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SingleAgain · 10-14-07, 06:38 PM

Someone reminded me in my Shetland thread that I referred to it as a horse, when in fact it is a pony. So this is about the differences.

The most obvious difference between the two is height. A pony is generally not taller than 14.2 hands and a horse not generally shorter than that at maturity. There are exceptions; a pony that grows taller or a horse that is shorter.

But there is also phenotype; differences in the appearance of the animal. A pony generally has a stockier appearance and shorter legs with thicker coat.

The problem is that this is all rather unscientific and hence sometimes I confuse the terms.

My curiosity is where miniatures come into this. By height they are a pony, but by phenotype a horse, far more delicate in appearance.

How do miniatures come about? Is it cross breeding, forcing certain features?

10-14-07, 06:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
SingleAgain Member Join Date: 10-11-07 Posts: 25	Miniatures and Ponys-Origin Someone reminded me in my Shetland thread that I referred to it as a horse, when in fact it is a pony. So this is about the differences. The most obvious difference between the two is height. A pony is generally not taller than 14.2 hands and a horse not generally shorter than that at maturity. There are exceptions; a pony that grows taller or a horse that is shorter. But there is also phenotype; differences in the appearance of the animal. A pony generally has a stockier appearance and shorter legs with thicker coat. The problem is that this is all rather unscientific and hence sometimes I confuse the terms. My curiosity is where miniatures come into this. By height they are a pony, but by phenotype a horse, far more delicate in appearance. How do miniatures come about? Is it cross breeding, forcing certain features? Last edited by SingleAgain : 10-16-07 at 12:12 AM.