Definition of Ponies:
Smaller than typical horses
Notable for thicker manes, tails, and overall coats.
Proportional characteristics:
Shorter legs
Wider barrels
Heavier bones
Thicker necks
Shorter heads with broader foreheads
Temperament:
Generally intelligent and friendly.
Can exhibit stubbornness, often due to improper training.
Historical Roles:
Used for driving and transport of freight.
Served as mounts for children and recreation.
Current roles include competitors and performers.
Called “pit ponies” in the UK: used for hauling coal from mines.
Definition:
Weight:150-350 lbs.
Size: Up to 34 inches tall (8.5 hands),
Some registries accept up to 38 inches.
Primary Uses:
Mainly kept as companion animals.
Used for therapy and emotional support.
Definition:
Refers to a category of light to medium horse breeds.
Physical Characteristics:
Smaller heads and bodies compared to draft horses.
Less excitable compared to hotbloods.
Uses:
Riding and light work.
Development:
Resulted from warriors returning to Europe with Arabian horses from the Middle East and Africa.
Popularity:
Commonly seen/used in the Olympic events.
Notable American breeds: Quarter horse, Tennessee Walking horse, and Palominos.
Definition:
Horses bred for speed and athleticism.
Behavior:
Known for their temperament;
Require experienced riders due to their handling difficulties.
Notable Breeds:
Arabian, Moroccan Barb, Thoroughbred.
Uses:
Primarily used for riding and racing.
Typically owned by individuals with sufficient resources for their upkeep and hendling
Definition:
Known for stable and calm temperaments.
Physical Attributes:
Generally strong, rugged, and durable; suited for work.
The term refers to traits rather than a specific breed.
Examples:
Range from gentle giants like Clydesdales to rugged Welsh ponies.
Temperament:
Known for being mellow and hard to spook.
Roles:
Bred for strength and workload, often found in farming and hauling applications.
Typically large and heavy breeds (draft horses)
Description:
Free-roaming, descended from domesticated horses.
Differentiates between feral horses and true wild horses, which never underwent domestication.
All feral horses descended from domesticated horses that strayed or escaped from human management.
Natural Behavior:
Over time, reverted to behaviors similar to wild horses.
Live in structured social groups called 'bands' or 'herds'.
In Australia known as 'mob'.
Alternate Name: Mustangs.
Regions:
Found in states such as California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
Management:
Managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service.
Legislation:
Two Federal Laws to Protect Feral Horses
: Public Laws 86-234 and 92-195.
Definition:
Known as donkey or ass (Equus asinus).
Locally called ‘burro’ in the Western U.S.
Terminology:
Male adult donkey: Jack
Female adult donkey: Jenny or Jennet
Young donkey (under a year): Foal
Young male: Colt
Young female: Filly
Hybridization:
Different species in the family can interbreed, often leading to sterile offspring.
Mule: Offspring of a jack and a mare.
Rare Interbreeding Results:
Hinny: Offspring of a male horse and female donkey.
Zonkey/Zebroid: Cross of zebra with donkey, developed from male zebra and female donkey.
Zebra Hinny: Cross of female zebra and male donkey.
Size Variations:
Donkeys vary in size due to breed differences, generally from 0.9 to 1.4 meters tall.
Mammoth Jack is a larger size.
Historical Efficiency:
Used historically for transportation of supplies and pulling wagons, and occasionally for riding.