Definition of a Pony by Brainsister < Journal | Inkbunny, the Furry Art Community

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elix

11 years, 5 months ago

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People also complain that the Internet is broken if they can't get to Facebook. Yay ignorance!

Nishi

11 years, 5 months ago

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I didn't know! :O I never really thought about what a pony was compared to a horse. But I figured they could come in all ages. I remember someone once complaining that the mane 6 were all underage, but seeing as how they have jobs and seem older and mature and all, maybe they just had this confusion!

Brainsister

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ Nishi

Now you know the ponyfacts! And yeah, I have a feeling a lot of them were making that mistake.

HRaiden

11 years, 5 months ago

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I always thought ponies were small horses.

Brainsister

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ HRaiden

That they are.

TheAtomicDog

11 years, 5 months ago

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Aren't young/juvinile horses called "colts"..?
Foals are of course anything from newborns to what, three months. Even the act of equine birth is called "foaling".

Brainsister

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ TheAtomicDog

Colts are just male foals. (Female foals are fillies)

TheAtomicDog

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ Brainsister

I thought a Filly was the same as a Heifer: a female who has yet to foal..? After she foals, she becomes a Mare, right?

Brainsister

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ TheAtomicDog

There seem to be a few different definitions, but most often it's a female under four years of age.

TheAtomicDog

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ Brainsister

Okay, then.
I shouldn't be needing this lesson in equine vernacular.
Damn, how long has is been since I've been on a horse ranch?

ruink

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ TheAtomicDog

Heifer is a term related to young cows I believe

SirStefan02

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ ruink

I haven't researched it, but I suspect that "heifer" actually became American slang for "cow" because of the popularity of the Hereford breed of dairy cow. If I am not mistaken the Hereford breed is the B/W one most commonly used on dairy farms. I was thinking about it some time ago and repeating the word "heifer" over and over and it almost sounded like it was an old west mispronunciation of "Hereford" and over time became an accepted generic term.
I find human communication to be a fascinating topic that reveals much about our species. Mebbe I'll write a journal entry about Genesis and language that I have pondered from time to time.

TheAtomicDog

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ SirStefan02

Wikipedia confirms that a heifer is a "virgin" female bovine. Only after her first calve, does she become a "cow".
Just like cats: a female cat is just a cat until she has her first litter. Then, she's called a Queen.
Your deduction about how "heifer" and "Hereford" could have been related is entirely plausable, given how language can mutate the sounds--and therefore the spellings-- of words.
For example: Indian. Columbus called the Caribe natives he encountered a people of God: Los En Dios. That got contracted to Los Endios, and then into Los Indios. How does that link up with that faraway subcontinent Barat, which is Hindustan which is India? The people are Hindus, plural Hindi. However, in Latin-influenced Europe, the 'H' is silent. So Hindi - 'H' = Indi. The land of the Indi would be called India.

Lyserdigi

11 years, 5 months ago

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Yeah. I agree with you.
Misuse of terminology really ticks me off too ..

ruink

11 years, 5 months ago

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I've said this before, and it keeps being true: people are stupid

TrentSnow

11 years, 5 months ago

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I've noticed this lately as well...good to see I'm not alone.

Infinityplus1

11 years, 5 months ago

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Why?

Because, ponies!

PenelopePossum

11 years, 5 months ago

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Snippet from the Pony club website.

"In modern use, many organizations define a pony as a mature horse that measures less than 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) at the withers, but there are a number of exceptions. Different organizations that use a strict measurement model vary from 14 hands (56 inches, 142 cm) to nearly 14.3 hands (59 inches, 150 cm). Many breeds classify an animal as either horse or pony based on pedigree and phenotype, no matter its height. Some full-sized horses may be called "ponies" for various reasons of tradition or as a term of endearment."

Though I am not a rider any more my late sister was. It always stuck in my mind as she had a degree in equine studies and bollocked me whenever I got it wrong! Biggest pony I ever encountered (By conformation only) was 16hands, though she was an exception.

Brainsister

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ PenelopePossum

Boy, I was way off! It's been awhile, and I couldn't remember if a hand was heel-to-fingertip or palm width....

PenelopePossum

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ Brainsister

Chuckles...I think a hand is 4 inches...roughly!

fibs

11 years, 5 months ago

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What height separates a "pony" from a "horse" varies depending on the breeder's association you ask, but five hands is a good rule of thumb.

CaliWolfNinja

11 years, 5 months ago

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I bet some dumb schmuck was hoping to find something MLP related.

BillySquirrel

11 years, 5 months ago

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Horses scare me. XD To big, to skittish, they bite, and all it takes is one misplaced hoof and your foot is paste.

SirStefan02

11 years, 5 months ago

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@ BillySquirrel

Its not impossible, but my parents had horses, and they did step on me on occasion, and my feet are fine. Its always good to have shoes on around horses. 83

gaturday

11 years, 5 months ago

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I know more than I ever thought I would about equestrian terminology.

Apropos of nothing, I haven't seen Spike in Warner form.

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