Topic: Ponies

Hey horse people... some questions that Google is doing poorly at answering for me...

1) Do ponies try to herd with horses? Or it is more of a "we're too good to hang out with you guys?" kinda thing?

2) As a riding animal, can the larger breeds generally carry a small adult as well as a horse? (Say 100lb / 45kg range). Google says they're more durable, but can't find good stats on endurance under weight conditions. I chanced across a page that mentions ponies are "adept at avoiding work" which implies they're not gonna carry an adult very far.

I have more, just haven't resolved them clearly in my head yet

Quote Post 1

Re: Ponies

I use a pony in my latest novel. My research found that most young horses over a year or so old will carry/pull small loads as well as a horse. They are playful, and tend to "horse" around a little, but are reliable once trained.

Bill

Quote Post 2

Re: Ponies

Kdot wrote:

Hey horse people... some questions that Google is doing poorly at answering for me...

1) Do ponies try to herd with horses? Or it is more of a "we're too good to hang out with you guys?" kinda thing?

2) As a riding animal, can the larger breeds generally carry a small adult as well as a horse? (Say 100lb / 45kg range). Google says they're more durable, but can't find good stats on endurance under weight conditions. I chanced across a page that mentions ponies are "adept at avoiding work" which implies they're not gonna carry an adult very far.

I have more, just haven't resolved them clearly in my head yet

Hi, Kdot,
I've got 60 years of horse experience.  I own an animal rescue, and we take in abused and neglected horses, donkeys, ponies, and mules.  Yes, ponies do well with horses.  They don't seem to notice they're smaller than a horse.  I currently have a 1200-pound horse (the one in my profile picture here) whose best friend is a 400-pound Shetland pony, even though there are other horses and ponies in my pasture for both of them to pal around with.  The only time a pony really needs another pony is at grooming time because horses groom each other. 

Yes, the larger breed of ponies, like the Welsh, can carry a smaller adult.  The page that says ponies are adept at avoiding work shows the writer has never been around ponies for extended periods.  Ponies are extremely smart, but I have never known one to try to get out of 'work' any more than any other equine.

Hope this helped. 

MJ

Quote Post 3

Re: Ponies

Hello MJ

The sites say they'll eat corn typically first eating the kernels, then working their way through the cob. Can you say if this is a good rule of thumb? For example, will they leave the cob back if they're kinda full or have something better to eat? I imagine cobs can't be the best tasting food of all.

Quote Post 4

Re: Ponies

Kdot,
Corn is the worst feed of all for a horse because it's so high in starch (sugar) and can make them colic - which is comparable to the worst upset stomach you've ever had times 10.  Colic can and often does lead to death because horses cannot regurgitate or throw up like humans can.  With that said, when corn IS fed, it's usually not on the cob, but rather cracked, rolled, or steam flaked or pressed. 

Yes, there are still people who insist corn is okay to feed to horses.  Those folks will normally throw the entire corn cob in.  If a horse has, say 10 corn cobs to choose from, they will eat the corn part first, then go to the next ear of corn and eat that corn.  The cobs are left til last.  Whether or not a horse eats all of it depends on many things - the horse's metabolic make-up (some horses will eat anything anytime it's handed to them...those horses are called 'easy keepers,' but that's not always a good thing.  They over-indulge and gain weight, which leads to feet problems (founder) and fat deposits underneath their skin, plus they get lazy if not exercised regularly.)  Those easy keepers will plow through the cobs without hesitation. 

Another type of horse, referred to as a hard keeper, wouldn't touch a cob, and most likely won't eat all the corn off the cob.  They need a special diet to keep weight on them, but it's usually not corn. 

Then there's the regular horse who is unpredictable and normally more reserved.  They may leave the cob to dry out before eating, or may not eat it at all.  Think of the cob as the cereal we humans call Shredded Wheat - without the frosting on top.

I don't think this answered your question, but there are too many variables to say it's normal for a horse to eat the corn from the cob, then eat the cob itself.  Horses are finicky creatures and what they do today may not be what they do tomorrow.   

Did I thoroughly confuse you?  LOL!

Quote Post 5

6 Reply by Norm d'Plume (edited by Norm d'Plume 2018-05-10 02:05:57)

Re: Ponies

Kdot wrote:

I imagine cobs can't be the best tasting food of all.

You'd be surprised. Just add ketchup.

Quote Post 6

Re: Ponies

ew to the ketchup part

Quote Post 7

Re: Ponies

Marilyn Johnson wrote:

Kdot,
Corn is the worst feed of all for a horse because it's so high in starch (sugar) and can make them colic - which is comparable to the worst upset stomach you've ever had times 10.  Colic can and often does lead to death because horses cannot regurgitate or throw up like humans can.  With that said, when corn IS fed, it's usually not on the cob, but rather cracked, rolled, or steam flaked or pressed. 

