Monastery Miniature Horses, in operation since 1981, is owned and operated by the Franciscan Poor Clare Nuns, a non-profit religious organization devoted to the contemplative life of prayer, penance, and union with God. Contemplative nuns support themselves in a variety of ways, and along with the traditional altar bread work (supplying churches with communion wafers), the Poor Clares of Brenham, Texas express their creativity through ceramics and other arts and crafts sold in their Art Barn, and their (Franciscan) love and care of creation in their work with the miniature horses.