Difference between a pony and a horse?

[Darbs]

Genuine question, we have had ponies at home for many years, doing all the usual stuff of showjumping, eventing, weekly Pony Club antics etc with them, but as my daughter gets older we start to discuss the long term future, and a number of people say to us that it is completely different when she moves to horses, but nobody can seem to explain what the dramatic changes are to make it completely different?

I also ride a horse that was an ex 2* eventer (owned and based at someone elses yard) and she seems to have just the same structure, needs, care etc that our ponies get. In fact she was going to come to live with us and her professional owner was clear that we could look after her in exactly the the same way we have always treated our ponies.

Clearly I get that they may need more regular excercise and will obvioulsy eat more, but I am really struggling what is going to make then 'completely different'?

Am I missing something or is it hype?

 

[BatHorse]

A pony is 14.2 and under, and a horse is anything over 14.2. There are some exceptions like an Arab is always a horse regardless of height

 

[Chinchilla]

It's purely height. Except as BH says there are some breed exceptions e.g. mini horses, also fjords and icelandics alongside the arabs are often 14.2 but always 'horses'. (Though in the case of the former two I think it might be because there is no word for 'horse' in their native countries.)

I have a 14.3 (so, theoretically a horse!) who is like an overgrown pony in every way beyond that extra inch!

 

[greenbean10]

Many horses will have much bigger movement, which is why some SJ horses are described as 'perfect for a child coming off ponies'. These horses will have smaller movement, smaller strides and just be more pony like.

I think a lot of inexperienced riders can sit a pony buck, but put them on a big moving bucking warmblood and they might struggle. Everything is bigger, including the movements you have to sit to.

This could be what they mean when they say horses are completely different? Just a bigger stride, a lot more to sit on and control. A lot of SJ kids struggle when they move from ponies to horses - often trying something big and flashy because they've done years on ponies and have good experience, then realise they can't control it or the movement/larger stride takes too long to get used to.

Could be this, but apart from that I have no idea!

 

[DiNozzo]

Its less about height and more about attitude I think.

Ponies are often cheekier but will try harder if they think they're getting something ?

 

[Fools Motto]

Some horses are easier to keep than ponies!
The biggest thing I've found, apart from obvious height, and a bit more 'ooomff' needed to throw on rugs and put saddles on, is that ponies are normally mighty clever, and can look after themselves (probably just referring to getting your stride into jumps), when you miss on a pony, they can easily fiddle one in, or just take it on, as a horse prefers to be correct and holds it to heart when you don't get it right! Bigger stride, often more preferable in dressage/showing, bit more presence (unless you've had welsh ponies!lol) ... maybe some might say it's a bit more of a workout riding horses as there is more to 'keep connected'??
Yes, they might eat more (not always the case), but rugs are bigger, so you adapt storage and washing facilities.
I'm more of a pony fan, but equally have had many good times on horses.

 

[Tiddlypom]

As a rule ponies think for themselves much more than horses, who require the rider to direct them more. This is why so many junior riders struggle with the transition to horses.

 

[9tails]

I'd rather care for 10 horses than 1 pony. Ponies IME are crafty little w***ers. I reckon most horses require less exercise than ponies, they don't spend their spare time plotting their next heist.

 

[J&S]

My coloured mare is 14.3hh and very much a small horse. The big old horse I ride is 16 hh and his owner calls him her Irish Bog pony!

 

[Shay]

It isn't the height as such. It is partly the movement as greenbean says. But mostly the comment about horses being so different to ponies is that ponies tend to think for themsleves more. It isn't height - there are 13.2's who think like a horse and 15.1's who think like a pony. Ponies tend to be better "do-ers" - they do well on less feed proportionate to thier weight than a horse does. They tend to shrug off injuries and minor afflications that can have a horse acting the drama queen. Ponies tend think for themselves - so they are more prone to get into mischeif. More prone to work things out. But also more prone to understand what is wanted and do it with minimal assistance from the rider. Horses often need to be set up more.

