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are y ou sure that's a miniature pony and not a miniature horse? hard to see the dam is why i ask..she looks the size of a miniature horse. very cute baby!

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what's the differnce?

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<\___~ luv my thoroughbred!
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i found this info on the net:
For large animals, generally a horse is over 14 hands (56 inches) high, and a pony is under 14 hands high, at the peak of the wither (above the shoulders).
For miniatures, there isn't a lot of differences, and many animals are registered as both horses and ponies. The height of a miniature pony is measured at the peak of the wither, while the height of a miniature horse is measured at the last hair of the mane, which is a lower point on the horse's back. Miniature horses tend to be a finer, leggier animal( more horse-like in proportion) than the ponies, though this is not always the case. The main difference is in the show ring: miniature ponies are shown in their natural coat, and with their natural weight. Miniature horses are shown with clipped coats, and somewhat dieted.
Anyone who knows about this stuff..... is this right??

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As an owner and breeder of Miniature Horses, the word "Pony" is often played as an offensive word when referring to our horses under 38" (or 34" if your horse is registered AMHA).

HOWEVER, a PONY is ANY horse under 14.2 hands, so in reality yes, Miniature Horses are ponies. However for registered stock they are considered Miniature Horses, because that is the breed of horse. Some Miniature Horse registries allow horses up to 38" tall with the exception of 1 registry that does not allow horses to exceed 34.00".

I am in NO way offended when someone calls my Miniature Horse a pony, because in reality they come from pony lines ... many of our famous foundation sires of the breed are actually Shetlands and everyone knows a Shetland is a pony.

Miniature Horse and Miniature Pony is similar to some people referring to colored horses as Paint or Pinto ... Paint is a breed, Pinto is a color. Miniature Pony is a small pony, Miniature Horse is a breed.

Miniature Horses/Miniature Ponies come in all shapes and sizes. There are ones that are VERY refined and delicate that resemble Arabians, then you have the very stock Draft type or Quarter Horse type. You also have some in-between those two types that resemble a Thoroughbred or Morgan. It varies. Each horse is different.

Most Miniature Horses are shown clipped, because they simply DO NOT shed out in time for shows. Anyone who has been around these guys know their coats are THICK. If I let mine go unclipped they do not shed out enough on their own to look respectable and presentable until late in the summer, but fall they are packing on the winter coats again. Also, the Miniature Horses get more balanced diets and conditioning programs because most of the horses are shown in conformation classes and the horse needs to look their best.

Lots of Shetlands, Hackneys and other show ponies are also shown clipped and conditioned.

As with other breeds such as the Arabians, Saddlebreds and the alike ... nicking, gingering, bicycle chain bits for driving, balding, clipping off eyelashes, etc., is all practices of Miniature Horse and Miniature Pony and pony people, some don't agree with it all and will not do it while others will try everything for a ribbon.

One reason why a lot of the general public and those uneducated with the Miniature Horse breed often assume that Miniature Horses are "fat horses with short legs", is because of what the horses looked like 20 and 30 years ago, they were breeding for size, not conformation. Now people are interested in refinement and elegance. The breed as come a long way, but still has some ways to go. Another reason is because the public is drawn to DWARF Miniature Horses. These are mutations of the Miniature Horse breed just as with dwarfism in humans. The dwarf Miniature Horses have heavier bodies, short legs, etc., it varies from minimal dwarf or severe. Ever see all of the talk on the TV about the "worlds smallest Miniature Horse" named PEANUT. Peanut IS a dwarf. Dwarfs though are great companions should NEVER be sought after just because they are cute and small. Dwarves often have several, several medical problems and often don't live very long. People need to get rid of the stereotype they have of Miniature Horses and move on to what they have evolved into.

Info. on Dwarves: http://home.pacifier.com/~lizmc/dwarf.html

Here's a comparision on different MINIATURE HORSE body types...

This is my 32.50" mare, more refined type:



This is my 31.50" mare, more QH/Draft type.



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Michelle @ Samson's Acres