Few people do not appear on the face of a sweet smile at the sight of these cute animals. Ponies attract the attention of both children and adults. Therefore, many people want to breed them independently, who is for business, who is for pleasure. And before that, they were also used as a plodding force. On how to care for a pony, and about the features of their breeding, read below.
Characteristics and features
Pony - This is a subspecies of domestic horses, a characteristic feature of which is low growth. The average size of horses is 80-140 cm. In different countries, this breed includes individuals with different growth. For example, in Russia, this includes animals reaching 1-1.1 meters. But in England horses are counted as ponies with a growth of 1.4 meters.
Did you know? The Guinness Book of Records is the smallest pony. She was born in 2010, and her name is Einstein. Her height is 50 cm, and at birth was 36 cm. The newborn foal weighed 2.7 kg. Today he weighs 28 kg.
In appearance, the pony resembles a regular horse, but one should pay attention to how it differs from a horse. The main difference is disproportionate body structure: he has short legs, his head is not so stretched, his broad forehead and powerful neck. In addition, the pony has a thicker and longer mane, as well as a tail. They differ in mind and stubbornness. Experienced breeders also claim that they are arrogant and vindictive. 
Contrary to their small proportions, stunted horses have remarkable strength and endurance. But at the same time, food is consumed two times less than a regular horse of the same size. Their teeth are powerful, able to chew easily even the roughest food.
The most common suits are bay and black, a bit less common are bed-piebald and raven-piebald. Rare are red, gray, buckskin horses.
The life span of a mini-horse is 40-50 years. But their tall relatives live only 25-30 years.
Read also about the miniature horse Falabella.
Use of mini horses
Today, mini-horses are mainly used for entertainment: riding small children, shows in circuses, zoos. They can carry about 20% of their entire body weight. At the same time, they can pull much more weight - sometimes even much more than ordinary horses. 
Some parents buy ponies for their children in order to teach them horse riding from childhood. At the same time, there are countries in which competitions on skating babies on mini-horses are organized. But for hippotherapy (treatment of various diseases through communication and riding) they are not suitable.
Did you know? Despite its size, not so long ago ponies were used as labor. This, first of all, concerns the breed of Shetland ponies - in England they were forced to perform underground work: in mines and in mines.
In some countries, for example in Holland, small animals are used in agriculture - in small farms.
Popular Pony Breeds
In the world there are about 60 breeds of ponies. We present you a review of the 10 most popular of them:
Welsh breed. Homeland - North Wales. Distinctive signs: height - 123-137 cm, a small head with small ears and large eyes, a well-developed back, muscular legs, ending in strong hoofs. Main suits: red, nightingale, gray, bay. Welsh ponies are very beautiful and docile. Used to breed new breeds and in equestrian sports. 
Shetland breed. Homeland - United Kingdom. Distinctive signs: height - 102-107 cm, strong stocky build, short back, short, strong legs, stiff hoofs. The main suit-bay, black, pinto. "Shetland" are used in zoological and city parks, equestrian sections. Since 1890 shetland pony breeding book has been kept. 
Highland pony. Homeland - Scotland. There are three types: small growth 122-132 cm, riding - 132-140 cm, Meyland-pony - 142-147 cm. Distinctive features: powerful body, very strong legs and hooves. Characterized by increased endurance and longevity. Used as a pack and mount, in trekking, in equestrian sport. 
Exmoor breed. Homeland - the north-west of England. Distinctive signs: height - 125-128 cm, small head, "toad" eyes (with heavy upper eyelids), bright lower lip, powerful neck, deep chest, short legs, seven molars (unlike others, who have six ). The main suit-brown, bay, Savrasaya with burns. It is used in breeding work to improve the quality of other breeds in horse riding. 
Icelandic breed. Homeland - Iceland. Distinctive signs: height - 120-140 cm, heavy head, expressive eyes, wide nostrils, small ears, shortened neck, stocky, muscular back, deep abdomen, short, strong forearms, strong hooves. Their color can be all sorts of. Possess very fluffy mane and tail. This is the only breed whose representatives feed on fish and walk with telts. Breeding of these ponies is carried out for the purpose of use in equestrian tourism and in cross-race competitions. 
French horse breed. Homeland - France. Distinctive signs: height - 125-145 cm, small head, large expressive eyes, small ears with sharp ends, long neck, flat back, wide chest, powerful legs, firm hooves. The suits are varied. Suitable for any use, most often they are used in children's equestrian sports, because, as a rule, they are good-natured, patient and peaceful. 
Did you know? The remains of an ancient horse were found in southern France - solutre Scientists believe that she is the prehistoric ancestor of the horse breed, which, in turn, is the ancestor of modern ponies.
Manipuri pony. The exact origin is unknown. Distinctive features: a beautiful, level head, small narrow ears, large expressive eyes, sloping shoulders, wide chest, muscular croup, proportional legs with firm hooves. Used for playing polo, riding. 