DD transitioned from ponies to horses mostly as a junior show jumper. With the ponies they pretty much knew what was wanted. They knew what a timed round was and what was needed for a jump off. You did still need to set them up a bit becuase they don't always see dimensions as a rider does and certainly don't know where the next fence is but mostly if they loved what they were doing you just had to get them there and they would work the rest out. And if they didn't love what they were doing they would find a way out of it! The horses tended to need more to set them up. Were more prone to use that big movement and sometimes get themselves in a muddle. Once in a muddle they were more prone to panic about it that the ponies were. But they were also more likely to do something they were not that keen about rather than make a fuss. The Event horses we have had, and cetainly the hunters, tended to think more like ponies. They tend to be more able to sort things out for themsleves.

That is all a sweeping generalisation of course and animals of all sizes fit both types and types all of thier own. But I can say from very long experience with PC and BS Juniors that the transition to a horse is different for the child. It tends to come at a time in thier life when lots of other things are also changing. A new horse (or pony) is always a bit of a shock and finding you have that much further to fall more so. If they have been successful on ponies going back to square one can be disheartening. Things that you are used to seeing from the dimensions of a pony suddenly look different - a stride for example, and that can lead to some early failiures. And confidence is always a fragile thing. It can co-incide with changing the classes they compete in - not always of course, not for PC or NSEA.

Hopefully armed with the knowledge that whilst things might be little different but they might also be more of a challenge, and not only becuase of the size of the animal, hopefully you can make the transition relatively peacefully!

 

[Lintel]

A pony is much nicer to fall from.

 

[Wheels]

I'd rather care for 10 horses than 1 pony. Ponies IME are crafty little w***ers. I reckon most horses require less exercise than ponies, they don't spend their spare time plotting their next heist.

Perfect answer & true story

I have an overweight connemara so technically he is a horse but hes a pony in all the ways that matter

 

[oldie48]

I totally agree with those of you who have mentioned movement and length of stride. My daughter moved from a very talented 148 cm eventer to a 16.1 WBx. She nailed the faltwork pretty easily although he had big movement, xc was fine as he was bold and had a jump but she found the SJ really tricky because she struggled to get the right quality of canter and if he was "wrong" at a fence, he'd either duck out or stop. If she got the canter right he'd fly round. The pony was a dream to SJ as he would always help her out, was nimble and would lengthen or shorten himself so he didn't touch a pole.

 

[Mule]

I'd rather care for 10 horses than 1 pony. Ponies IME are crafty little w***ers. I reckon most horses require less exercise than ponies, they don't spend their spare time plotting their next heist.

?

 

[wispagold]

I think it is the size of the vet bills. We had ponies for years and they were never sick or sorry. Horses are so accident prone no matter how much cotton wool and bubble wrap you use!

 

[GinaGeo]

Ponies are generally tough little sods, would survive quite happily without human intervention provided they couldn’t eat themselves to an early grave.

The horses need a bit more looking after. They need rugging more carefully, suffer more with the flies and like to see the vet more regularly.

In my experience their height is directly proportional to the amount they will cost you in Vet Bills. My 16.2hh four year old has managed to rack up more Vet Bills than the other three (15.2hh and under pony cross types) put together ??

 

[tallyho!]

Oh dear... yes horses who’d have ‘em?

See what I don’t understand is why we just don’t all have cobs? Perfect compromise of pony/horse/cow.

?

 

[Gloi]

Oh dear... yes horses who’d have ‘em?

See what I don’t understand is why we just don’t all have cobs? Perfect compromise of pony/horse/cow.

?

Ah yes cobs. The craftiness of a pony with the appetite and poo production of a Shire.

 

[huskydamage]

I have one of each, both great fun and both very different individuals.Pony is a nutcase, horse is very chilled. Pony is much cheaper and easier to keep though tbh. Tie a bit of string across somewhere and she stays there. Whereas the slighest defect in the fence Ive spent loads on and my horse will end up impaled on it or something, but thats just her I think, not because she's a horse, She has a knack for destroying things! 100% agree ponies are more craftey, some of the opportunies my pony takes just wouldn't even occur to my horse ?

