Horses vs. Ponies

[PoniesRock101]

So, I'm writing an essay... about the non-obvious differences between horses and ponies. (or it could be similarities, but most reasons I can think of are way too obvious. )
The commonly thought things about the two sort of. Granted not all of it's true especially is good quality horses and ponies who make lovely riding partners.

But anyways, so far all I've thought of are Personality and training (commonly)
I think ponies tend to have a little differnet outlook on life compared to the horses I've ridden, but ofcourse thats only in my experience. Alot of the ponies i've ridden are a bit more spookier than horses. (I know there are exceptions! )

Then training wise, I guess I've ridden way to many green ponies, and not many green horses latly!:p so it's a bit biased I guess. But my support was something along the lines of Ponies are shorter and adults and accomplised riders often become to tall, to give a pony all the miles needed that are commonly seen in so many horses, giving them as nice solid training. I know theres exceptions to this too!

What would be some non obvious reasons that you think ponies are similar and different? (different would be the most helpful!) I'm tempted to throw the whole Idea of the paper out the window.. it's kinda silly!

Sorry if most of this makes little sense! I'm a tad sleepy and in a rush, still have 10 pages of chem notes left.

Thanks for the help. :)

[PoniesRock101]

Anyone?

[lacyloo]

The major difference that I see is health.Ponies tend to be easier keepers than horses.

[BlessingInDisguise]

Well, I can give you a direct quote from my land lord who has rasied horses quite a long time and we got talking about ponies one day. He said he has never met a pony that didn't have a cocky little stubborn sorta personality. LOL But that was just his opinion.

[outriding01]

Ponies tend to be a bit more clever and testier than most horses. This is obviously just a generalization, but because of my size, I've ridden many, many ponies and this is what I've found. Ponies seem to be a lot brattier and colorful in personality.

[natisha]

While ponies are easy keepers, generally, they are also more sensitive to feed changes, grass (more prone to founder)
Tend to live longer

[mandisue]

Ponies tend to be furrier in winter < get more of a winter coat, easier keepers, and definitely have an attitude! LOL.

[TheRedHayflinger]

I've never found a difference really between pony and horse breeds other than size....but that could be due to the fact that my ponies are actually horse breeds--spotted saddle horse and haflinger...and they aren't borderline pony/horse height either...13.3 and 13.1 respectively.

I will say that no one but adults and older children(16-17) have ridden my ponies either.

I will say my haflinger is the easiest keeper in the world...but that is due to the fact she is a mountain breed that is bred to survive on little.

I'm wondering if some of these "pony differences" are things that were somehow bred into that breed and not a "pony" thing....like how haflingers tend to have oral fixations on things and can be nippy if you don't stop it early(every haffy I've met, mine included have been like this)...easier keeper due to the fact where the breed originated...more of a winter coat--same thing...larger gene pool in some=better health and hooves due to less inbreeding of horses with those poorer traits, etc.

[IrisGreen]

Pony's have "short man syndrome" :p

My neighbor has 3 big 17+ warmbloods, 1 15h mare, 1 haflinger and 1 Shetland pony. Now that pony is hated by all the horses but the oldest warmblood. The pony and the oldest are buddy's because they get picked on, though for different reasons. The pony due to his size and the old gelding due to his age and taking his dominant rank.

Now that pony messes with every other horse, bits kicks and just bugs them to death to the point he can't go out with them or he would be hurt badly by one of the bigger horses. The haflinger tolerates him but he bullies the haflinger around all the time biting and making him move all the time.

I think that pony does have short man syndrome. He has to make up for his size with attitude and over compensates to the point none of the other horses like him except the older gelding that he doesn't pester to death. lol

[Suzi]

How about looking at how we treat ponies and horses differently and how that may affect their personality. It is just a thought after reading some of the posts. We may treat ponies with a more aren't-they-cute attitude and may let them get away with more cuz they are less intimidating. Wha'd ya think?

[TheRedHayflinger]

my ponies don't get the "awww..cute pony" treatment and they act like any other well behaved horse..and they never get away with ANYTHING.

[PoniesRock101]

The major difference that I see is health.Ponies tend to be easier keepers than horses.
Thanks! I was thinking that, but I couldn't think of a whole category to lob a few things into! :p

Well, I can give you a direct quote from my land lord who has rasied horses quite a long time and we got talking about ponies one day. He said he has never met a pony that didn't have a cocky little stubborn sorta personality. LOL But that was just his opinion.
:hysterical: I think I'vve met only about 3 ponies that didn't have the "cocky & stubborn" train of though! But that personality I think is part of the reason they're so much fun to ride! (especially when your tiny like me!)
Ponies tend to be a bit more clever and testier than most horses. This is obviously just a generalization, but because of my size, I've ridden many, many ponies and this is what I've found. Ponies seem to be a lot brattier and colorful in personality. Yep, I have some stuff similar to that in my 1st body paragraph :) Thank you! When I was leasing stormy, his nickname became Little Brat quite a often! They have a little more personality in my oppinion.

