A Highland Pony, demonstrating the pony characteristics of sturdy bone, thick mane and tail, small head, and small overall size

A pony is a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. Equine conformation refers to the correctness of a horse's bone structure musculature and its body proportions in relation to each other There are many different breeds of ponies. Meyers b12 s0947bjpg|thumb|Heavy or draft horse breeds]] This page is a list of Horse and Pony breeds and also includes terms used to describe types of horses that are not Compared to horses, ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails and overall coat, as well as proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier bone, thicker necks, and shorter heads with broader foreheads. The mane is the hair that grows from the top of the neck of a Horse or other Equine, reaching from the poll to the Withers, and includes

Ponies are generally considered intelligent and friendly, though sometimes they also are described as stubborn or devious. The differences of opinion often result from an individual pony's degree of proper training. Ponies trained by inexperienced individuals, or only ridden by beginners, can turn out to be spoiled because their riders typically lack the experience base to correct bad habits. Horse training refers to a wide variety of practices that teach Horses to perform certain behaviors when asked to do so by humans Properly trained ponies are appropriate mounts for children who are learning to ride. Larger ponies can be ridden by adults, as ponies are usually very strong.

The pony originated from original wild horse prototypes that developed small stature due to living on the margins of livable horse habitat. The evolution of the horse involves the gradual development of the modern Horse from the fox-sized forest-dwelling Hyracotherium These smaller animals were domesticated and bred for various purposes all over the Northern hemisphere. There are a number of hypotheses on many of the key issues regarding the domestication of the horse. Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball'

Ponies were historically used for driving and freight transport, as children's mounts, for recreational riding, and later as competitors and performers in their own right. During the Industrial Revolution, particularly in Great Britain, a significant number were used as "pit ponies," hauling loads of coal up from the mines. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Pit POny Stablejpg|thumb|right|Stable inside a mine]]A pit pony was a type of Pony commonly used underground in Coal mines from the mid 18th up until the mid 20th

Horses and ponies

A pony foal. A foal is a Horse that is one year old or younger More specific terms are colt for a Male foal and Filly for a Female foal Pony foals are smaller than horse foals, but both have long legs and small bodies

For many forms of competition, the official definition of a pony is a member of equus caballus that measures less than 14. The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. 2 hands (hh) (1. See also Hand A hand (or handbreadth) is a unit of length Measurement, originally based on the breadth of a Male Human hand 47 meters or 58 inches) at the withers. Wither redirects here For the comic character see Wither (comics. Horses are 14. 2 or taller. However, the term "pony" can be used in general (or affectionately) for any small horse, regardless of its actual size or breed. Furthermore, some horse breeds may have individuals who mature under 14. 2 but are still called "horses" and are allowed to compete as horses. In Australia horses that measure from 14 hands to 15 hands are known as a galloway. Thus ponies in Australia measure under 14 hands. ^[1]

People who are unfamiliar with horses may confuse an adult pony with a young, immature horse. While foals that will grow up to be horse-sized may be no taller than some ponies in their first months of life, they are very different. A foal is a Horse that is one year old or younger More specific terms are colt for a Male foal and Filly for a Female foal A pony can be ridden and put to work, while a foal is too young to be ridden or used as a working animal. A working animal is an animal that is kept by humans and trained to perform tasks Foals, whether they grow up to be horse or pony-sized, can be distinguished from adult horses by their extremely long legs and slim bodies. Their heads and eyes also exhibit juvenile characteristics. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DO NOT ADD ANY IMAGES WITHOUT * * PROVIDING ACCORDING Furthermore, in most cases, nursing foals will be in very close proximity to a mare who is the mother (dam) of the foal. While ponies exhibit some neoteny with the wide foreheads and small size, their body proportions are similar to that of an adult horse. Neoteny (niːˈɒtɨniː also called juvenilization, is the retention by adults in a species of traits previously seen only in juveniles ( pedomorphosis/paedomorphosis

Uses

An Australian pony shown under saddle.

