Here are some clues to how you can tell the difference between horses, donkeys, mules and ponies! Spotting the difference between horses, ponies, donkeys and mules can be a little tricky, but there are some things you can look out for to hep you tell the animals apart.
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This measurement is taken from the highest point of the horse or ponies body, the withers, which are located between the shoulders at the base of the neck. To measure the height of your horse, and determine whether they are truly a horse or a pony, have them stand square on flat ground.
In traditional terms of measurement, ponies are Horses are taller than Many equestrians, especially those who are new to the community, believe that ponies are more calm and docile and great for beginner riders rather than horses due to their smaller size. You should not be fooled to believe that this means they will automatically be calm. In fact, it is far more likely to be quite the opposite.
The breed of a horse and its genetics are far more likely to determine its temperament. You can learn about some cool horse and pony breeds by reading my article Fantastic Horse Breeds and Where to Find Them. As a general rule, ponies are less expensive than horses. Outside of the initial cost of investment, ponies are also cheaper to keep as they require less feed and have fewer day-to-day costs associated with their care. Although this may be true in most cases, there are obvious exceptions.
A pony that is calm, docile, and well-trained pony can go for a higher price. I find that many people are willing to spend good money to find a calm and trusting pony for their young rider. Once again, the breed of horse you are purchasing will impact the final cost of investment more than the height of the horse. Did you know that there are many more costs associated with owning equines other than just their purchase price?
You can get a complete rundown of the cost of owning a horse here. In the animal world as a whole, larger animals have a shorter lifespan than smaller animals. This is certainly true in the world of horses.
Ponies tend to live longer lives than horses, even if they are used in the same capacity. Additionally, ponies are often able to be ridden much later into their lives as opposed to horses who may have to be retired early due to a variety of health problems. In general, ponies require less feed than horses as a result of their smaller size. This can make them cheaper to care for.
However, it is quite easy to overfeed a pony because of this, resulting in health conditions such as founder and laminitis. This is just one of the many reasons why it is important to determine whether your equine companion is truly a horse or a pony. The technicalities and terms can be blurry, but ponies and horses are usually defined by height.
As you may know, height in horses is measured in hands with one hand being equivalent to 4". That would mean the cutoff point to be classified as a horse or pony is point-two hands. But, the cut-off still isn't that definitive. Some animals can be more or less than that depending on the breed or type. By height classification of course they would be considered a pony," says Comerford.
The good news though is Bone structure and proportions — Horses, as a rule, will have longer, leaner legs when compared to ponies while ponies have thicker heads with broader foreheads and shorter necks. Horses, on the other hand, tend to be placid and in some cases more willing.
Maturity — Horses develop more slowly than ponies, around seven years for horses but only up to six for ponies. Strength — In relation to their size ponies are much stronger than horses. Hardiness — Often having thicker winter coats and tougher hooves, ponies generally are hardier than horses.
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