Connemara. Homeland - Ireland. Distinctive features: reaches a height at the withers up to 144 cm, very well and beautifully folded, have a curved long neck, a noble head, a compact body and powerful limbs. They have a good-natured disposition, are balanced, therefore they are mainly grown for riding children and learning to ride a horse. At the same time they are able to wonderfully jump, compete in any disciplines. 
Fjord Homeland - presumably Norway. Distinctive features: height - 130-145 cm, broad head, powerful neck, stocky, compact body, strong legs with strong hoofs. Coloring: dun with various impurities, gray with a black stripe along the back. These horses are universal: suitable for agricultural work, and for horse walks, and for children's sports. 
American riding pony. Homeland - the American state of Iowa. You can learn this breed by its tall stature - 114-137 cm and the original suit - leopard, spotted veil, snowball, marble, etc. Distinctive signs: slightly flat head, small pointed ears, bulging eyes, rounded, short, muscular body, wide chest high set tail. As the name implies, these solids are mainly bred for use in horse riding, horse racing. 
We advise you to read about horse breeds: heavy (Vladimir heavy, frieze, tinker) and riding (Arabic, Akhal-Teke, appaloosa).
Content policy
Peculiarities of keeping ponies are not much different from the breeding of their tall relatives. Before you get these animals, you need to implement next steps:
- prepare a place to live in accordance with the necessary conditions and requirements;
- purchase or manufacture the necessary equipment that will be needed to care for the horse;
- choose the breed of your liking and wallet;
- to study information about the characteristics of the breed, its diet;
- purchase the necessary feed.
Ponies are very hardy horses and resistant to any conditions. Therefore, the best housing for them will be a pen in the open. Only in winter, during frosts or during rains, ponies need to be brought to the stable with equipped stalls.
If you plan to breed several horses, mares and stallions after a year must be kept separately.
Important! The full load on the ponies can be carried out only after they reach the age of four.
There are no special requirements for a closed dwelling. The main thing is that there are no drafts and no dampness. Dampness causes many unpleasant animal diseases that affect the skin and hooves. Drafts are common causes of colds, which can turn into chronic diseases or result in the death of a pony. On the floor should get a quality litter, which would reduce the risk of injury to zero and was convenient for the rest of the animal. 
The stable can even be without a feeder, because horses eat hay and grass from the ground. But in the corral of the manger is better to equip, because, while playing, the animal can trample down the feed, and it will be unfit for human consumption.
For drinking, you can use automatic drinkers or ordinary buckets, which are better to strengthen something, so that the animal does not turn them over.
Care Tips
Unlike their tall relatives, ponies do not require frequent combing. This procedure will be needed only in spring, when they begin to shed and shed the winter undercoat.
But they need to be cleaned of dirt every day. Once every 30 days, clearing the hooves is required.
Inventory, which is necessary to care for a pony, you need the same as for an ordinary horse. Here is the required minimum:
- hoof cleaning bucket;
- stiff brush to remove dirt;
- brush for wet cleaning;
- hoof hook for cleaning the hoof from dirt;
- sponges for washing eyes, ears;
- scraper designed to wring moisture from the wool;
- brush for putting oil on the hoof to prevent cracking.
But the harness on the pony is much more expensive than for the usual horse. If there is a possibility and a good specialist, then it will be cheaper to order. 
Feeding ration
The main components in the daily ration of a mini horse should be hay and grass. Concentrates need to be administered with caution, because overeating is fraught with stomach problems.
Hay should be given twice a day. One part (about 1.5 kg) in the morning poured into a nursery in the pen. The second part is put in the stall for the night. You can add vegetables in small portions: potatoes, beets, cabbage, carrots. The intervals between feedings should be even. It is better to feed the animals every day at the same time.
Important! Due to the possible development of allergies, it is important to ensure that ponies are eaten and that there is no oat and carrot overabundance on their menu. Carrots she can eat no more than one or two per day..
On the day of the animal should drink enough water - about 10-20 liters. In the summer it should be watered three times a day, in the winter - twice. 
Case
The breeding season of a pony is usually accounted for the end of spring. Duration of the foal's period with the mare is 11 months. Thus, babies are usually born in the spring of next year, at a time when the grass is the most succulent. One mare, as usual, gives birth to one foal. Under the care of the mother, the newborn remains until the next baby is born, or until they are separated. This should be done no sooner than the foal reaches eight months.
In ponies, pedigree compliance is very much appreciated, but it is not necessary to mix relatives of the kind of horses so that the genus does not degenerate.
It is believed that pony breeding becomes more profitable every year, since the demand for them does not fall and even grows. Before you take up this profitable business, you should study all the nuances of their breeding and education and calculate the payback time, as well as examine the market for services. According to experienced breeders, ponies must be kept in strictness from an early age in order to continue to receive a faithful, reliable and friendly friend who will not be afraid to be allowed to visit their children.