Ponies are seen in many different equestrian pursuits. For the Roman class see Equestrian (Roman Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving Horses This broad description Some breeds, such as the Hackney pony, are primarily used for driving, while other breeds, such as the Connemara pony and Australian Pony, are used primarily for riding. The Hackney pony is a breed of Driving, when applied to Horses Ponies, Mules or Donkeys is a broad term for hitching equines to a Wagon, Carriage The Connemara pony is a Pony breed originating For the Roman class see Equestrian (Roman Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving Horses This broad description Others, such as the Welsh pony, are used for both riding and driving.

A Shetland pony shown in harness. The Shetland pony is a breed of Pony originating in the Shetland Isles. Driving, when applied to Horses Ponies, Mules or Donkeys is a broad term for hitching equines to a Wagon, Carriage

Ponies compete at events ranging from hunters, English riding on the flat, harness, and western riding classes at horse shows, to other competitive events such as gymkhana and combined driving. The show hunter is a type of show horse in the that is judged on its movement manners and way of going particularly while jumping fences English riding is a term used to describe a form of horseback riding that is seen throughout the world Driving, when applied to Horses Ponies, Mules or Donkeys is a broad term for hitching equines to a Wagon, Carriage WesternClassjpg|thumb|200 px|Modern competitors in western equipment lined up at a horse show class awaiting results]] Western riding is a style of horseback riding which evolved A Horse show is a judged exhibition of Horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide Gymkhana is a term used in the United Kingdom, east coast of the United States, and other English-speaking nations to describe an equestrian event Combined driving also known as Horse Driving Trials is an equestrian sport involving carriage driving. They are seen in casual pursuits such as trail riding. Trail riding is riding outdoors on natural Trails and roads as opposed to riding in an enclosed area such as a riding arena Ponies also are shown in dressage, equitation, and other events, even in international-level competition. Dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh /ˈdrɛsɑʒ/ (a French term most commonly translated to mean "training" is a path and destination of competitive Horse training Equitation refers to a rider's position while mounted and encompasses a rider's ability to ride correctly and with effective aids Though many exhibitors confine themselves to classes just for ponies, top ponies are competitive against full-sized horses. For example, a 14. 1 hand pony named Stroller was a member of the British Equestrian show jumping team, and won the silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics. See also Hand A hand (or handbreadth) is a unit of length Measurement, originally based on the breadth of a Male Human hand Stroller (1950 - 1986 the only Pony to compete at the Olympics in Show Jumping. Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping" or "jumpers" is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Mexico City More recently, the 14. 1-3/4 hand pony Theodore O'Connor won the gold medal in eventing at the 2007 Pan American Games. Theodore O'Connor, nicknamed "Teddy" was a 141-3/4 hand Pony (though of Horse Phenotype) who competed internationally Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises Dressage, cross-country and Show-jumping. The Pan American Games are a Multi-sport event, held every four years between competitors from all nations of The Americas. There is no direct correlation between a horse's size and its inherent athletic ability. ^[2]

Pony Clubs, open to young people who own either horses or ponies, are formed worldwide to educate young people about horses, promote responsible horse ownership, and also sponsor competitive events for young people and smaller horses. Pony Club is an international youth organization devoted to the educating youths about horses and horseback riding

In many parts of the world ponies are also still used as working animals, as pack animals and for pulling various horse-drawn vehicles. A working animal is an animal that is kept by humans and trained to perform tasks A packhorse (UK or pack horse (USA refers generally to an Equid such as a Horse, Mule, Donkey or Pony used for carrying Horse -drawn vehicles were once common worldwide but they have mostly been replaced by Automobiles and other forms of self-propelled transport They are sometimes seen at traveling carnivals, or at children's private parties where small children can take short rides on ponies that are saddled and then either led individually or hitched to a "pony wheel" (a non-motorized device akin to a hot walker) that leads six to eight ponies at a time. A traveling carnival is an amusement show that may be made up of Amusement rides, food vendors merchandise vendors games of chance and skill thrill acts animal acts Ponies are sometimes seen at summer camps for children, and in some places, particularly Ireland and the UK, larger ponies may even carry adults on Equitourism vacations. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Breeds and types

