As the rest of the country shivers this winter, those of us in the Coachella Valley are smug in knowing that our weather will continue to be beautiful. It allows for all kinds of outdoor activities, and there’s a lot to do here under the warming sun. And apart from all the usual stuff, there’s now something new to do that will create lasting memories for residents and visitors alike. That something is a visit to the nonprofit SoCal Mini Horse Sanctuary, now up and operating in Whitewater.
Founded a decade ago by horsewoman Jeanne Oliver and her three sons, the sanctuary began life in Hemet and relocated this past summer to the Lost Creek Canyon Ranch, about 20 minutes from downtown Palm Springs.
Oliver saw that miniature horses were often acquired as decorations or pets, but their owners didn’t realize the commitment required to keep their charges healthy. Too frequently, the result was ongoing neglect or a withered animal consigned to auction.
She began taking these animals in one at a time and nursing them back to health. Now along with about two dozen mini horses, her menagerie has grown to include alpacas, donkeys, emus, miniature cows, mules and pigs. Some become healthy enough to be placed in new homes, while others require ongoing medical care and remain lifetime residents of the sanctuary.
Miniature horses are different from ponies in several respects. They are generally smaller — less than three feet tall from mane to hoof — and more proportional to their full-sized brethren. Ponies are larger, stockier and can be used for riding and work. Ponies also have a more rambunctious character, thus making for more volatile animals. By and large, mini horses tend to be gentle and friendly.
As for alpacas, they are to llamas what mini horses are to ponies. They are smaller than llamas with curious dispositions and unusually soft fur. Llamas are substantially larger — up to six feet tall and 400 pounds — and often engaged as pack animals and livestock guardians.
Equally notable is the difference between emus and ostriches. Emus are from Australia while ostriches hail from Africa. While both are flightless birds, ostriches are much larger and can run at speeds up to 45 mph. Emus chug along at a much slower pace. Emus are fully feathered compared to ostriches and have three toes versus just two for their larger relations. And like with many other animals at the sanctuary, emus tend to be curious and docile whereas ostriches are often more aggressive.
Keeping all these animals in good health is no small matter. Each mini horse requires about $150 per month in food, medical/dental care, farrier work, basic medications and more. Emergencies can add substantially to that number, and then there’s the care and feeding of all the other animals. To help cover costs, Oliver has formed a dedicated board of directors and relies exclusively on private donations, paid tours and volunteers to keep things going. The tours are conducted by Oliver herself and can be expanded to include all of Lost Creek Canyon Ranch’s sprawling 400 acres.
If you want to put smiles on your kids’ faces like you’ve never seen before, consider signing up for a tour. You’ll be supporting a most worthwhile organization. More information can be found at socalmini.org.
Mike Rivkin and his wife, Linda, are long-time residents of Rancho Mirage. For many years, he was an award-winning catalogue publisher and has authored seven books, along with countless articles. Now, he’s the owner of Antique Galleries of Palm Springs. His antiques column appears Sundays in The Desert Sun.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Mini-Horses new arrivals to the Coachella Valley
Reporting by Mike Rivkin, Special to The Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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