ For Your Society, Association or Club!

Are you looking to raise more funds for your Club? Be like the Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc NSW Branch and take advantage of Horsezone’s offer of a fundraising opportunity - 10% of products listing fee for all listings placed by your members! Click here to find out more about how the Club Contribution Scheme works and to register your Club. When you register with Horsezone, to help raise more funds, you can also integrate our comprehensive sales listings into your Club's website, as the Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc NSW Branch have done. Integration encourages members to list stallions at stud, horses, floats or gear for sale with Horsezone and in turn donate 10% of their listing fees back to the Club. To make life easier for members, they can view suitable horses for sale on Horsezone simply by visiting their club's website. If you'd like to go ahead with integration, simply email jenny@horsezone.com.au with the search criteria for the breed/discipline of horses you would like to appear on your site. It’s super easy to set up – add it to your existing classifieds/for sale page or save the hassle of setting one up and use our comprehensive sales site! Integration is currently used by many clubs Australia-wide. Click here to see it in action on the Australian Miniature Pony Society Inc NSW Branch website.

Quick Links

• For further information about Australian Miniature Ponies, please visit the website www.nswminiaturepony.com.au
• View gorgeous PHOTOS OF MINIATURE PONIES out and about at various shows here and here!
• View all Miniature Ponies for sale on Horsezone