Main article: list of horse breeds

The Shetland pony is one of the smallest pony breeds, but also is very strong

Pony breeds have developed all over the world, particularly in cold and harsh climates where hardy, sturdy, working animals were needed. Meyers b12 s0947bjpg|thumb|Heavy or draft horse breeds]] This page is a list of Horse and Pony breeds and also includes terms used to describe types of horses that are not The Shetland pony is a breed of Pony originating in the Shetland Isles. Meyers b12 s0947bjpg|thumb|Heavy or draft horse breeds]] This page is a list of Horse and Pony breeds and also includes terms used to describe types of horses that are not A working animal is an animal that is kept by humans and trained to perform tasks The "Four foundations theory" suggests that ponies, particularly in Europe, may have descended from the "draft" subspecies of Equus ferus. The evolution of the horse involves the gradual development of the modern Horse from the fox-sized forest-dwelling Hyracotherium ^[3] Nearly all pony breeds share the ability to thrive on a more limited diet than that of a regular-sized horse, and are remarkably strong for their size. Some breeds, such as the Shetland pony are able to pull as much weight as a draft horse. The Shetland pony is a breed of Pony originating in the Shetland Isles. A draft horse, draught horse or dray horse (from the Anglo-Saxon dragan meaning to draw or haul is a large Horse bred for hard heavy tasks Others, such as the Connemara pony, are recognized for their ability to carry a full-sized adult rider. The Connemara pony is a Pony breed originating

The Connemara pony is a larger pony which occasionally matures over 14. The Connemara pony is a Pony breed originating 2 hands

For showing purposes, ponies are often grouped into small, medium, and large sizes. Small ponies are 12. 2 hands (1. See also Hand A hand (or handbreadth) is a unit of length Measurement, originally based on the breadth of a Male Human hand 27 meters or 50 inches) and under, medium ponies are over 12. 2 but no taller than 13. 2 hh (1. 37 meters or 54 inches), and large ponies are over 13. 2 hh but no taller than 14. 2 hh (1. 47 meters or 58 inches).

The smallest equines are called miniature horses by many of their breeders and breed organizations, rather than ponies, but stand smaller than small ponies, usually no taller than 34 to 38 inches at the withers. Miniature horses are found all over the world and come in various colors and coat patterns Wither redirects here For the comic character see Wither (comics.

Breeds that are not ponies

The full-sized horses used for polo are called "polo ponies," even though they are taller than ponies

Some horse breeds are not considered ponies, even when they have some animals that measure under 14. Polo is a team sport played outdoors on Horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team Meyers b12 s0947bjpg|thumb|Heavy or draft horse breeds]] This page is a list of Horse and Pony breeds and also includes terms used to describe types of horses that are not 2 hands. This is usually due to body build, traditional uses and overall physiology. Breeds that are considered horses regardless of height include the Arabian horse, American Quarter Horse and the Morgan horse, all of which have individual members both over and under 14. The Arabian horse is a breed of Horse with a reputation for Intelligence, spirit and stamina 2 hands.