While ponies are easy keepers, generally, they are also more sensitive to feed changes, grass (more prone to founder)
Tend to live longer
Thanks, that helps with my last paragraph quite a bit!:)
Ponies tend to be furrier in winter < get more of a winter coat, easier keepers, and definitely have an attitude! LOL.
Thanks too! Thats a good point, but I don't think I could get myself to write aparagraph all about coat differences. ( I already think my teacher thinks i'm crazy! Every paper i've turned in [at least 6] Have been about horses lol )
I've never found a difference really between pony and horse breeds other than size....but that could be due to the fact that my ponies are actually horse breeds--spotted saddle horse and haflinger...and they aren't borderline pony/horse height either...13.3 and 13.1 respectively.


I will say that no one but adults and older children(16-17) have ridden my ponies either.

I will say my haflinger is the easiest keeper in the world...but that is due to the fact she is a mountain breed that is bred to survive on little.

I'm wondering if some of these "pony differences" are things that were somehow bred into that breed and not a "pony" thing....like how haflingers tend to have oral fixations on things and can be nippy if you don't stop it early(every haffy I've met, mine included have been like this)...easier keeper due to the fact where the breed originated...more of a winter coat--same thing...larger gene pool in some=better health and hooves due to less inbreeding of horses with those poorer traits, etc.
I think maybe something does go in with their breeding. It may explain a lot ofthings. I think stormy was a cross between a shetland and an arab. He had strong charesteristics of both in his personality. It could also lead to the easier keepers as you said.
Pony's have "short man syndrome" :p

My neighbor has 3 big 17+ warmbloods, 1 15h mare, 1 haflinger and 1 Shetland pony. Now that pony is hated by all the horses but the oldest warmblood. The pony and the oldest are buddy's because they get picked on, though for different reasons. The pony due to his size and the old gelding due to his age and taking his dominant rank.

Now that pony messes with every other horse, bits kicks and just bugs them to death to the point he can't go out with them or he would be hurt badly by one of the bigger horses. The haflinger tolerates him but he bullies the haflinger around all the time biting and making him move all the time.

I think that pony does have short man syndrome. He has to make up for his size with attitude and over compensates to the point none of the other horses like him except the older gelding that he doesn't pester to death. lol
I used to know a mini who went through that, but it was with a shetland :hysterical: Those two were characters together! Eventually they ended up best buds! It was pretty adorable!:)
How about looking at how we treat ponies and horses differently and how that may affect their personality. It is just a thought after reading some of the posts. We may treat ponies with a more aren't-they-cute attitude and may let them get away with more cuz they are less intimidating. Wha'd ya think?
I think it could be... because welll I think kids tend to deal with ponies 75% of the time maybe more! and The kids arene't as experienced around horses, and the ponies someitmes find the "I can get away wiht this and this, and htis scares them, and I get to go home" ideas easier with kids then adults.

[PoniesRock101]

my ponies don't get the "awww..cute pony" treatment and they act like any other well behaved horse..and they never get away with ANYTHING.

Thats most likely why they're so well behaved!Plus remember it's just a generalization, and doesn't happen with every pony ect. I have to agree there are some wonderful ponies in the world.

[Fork]

Due to their size, many ponies tend to live longer than horses. :)

This is a total generalization, I realize. But it is a difference.

[quest]

Many ponies are hardier, this means they usually have heavy winter coats, thick manes and tails, better feet, and can carry a higher precentage of weight for there weight. As mentioned, they also tend to live a little longer. Although not all ponies do, many have a rougher gait and move the legs faster. My pony is actually very smooth though, but she is built more like a little horse than a pony. Obviously a pony is under 14.2, but despite this, there are breeds under that height that still consider them horses, such as the icelandic. A lot of ponies have a lot of personality, as mentioned a lot of them tend to be spoiled and trained by younger riders, which is where they can get the reputation of having attitude.

[TheRedHayflinger]

Thats most likely why they're so well behaved!Plus remember it's just a generalization, and doesn't happen with every pony ect. I have to agree there are some wonderful ponies in the world.

they are two breeds that couldn't be more different too...which makes me believe a lot of personality is human influenced. Sadie is more laid back and lazy about things and Gypsy is more "GO! I wanna work...let's GO!" Sadie is a draft type pony(haffy) and Gypsy is a gaited pony with gaited show horses in her pedigree(and a world grand champion as a maternal grandsire). Had people done the "cute pony let them get away with it because they are little" thing with them, both of their personalities would have been enhanced...Sadie would be the lazy, refuse to move, shove head down and graze and pull her rider off type...Gypsy would just dump her rider and merrily run off. I've never let them have the upper hand, so they've never tried it with me, or any beginner riders I've put on them(they actually will look to me when a new rider is up and treat them very carefully, especially Gypsy)