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Ponies for Sale
Pony
Keeping Ponies as Pets
Jazzmine, the Paint Pony
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Type |
A large hoofed, warm-blooded mammal (Equus
caballus) |
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General |
Owning a pony
is a very rewarding experience, but it is not for everyone. Be sure to
thoroughly research before taking on the responsibility of owning a pony. If you
want to learn to ride it is a good idea to take horseback riding lessons. If you
enjoy it you may want to consider leasing a pony. There are many barns which
will board your pony for you and allow you to come and ride anytime. Some of
them will do the majority of the work involved in owning a pony, however this
can get pricey. Know the pony you are riding. Ponies spook very easily. Simple
things like sticks and forest animals commonly spook Ponies. When riding a pony
a helmet should be warn at all times. |
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Riding |
There are two
different types of riding, Western and English. Western generally consists of
barrel racing, key hole, pole bending among other events, where as English
generally consists of dressage, jumping, polo Lacrosse and more. When dressage
is preformed it looks like the pony is dancing. The rider is guiding the pony
through a series of complex maneuvers by slight movements of the rider's hands,
legs, and weight. The saddles a Western rider uses is different than the saddle
an English rider would use. One key difference is the Western saddle consists of
a horn, while the English saddle does not. |
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Spaying and Neutering |
Un-neutered
male ponies tend to fight with other ponies. If you plan on keeping a male pony
with a herd of other ponies or horses it is a good idea to get it fixed. |
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Size |
A normal
sized pony is averaged to about 12.2 hands high. ( Hand = 4in.) Ponies range from
about 200 lbs to 275 lbs. |
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Living Conditions |
For every
pony you need to have at least three acres and an additional acre for every
additional pony. The area must be fenced in. Some use barbed wire or electric
fences to secure there ponies. Barbed wire is one of the most dangerous fences
to use around ponies. Most ponies wouldn't see the wire because it is too thin
for them to see. They can get cut and even caught in it. They need some kind of
shelter, at the very least a lean-to to shield them from the wind and rain. Some
ponies are hardier and can get away with a lean-to, but some ponies are on
schedules and need to be put in a stall for a period of time during the day or
night. |
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Clean-up |
About every
two days, you might need to muck ( clean) your ponies stall or lean-to. |
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Grooming |
Ponies need
daily grooming. This includes: picking there hooves, combing their mane,
brushing with a curry comb (hard brush) then a soft brush after to get the loose
dirt off, bathing after workouts, and using fly spray. About every three months,
some ponies should be seen by a farrier to determine if there hooves need to be
shaped. Daily grooming will reduce stress, keep your pony comfortable, healthy
and looking great! |
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Feeding |
Ponies need
hay daily or a field with plenty of grass to graze on. Some Ponies require
grain, oats, bran, sweet feed and hay pellets. Ponies can eat all the hay they
like, however too much grain can cause them to founder. Grain has to be
carefully monitored. |
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Exercise |
Ponies
require daily exercise. They need to have enough land to exercise themselves and
most enjoy having a person to ride them. Ponies need companionship. Either
another pony(s), or some other farm animal. Some owners have been known to use
animals such as: goats, cows and sheep to keep them company. In general, ponies
will not be happy living alone. |
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Life Expectancy |
A healthy
pony will live to about 35 or maybe even 40 years old. |
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Health Problems |
Some health
problems include: colic ( a common killer of ponies, which is a bad stomach
ache), worms, lameness, tying-up, hoof cracks, dental problems and hoof wall
loss. |
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Gestation |
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Origin |
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Terms and Materials |
Saddle - A
leather seat for a pony rider, secured on an animal's back by a girth
Bridle - A harness, consisting of a headstall, bit, and reins, which fits on a
ponies head and used to restrain or guide the animal.
Crop - A short whip used in horseback riding, with a loop at
the end.
Halter - A device that fits around the head or neck of
an animal and is used to lead or secure the animal.
Hackamore - A bitless bridle, sometimes used to break a
ponies into a bridle.
Reins - A long narrow leather strap attached to each
end of the bit of a bridle and used by a rider or driver to control a pony or
other animal
Saddle Pad - A padded blanket that goes between the
ponies back and the saddle to prevent irritation.
Bit -The metal mouthpiece of a bridle, serving to
control and direct an animal.
Stirrups - a device where the rider puts their foot
hung from either side of a ponies saddle to support the rider's foot in mounting
and riding
Gelding - a neutered male pony
Stallion - an intact (un-neutered) male pony
Mare - a female pony
Foal - a baby pony
Filly - a female baby pony
Colt - a male baby pony |
Information written by Amie and Jessica - Edited
by Dog Breed Info Center® -
Horses
with Amie
Lacy, the Pony
Butterscotch, the pony at 30+ years old
Tacoma the Great Pyrenees and Butterscotch
the old Pony
Butterscotch the pony, Amie the human, Lacy the pony and Tacoma the
Great Pyrenees
Tundra the Great Pyrenees, Amie and Butterscotch
the pony
Amie, Butterscotch and Lacy
Jazzmine the Paint Pony with her Horse
Friend
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Pony Photos Page
1
Assateague Ponies
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