The Icelandic horse is considered a horse, not a pony, by those who own and breed them

Other horse breeds, such as Icelandic Horse and Fjord Horse, may sometimes be pony-sized or have some pony characteristics, such as a heavy coat, thick mane, and heavy bone, but are generally classified as "horses" by their respective registries. The Fjord horse or Norwegian Fjord Horse (known in Norway as a Fjording) is a rather short but very strong breed of Horse from the mountainous In cases such as these, there can be considerable debate over whether to call certain breeds "horses" or "ponies. " However, individual breed registries usually are the arbiters of such debates, weighing the relative horse and pony characteristics of a breed. A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in Animal husbandry and the Hobby of Animal fancy, is an official list of In some breeds, such as the Welsh pony, the horse-versus-pony controversy is resolved by creating separate divisions for consistently horse-sized animals, such as the "Section D" Welsh Cob

Some horses may be pony height due to environment more than genetics. Genetics (from Ancient Greek grc-Latn genetikos, “genitive” and that from grc-Latn genesis, “origin” a discipline of Biology, is For example, the Chincoteague pony, a feral horse that lives on Assateague Island off the coast of Virginia, often matures to the height of an average small horse when raised from a foal under domesticated conditions. The Chincoteague Pony is a hardy breed that Feral horses are free-roaming untamed horses descended from domesticated Horses. Assateague Island is a 37 mile long barrier island located off the eastern coast of Maryland and Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state A foal is a Horse that is one year old or younger More specific terms are colt for a Male foal and Filly for a Female foal There are a number of hypotheses on many of the key issues regarding the domestication of the horse. ^[4]

There is debate over whether the feral Chincotgeague ponies of Assateague Island are horses or ponies

Conversely, the term "pony" is occasionally used to describe horses of normal height. Horses used for polo are often called "polo ponies", though in the United States and the United Kingdom, they are often of Thoroughbred breeding and often well over 14. Polo is a team sport played outdoors on Horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team A polo pony is a type horse used in the game of Polo which is called a "pony" but is almost always bigger than the official maximum height for a pony 1 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Thoroughbred is a horse breed 2 hands. American Indian tribes also have the tradition of referring to their horses as "ponies," when speaking in English, even though many of the Mustang horses they used in the 19th century were close to or over 14. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. 2 hh, and most horses owned and bred by Native peoples today are of full horse height. The term "pony" is also sometimes used to describe a full-sized horse in a humorous or affectionate sense.

In some registries, such as the American Miniature Horse Association, a miniature horse is also not considered a pony--it is a small horse, under 8. Miniature horses are found all over the world and come in various colors and coat patterns 2 hh (86 cm, or 34 in) at the withers. However, there are also miniature pony breeds. Miniature horses are found all over the world and come in various colors and coat patterns

See also

• Horse
• List of horse breeds, includes pony breeds
• Pony Club
• Equine nutrition--for information on special feeding needs of ponies
• Easy keeper
• Horse care
• Pony (slang)

References

1. ^ Howlett, Lorna and Phlip Mathews, Ponies in Australia, Milsons Point: 1979
2. ^ Barakat, Christine. The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. Meyers b12 s0947bjpg|thumb|Heavy or draft horse breeds]] This page is a list of Horse and Pony breeds and also includes terms used to describe types of horses that are not Pony Club is an international youth organization devoted to the educating youths about horses and horseback riding Equine nutrition is the feeding of Horses ponies, Mules Donkeys and other equines Correct and balanced Nutrition is a critical An easy keeper, easy doer or ( British English) good doer is a Livestock animal that can live on relatively little food There are many aspects to horse care. Horses ponies, Mules Donkeys and other domesticated Equidae require attention from "Why Size Matters. " Equus, October 2007, Issue 361, pp. 36-42
3. ^ Bennett, Deb. Conquerors: The Roots of New World Horsemanship. Amigo Publications Inc; 1st edition 1998. ISBN 0-9658533-0-6
4. ^ Assateague National Seashore - Wild Horses

• Budiansky, Stephen. The Nature of Horses. Free Press, 1997. ISBN 0-684-82768-9
• Siegal, Mordecai, ed. Book of Horses: A Complete Medical Reference Guide for Horses and Foals, (By members of the faculty and staff, University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. ) Harper Collins, 1996.

External links

• American Shetland Pony Club, "Welcome to the world of the small equine"
• The Pony Club -- UK
• United States Pony Club