When compared to a full size horse, most minis are half the height, weigh only 20% (1/5) of a big horse and eat only 1/4 or 25% of what they do. Due to the center of gravity being so low, that they can pull 4 times the weight of a draft horse, size by size.

 

One vet claims minis are healthier due to these reasons. 

 

First of all, minis show their symptoms faster. They don't hide them like a big horse so you find out about problems like stones or impaction before a lot of internal damage has occurred.

 

The other is the little dog syndrome.  Just like little dogs live longer than big dogs, miniatures live longer, as a general rule, than big horses.  In fact, that is true for the horse world.  Minis live longer than light horses who live longer than draft horses.

 

They are also able to withstand more cold than any other breed of horses. The vet said that this may have come from the blood of the Shetlands that were originally left to starve on the Shetland Islands...and they did not...they survived and prospered and created a breed that can withstand the brutal cold...although we are spoiling that by introducing the finer bloodlines and that over time will decrease that strength.

 

Since they were raised as pets for over 400 years, as a general rule, they are very people-oriented.