Yes, there are still people who insist corn is okay to feed to horses.  Those folks will normally throw the entire corn cob in.  If a horse has, say 10 corn cobs to choose from, they will eat the corn part first, then go to the next ear of corn and eat that corn.  The cobs are left til last.  Whether or not a horse eats all of it depends on many things - the horse's metabolic make-up (some horses will eat anything anytime it's handed to them...those horses are called 'easy keepers,' but that's not always a good thing.  They over-indulge and gain weight, which leads to feet problems (founder) and fat deposits underneath their skin, plus they get lazy if not exercised regularly.)  Those easy keepers will plow through the cobs without hesitation.

Oh, it's not feed. This clever horse has gotten into one of the character's packs and devoured the humans' dinner. I just need to finesse what's left of it when they catch the rascal. I figure, based on what you say, we'd see a pile of cobs lying around and horse working on the last few ears.

Horse will be a prominent character... I have to crawl into its head a little

Quote Post 8

Re: Ponies

On horses and humans: https://phys.org/news/2018-05-foundatio … nship.html

Quote Post 9

Re: Ponies

Kdot wrote:

This clever horse has gotten into one of the character's packs and devoured the humans' dinner. I just need to finesse what's left of it when they catch the rascal. I figure, based on what you say, we'd see a pile of cobs lying around and horse working on the last few ears.

Then I'd say your assumption of the corn cobs would be accurate.  About the only thing a horse won't eat is meat of any kind.  They love apples, watermelon, cantaloupe, pickles, bread, cookies, candy (except chocolate).  Some  of them will drink beer, sodas, eat ice.  So I think you have a wide range of silliness to choose from for that horse.  And most of them love peanut butter, but it gets stuck in the roof of their mouth and they are really comical trying to get it out.

Quote Post 10

Re: Ponies

Marilyn Johnson wrote:
Kdot wrote:

This clever horse has gotten into one of the character's packs and devoured the humans' dinner. I just need to finesse what's left of it when they catch the rascal. I figure, based on what you say, we'd see a pile of cobs lying around and horse working on the last few ears.

Then I'd say your assumption of the corn cobs would be accurate.  About the only thing a horse won't eat is meat of any kind.  They love apples, watermelon, cantaloupe, pickles, bread, cookies, candy (except chocolate).  Some  of them will drink beer, sodas, eat ice.  So I think you have a wide range of silliness to choose from for that horse.  And most of them love peanut butter, but it gets stuck in the roof of their mouth and they are really comical trying to get it out.

I heard that's how they go Mr. Ed to talk.

Quote Post 11

Re: Ponies

My horses will happily eat fresh cob corn if offered, yet, they won't touch it if it's been cooked. They eat the entire thing, not just the kernels. And as Marilyn pointed out, ponies are part of the herd with horses and fine for adult riders--but they can be much more notoriously stubborn at times. We've had several ponies of various sizes over the years, and yes, they are MUCH more apt to try to avoid work than their full size counterparts...but only with handlers who are less adept. With experienced handlers, they're well mannered and pretty eager to please.

As to backpack foods--you'd probably be wise to stick with fresh fruits and then add a few quirky things for color. My main horse was CRAZY about red licorice and cola. I didn't give her either very often, but if she caught a whiff of licorice, she'd go nuts trying to get it.

Hope that helps.

Quote Post 12

Re: Ponies

Linda Lee wrote:

My main horse was CRAZY about red licorice and cola. I didn't give her either very often, but if she caught a whiff of licorice, she'd go nuts trying to get it.

Mine go nuts over peppermint.  No matter the form.  They love the long peppermint sticks or the individually wrapped ones, but if you approach chewing peppermint gum, you get lots of kisses and question marks in their eyes!  "Where's mine?"  If I have peppermint in my pocket, they follow and nudge until I relent!  Even if I wear a jacket that had peppermint in the pocket two weeks ago, they still smell it.

Quote Post 13

14 Reply by j p lundstrom (edited by j p lundstrom 2018-05-10 19:17:43)

Re: Ponies

Hey, Marilyn--

Thanks to you for all the good info about horses and ponies. That's another thing about tnbw--writers helping other writers.

And Kdot--can't wait to read about your quirky pony. What a great idea for a character!

Now, just out of curiosity--what's a cow pony? Is it a kind of horse, or just a cowboy's nickname for his favorite animal?

Keep up the good work.  JP

Quote Post 14

Re: Ponies

Cow ponies are not classified as a breed.  They're smaller, more agile horses used by cowboys to help herd their cows.  Their breed is likely quarter horse, but not necessarily so.  A Welsh Cob could also become a good cow pony.  They could also be a mixed breed.  Any horse who can keep up with a herd and keep them in line could be referred to as a cow pony.

Hope that helped!!
MJ

Quote Post 15

Re: Ponies

Hey MJ... more questions:

1) They say never give a horse a  green pepper, and limit onions. Are they generally smart enough to skip those, should a clever horse should chance across them?

2) You mentioned above ponies only really need each other when grooming. Is that to say they offer something to each other humans can't do? Would someone therefor always have at least two ponies?

-K

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