Miniature Horse At Home In The House

Miniature Horse At Home In The House AG WORLD 34-5-21 Completely housebroken and as gentle as any dog, Rowan the miniature horse is a treasured member of the Thorn family in Bozeman, Mont. "We got her when she was just a few months old, and my wife trained her, much as you would a dog," says M. J. Thorn. "We have a swinging door between the kitchen and the laundry room with a large doggie door leading outside from the laundry room. When she needs to ægo', she heads outside." Rowan is so well trained that on a visit out of state, the Thorn family stayed in a motel with her. They did put a muzzle on her to ensure she didn't nibble on room contents. "Rowan would nuzzle my wife when she needed to go outside," says Thorn. "When we got home, we received a letter from the motel manager. He said the room was in better shape than when people brought dogs, and Rowan was welcome back anytime." At home, the Thorns use a lead and halter when walking Rowan. Sometimes they harness her to a miniature wagon. Going on three years of age, Rowan is nearly 32 in. in height. Thorn expects she is nearing her full height. Like full-size horses, Rowan is expected to reach 30 years of age or more. In the meantime, they are enjoying her status as part of the family. In fact, Thorn describes her as a little sister to the family's four boys. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, (mjthorn@bresnan.net).

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