Minature Horse vs Pony

[cherokeemyluv]

So after reading a couple threads about what makes a horse a horse and a pony a pony I thought I'd do a bit of digging and present my findings.

A miniature horse:

A small, sound, well-balanced horse, possessing the correct conformation characteristics required of most breeds. Refinement and femininity in the mare. Boldness and masculinity in the stallion. The general impression should be one of symmetry, strength, agility and alertness. Since the breed objective is the smallest possible perfect horse, preference in judging shall be given the smaller horse, other characteristics being approximately equal.Must measure not more than 34 inches at the withers.-the AMHA

In plain terms a Miniature Horse should be just that, a horse that looks like it was shrunk in the dryer. It should be put together with the same proportions as a full sized horse.

A pony:

By definition for many forms of competition, ponies measure less than 14.2 hands (hh) (1.47 meters or 58 inches) at the withers. Horses are 14.2 or taller. However, the term "pony" can be used in general (or affectionately) for any small horse, regardless of its actual size or breed, and some horse breeds may have individuals who mature under 14.2 but may still be allowed to compete as horses.-Wiki

Ponies are less than 14.2 hands and can be almost any breed or mix that comes up short of being a horse. Sometimes a breed that can make pony sized animals have been given their own breed such as the Quarter Pony.

A horse:

The general rule for cutoff in height between what is considered a horse and a pony at maturity is 14.2 hands high. (abbreviated "h" or "hh") (147 cm, 58 inches) as measured at the whithers. An animal 14.2h or over is usually considered a horse and one less than 14.2h is a pony.-Wiki

Horses are over 14.2 hands. Some horse breeds produce pony sized specimens and thus there are exceptions to the minature/pony/horse rules.

Exceptions:
Arabians, AQH, and Morgans are always considered horses despite size. The Chincoteague pony is often taller than 14.2 hands when raised in captivity and not wild, but is still called a pony. Polo ponies are often over 14.2 hands but called polo ponies despite the breed and height based on their usage. POAs and Welsh Ponies also sometimes produce specimens over 14.2 hands and are also always called ponies, welsh ponies have sections which differentiate height within the breed.

[QuarterHorses]

This makes me laugh because I know someone with a miniature horse They treat it like you would a dog. It runs around their property eating grass here and there. It also rides in the back of their pickup truck. They have a special ramp and the horse just walks up the ramp into the truck. It really does look like a horse that has been shrunk so it is a funny site to see this going down the road.

[Izzy]

Honestly that is pretty much how we treat our miniature horses. They do everything that we do, they come away with us for weekend picnics, we play ball with them, just like a big puppy. And puppy would be the best comparison, with their personality.