When keeping both, understanding these differences is crucial, as it will impact how you manage your ponies compared to your horses. Here are some key differences between the two:<\/p>\n
1.) Personality<\/strong> 2.) Hair Coats<\/strong> 3.) Strength<\/strong> 4.) Digestion<\/strong> 5.) Laminitis Risk<\/strong> 6.) Life Span<\/strong> 7.) Fencing Needs<\/strong> Flexible fencing is the safest choice. Ramm\u2019s Flex Fence comes in a variety of options and When keeping both, understanding these differences is crucial, as it will impact how you manage your ponies compared to your horses. Here are some key differences between the two: 1.) Personality Ponies tend to have a different personality than their larger counterparts. Often stoic and intelligent, ponies can range from docile to somewhat wily. However,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":38427,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-farm"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nPonies tend to have a different personality than their larger counterparts. Often stoic and
\nintelligent, ponies can range from docile to somewhat wily. However, they are probably known
\nbest for doing whatever they can to avoid work!<\/p>\n
\nPonies are better suited for cold climates than many horses because they tend to grow thick
\nhair coats that don\u2019t shed until summer. They also have thicker manes and tails. Because of
\nthis, ponies rarely need to be blanketed; however many ponies might need to be body-clipped in
\nthe summer to help them stay cool.<\/p>\n
\nPound per pound, ponies are stronger than full-sized horses. This is due to their stocky frame
\nand heavier-boned bodies. This makes ponies great for pulling carriages and carts.<\/p>\n
\nYes, ponies eat the same diet as horses, but they are extremely easy keepers and, therefore, it
\ncan be easy to overfeed them. If left to their own devices, ponies can eat 4% of their body
\nweight or more in forage per day. Horses, on the other hand, will only eat up to 2.5% of their
\nbody weight per day. A thin pony is rare and, in fact, may be suffering from a health problem.<\/p>\n
\nBecause of their tendency to be obese, ponies are more prone to developing laminitis, a
\ndebilitating and sometimes life-threatening hoof disease. To help prevent this problem, ponies
\noften need to be kept in a dry lot (and fed low-sugar hay), only grazed at night when sugar
\nlevels are lowest, and\/or wear a grazing muzzle to restrict grass intake.<\/p>\n
\nAnother difference between ponies and horses is that ponies live longer. It\u2019s not unusual for
\nthem to be used for riding and driving well into their late twenties and live past thirty.<\/p>\n
\nFinally, ponies and horses have different fencing needs. Because ponies can be wily escape
\nartists, the right kind of fencing is important, especially if your pony is on the smaller side, such
\nas a Shetland breed.<\/p>\n
\nprovides a safe, durable, low-maintenance barrier. Fortunately, this type of fencing also works
\ngreat for large breeds.
\nJust keep in mind that when installing flexible fencing for smaller-sized ponies, you should set
\nthe bottom rail no more than six inches from the ground. Likewise, rails should be no more than
\nsix inches apart, and the overall height should reach at least four feet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"