 

[C1airey]

My little Dales pony could do a backwards somersault and I would still be in the plate when she landed. My WB just has to snort and I’m leaving another dint in the school surface - he definitely tests the independence of your seat!

 

[Kaylum]

We have miniature horses they break the rules for the size theory.

 

[SEL]

I added a 13h to the herd a couple of months ago.

Rising trot is a lot faster. My thighs know about it.
Weakness in the fencing is spotted immediately
Doesn't spook at much and if she does its because she's bored not scared.
I've seen people on here say horses don't wake up in the morning and plan to be naughty. Ponies do. Ponies plot.

 

[Darbs]

As a rule ponies think for themselves much more than horses, who require the rider to direct them more. This is why so many junior riders struggle with the transition to horses.

Thanks, I think this is what I was looking for, and probably lines up with what people had been saying to me.

I'd rather care for 10 horses than 1 pony. Ponies IME are crafty little w***ers. I reckon most horses require less exercise than ponies, they don't spend their spare time plotting their next heist.

This gives me some confidence as I am sure our 3 ponies sometimes spend time together in the field discussing how to make a whole world of hassle!

Thanks to everyone else who replied, and its interesting how so many say that ponies are actually tricker than hores in their experience, contrary to the discussions that caused me to start the thread!

When my daughter does make the move to horses, I'll no doubt resurrect this discussion with what we have found in reality!

 

[PSD]

I’d rather have ponies over horses. I think they have the best characters and I like them a little sharp. Plus being a short arse, the size of anything over 14.2 is daunting to me....the fall is a longer drop off a horse!

 

[scruffyponies]

I'm always amazed by how quiet and satisfied horses seem to be. The ponies, in contrast, always seem to be *up to something*.

 

[Darbs]

I totally agree with those of you who have mentioned movement and length of stride. My daughter moved from a very talented 148 cm eventer to a 16.1 WBx. She nailed the faltwork pretty easily although he had big movement, xc was fine as he was bold and had a jump but she found the SJ really tricky because she struggled to get the right quality of canter and if he was "wrong" at a fence, he'd either duck out or stop. If she got the canter right he'd fly round. The pony was a dream to SJ as he would always help her out, was nimble and would lengthen or shorten himself so he didn't touch a pole.

Interesting, I think this is where we could be heading, as this describes her current pony, it could also support the comments people make about the move from horses to ponies.

 

[Darbs]

But I can say from very long experience with PC and BS Juniors that the transition to a horse is different for the child. It tends to come at a time in thier life when lots of other things are also changing. A new horse (or pony) is always a bit of a shock and finding you have that much further to fall more so. If they have been successful on ponies going back to square one can be disheartening. Things that you are used to seeing from the dimensions of a pony suddenly look different - a stride for example, and that can lead to some early failiures. And confidence is always a fragile thing. It can co-incide with changing the classes they compete in - not always of course, not for PC or NSEA.

Thanks, its starting to click into place a bit more now, I can exactly see how the change of pony to horse plus then the change in style attitude etc creates the situation, cheers.

 

[scats]

I have two 15hh horses. One is very much a small horse and the other feels like a large pony.

 

[ihatework]

When people say this they are often meaning that a teenager who has been successful in ponies doesn’t always make a successful transition into horses. It’s not always a case of teenager now tall enough for the 16.2hh and hey presto look they are winning against adults (although some do!).

It can be tempting to go out and buy that flash 16.2hh sport horse for a brave confident child, but actually the 15.2-16hh half bred might be more sensible for the transition period

 

[Gloi]

My theory is that horses and ponies have the same number of braincells but horses have to use them to control their long limbs and think about ways to get injured whereas ponies can spend their days thinking how to get one over on their owners.