| s are often thought of as first mounts. There are | | | | Many a youth has learned to ride, learned |
| many misconceptions, stated and unstated, about | | | | horsemanship and, with a good pony, been |
| these smaller statured members of the equine | | | | dumped just enough to know what *not* to do |
| world. | | | | and that giving a horse respect is a wise choice. |
| "Ponies are mean." Ponies are no meaner than | | | | They're draped with costumes and in a few hours |
| horses *if* they are treated the same way. The | | | | compete in pleasure, barrels and trail. They're |
| problem comes with the misconception because | | | | patient enough to put up with mistakes and smart |
| ponies are kid sized they're born knowing | | | | enough to not panic no matter the situation. They |
| everything and don't need training...and people who | | | | know when to disobey. |
| would never put an 8 year old on an unbroke | | | | Sometimes, especially with youth, this is a good |
| Thoroughbred will put the same 8 year old on an | | | | thing! One case of a pony who would ride |
| unbroke pony then wonder why the pony | | | | anywhere, crossing up a hill, over railroad tracks |
| misbehaves. Just like horses, ponies need training. | | | | and part way down the hill on the other side he |
| With the same training ponies will act like the big | | | | stopped and refused to move. No amount of |
| horses. | | | | kicking or slapping with the reins would make him |
| Ponies *are* more susceptible to overfeeding, | | | | move so the young owner, in exasperation, got |
| founder and other issues than many horses are. | | | | off and found a branch hidden in the grass wound |
| Another misconception is that a fat pony is good | | | | around his back legs. Rather than move and risk |
| - a fat pony is unhealthy and a problem waiting to | | | | falling, he bore the slaps without flinching. |
| happen, just like his 16 hand counterparts. Fat is | | | | Like the larger horses, ponies need proper |
| not healthy...a pony will eat less than a horse and | | | | housing, medical care, teeth and feet care and |
| should be fed accordingly. | | | | regular deworming. Limited access to grass, and |
| Ponies don't need shoes - which depends on the | | | | eliminating founder, means protecting his feet for |
| use. For those riding on rocks, showing and other | | | | life. While a horse may be turned out for an |
| situations where you would shoe a big horse, | | | | afternoon you might limit a pony to an hour or so. |
| ponies should be the same way. And, like their | | | | Keep him fresh and happy to be caught - if you |
| counterparts, they should be trained to stand | | | | give him a little grain after bringing him in from the |
| quietly for the farrier. | | | | pasture he associates being caught with getting |
| Ponies can be an outstanding confidence builder | | | | grain, not going inside. This can be just two or |
| for a younger rider. A well trained pony that looks | | | | three cups, depending on the size of the pony, |
| out for her rider is worth the cost. If you balk at | | | | just enough that they get something. Some |
| paying a reasonable cost for a trained pony take | | | | smaller ponies do well on just a couple handfuls of |
| a look at what a trip to the emergency room | | | | grain and good grass hay. Remember to scale |
| cost and consider again if that pony is too much. | | | | back the hay - if the big horses get a 10 pound |
| Not just children ride ponies! Older riders are | | | | flake your pony may only need five pounds. |
| increasingly turning to ponies - easier to get on, | | | | There are a variety of looks in ponies, from the |
| not as far to fall and ponies get where they need | | | | 'exotic' look of the Exmoor to the flashy leopards |
| to go. From the POA to the Gypsy Cob to the | | | | of POAs or the rugged look of the Welsh. Modern |
| Welsh to the "ordinary pony" they can offer an | | | | Shetlands and Hackneys can sometimes look like |
| alternative to scrambling up the side of a 16 hand | | | | small Saddlebreds, and are more of an adult |
| horse for shorter riders! | | | | driving pony than a child's pony, with a little more |
| Like the larger sized horses, ponies can come in a | | | | fire and flash than most children can handle. The |
| wide variety of colors, looks and patterns. There's | | | | traditional shetland is a long time favorite, with |
| Appaloosa and pinto and buckskins and duns. | | | | one of the biggest criticisms being they're so |
| Some hold papers in horse registries but due to | | | | quickly outgrown. |
| size are considered ponies despite AQHA, Arabian, | | | | Whatever type of riding or driving you want to |
| Morgan or other papers. Ponies have excelled not | | | | do there's a pony available to fill the need. The |
| only in a wide variety of activities but as Pony | | | | Gypsy Cob is on the larger side somewhat, and |
| Club mounts, jumpers, driving and much more. | | | | offers a draft look for those who would like |
| Some organizations, such as the POA club, have a | | | | something to work around the farm as well as be |
| program for adults to compete in futurities, | | | | able to ride. The smaller Morgans might be 14.2 or |
| insuring that those ponies are well trained as | | | | 14.3 - near enough to be considered a pony. For |
| young horses and therefore suitable all around | | | | child or adult - consider the pony! |
| ponies for youth. There are stallion futurities and a | | | | "Cold Fusion", aka 'Lexington', looks like a big horse |
| focus on producing *good* ponies, not just | | | | but is small enough to be easily handled by |
| breathing hayburners. | | | | children. A Gypsy Cob, his heavy bone and flashy |
| Good ponies don't necessarily need papers - and | | | | coat is typical of his breed. |
| many a beloved pony had an unknown pedigree. | | | | |