Pony

A small horse of any breed that stands less than 147cm or 58 inches (14.2 hands) high is known as a pony. The word ‘pony’ is derived from the French word ‘poulenet’, which means foal, a young and immature horse. But unlike a foal, the pony when fully grown remains small in stature. Ponies have a longer lifespan than horses. Ponies eat on plants and hence are herbivores in nature. They are easy to keep as domestic animals as they need high carbohydrates. A newborn horse or foal is considered to be a baby pony up to a year of birth. Since a baby pony is very young they are used for recreation purposes such as riding for children. They are very friendly.  Their small stature makes them adorable and maybe that is why children tend to love listening to pony tales. Let us learn the different characteristics of a pony, their history, uses, behaviour and their food habits.

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Characteristics of a Pony

A pony is characterised by a broad and sturdily built body with dense bones and round-shaped ribs. It has a short head, a broad forehead, large and beautiful eyes, small ears and a thick neck. It possesses a thick mane. A mane is a hair that grows from the neck of a horse and pony. It is thicker than the rest of the coat and covers the whole neck. It has strong hooves and has proportionately shorter legs than a horse. The reason behind the small stature of the ponies is that their ancestors lived in a marginally livable habitat for horses. 

History of Pony

A pony belongs to mammals of the animal kingdom under the Equus genus. Ponies are considered to have originated from Northern Europe. They were originally developed as a landrace and were adapted to harsh natural habitats. They were mainly domesticated as working animals. Ponies could survive under harsh conditions and environments and thus were ideal for fulfilling specific local drafts as well as for transportation purposes. The farmers would prefer ponies as the ponies were observed to outperform a draft horse considering small ferns. By the 20th century, many pony breeds have been suitable for riding.

Uses of a Pony

Ponies are widely used as working animals, that is, they are trained to execute certain tasks. They are also domesticated as pack animals to carry goods. Ponies can survive in harsh environments and hence are preferable by the farmers for transportation purposes. During the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain, they were used as pit ponies, carrying loads of coal in the mines. Ponies are also used widely as equestrian pursuits, that is, for riding, transportation, recreational activities and competitive sports.

Ponies are used in many sports and one of such is polo. A polo pony is a term for the horses used in this particular game due to the agile nature of the horses. The horses used in polo are highly trained and maintained. They even have their manes roached and their tails have to be braided to avoid any dangers of tangling during the game.

Ponies are also used to pull horse-drawn carts or vehicles. A trap or pony trap is a two-wheeled or a four-wheeled lightweight cart, drawn by a horse or a pony. These were widely used for transportation in the 90s.

Difference Between Pony and Horse

The main difference between a horse and a pony is the difference in its body size. A pony is generally under 14.2 hands whereas horses are more in height. Ponies are generally more intelligent and friendly than horses. There are distinct behaviour differences in horses and ponies. Horses are calm and do their job after they are trained. Whereas, ponies are more playful and may avoid work according to their will. Ponies have shorter legs than horses. The mane of the ponies is thicker than the horses.

Breeds of Pony

Different breeds of ponies can be distinguished according to their origin, height, characteristics and aptitude. Below are the different breeds of pony.

Connemara

Connemara has its origin in Ireland. They are generally 13 to 14.2 hands in height. Connemara is characterized by well-formed hind legs with a high set tail. They have a long neck with a full mane. They have well-muscled, strong legs. They are mainly used for riding and light draft purposes. It is Ireland's only breed, known for its impeccable jumping ability.

Pony of the Americas

They originated in the U.S. Having a height of 11.2 to 13.2 hands, they are characterized by well-pricked ears and large prominent eyes. They are a cross between a Shetland pony stallion and an Appaloosa mare. They are mainly used for riding.

Shetland

Originating in the Shetland Islands, Scotland, it gets the name. They have a height of about 10 hands. They have a thick mane and tail, a small head with pronounced jaws and a short muscular neck. They are very powerful and thought to have existed since the Bronze Age. In the 19th century, they were used in the mines of Great Britain as pit ponies.

Welsh

They have originated from Wales. They have a height of 12.2 to 13.2 hands. They are characterized by large eyes, small ears. They are typically grey. They are excellent gaits and very hardy. They are mainly used in riding and light draft.

Behaviour of a Pony 

A pony is a herd animal and prefers living in a group where they feel safe and secured. They are very intelligent and friendly. They have a very acute sense of smell and hearing, helping them to sense danger from some distance. They happen to be very sensitive animals and hence can sense the feelings of someone nearby, particularly feelings like confidence, hesitation, fear and anger. Their ear positions can be a noticeable reference to their behaviour or what they are feeling at a particular moment. For example, ears lowered towards the sides can indicate that it is unwell.

Food And Maintenance of a Pony

Ponies eat on plants and hence herbivores. They get their energy from eating on plants. Even the wild ponies eat on plants like grass, leaves and shrubs. Ponies can survive on few calories. This can be an advantage as well as a problem for the owner. They can be an easy keeper but they put on weight easily and that can lead to serious health issues for the pony and a huge loss for the owner. A healthy pony eats on hay or grass. Whereas, a small pony or mini pony needs a perfect combination of protein and carbohydrates in its daily diet. Considering obesity as a serious issue, hays containing high carbohydrates must be avoided at all costs. Healthy hays for ponies must contain around 10 percent of carbohydrates. A shiny coat of a pony reflects that it is under good care and a healthy diet. 

Maintaining a pony is a tough job indeed. It is very important to have a visual check once a day. A pony should always be checked for any injury marks and treated immediately if found. Their coats must be brushed thrice a week. They must be provided with adequate amounts of food and water. The hay provided must be two to three per cent of its body weight daily. Adequate sheltering must be provided considering the weather. The shelter for the ponies should be maintained properly as well. The hooves must be trimmed and cleaned every six to eight weeks. Leaving hooves untrimmed is unhealthy for your pony. The ponies must have their teeth checked by the vet once a year. It must be provided immunizations as prescribed by the vet.

Did You Know?

• The bones of the ponies are denser and heavier than horses.

• A Fellabella, the smallest horse, despite having a height of 8 hands, is considered to be a horse.

• Shetland ponies are the strongest among all the pony breeds.

• Ponies have a longer lifespan than horses.

• The age of a pony can be determined by having a glance at its teeth.

• Ponies have better memories than elephants.

• Ponies can have sunburn if they have exposed skin.

• Ponies are more intelligent than horses and sometimes tend to avoid their work.

Conclusion

To conclude, ponies are small and adorable domestic animals. They can be used to execute a lot of work with ease, though they are to be maintained accordingly with proper care and food. Children often wish to own a tiny pony as they are playful and they are intelligent as well.