Learning about Horses and Ponies

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

14 Oct 2008 01:27 PM

Yesterday I wrote about how shopping for a birthday present for a friend's daughter made me realize how many types of horses there are. Growing up, our family had a horse for all of about five minutes. His name was Saberjolt and I was over the moon for him.

But, thanks to my allergies, we had to give Saberjolt up. (At least that's how family legend tells it. More than likely it was because we couldn't afford him. I don't remember ever coughing, sneezing or wheezing either during or after any Saberjolt outings.)

However, I couldn't tell you what kind of horse he was. I'm thinking he was most likely a quarter horse, but who knows? (I was really small when we had him. Maybe six, but I'm thinking I might have only been four.)

Still, I've always wished we could've kept Saberjolt and I could've spent more time around horses. (Again, for a long time I didn't because I thought I was deathly allergic. However, the times I've been around horses at Wayne's aunt's ranch or elsewhere, I've never had any kind of reaction to them except enchantment.)

But buying that present for Noelle sparked something in me. A curiosity to learn more about horses.

Here's what I've learned so far, thanks to a visit to the Oklahoma State University Board of Regents' Breeds of Livestock Project website and Wikipedia:

1. There are over 200 breeds of horses and ponies.
2. There is a breed of horse or pony for every letter of the alphabet, complete from A to Z. (That's really amazing to me. Granted, the letter X only has one breed, but still...there is a breed of horse with an X name. A Xilingol. How many animals can say that they have a breed for every letter of the alphabet?)
3. Horses are classified as either large (also called heavy) or small (also called light). I also saw descriptions for medium-heavy horses. An example of a large horse is a Clydesdale (well known thanks to a certain beer product). An example of a light horse is an Arabian.
4. Horses are measured by something called "hands," and the equivalent of one hand is four inches.
5. Size is the general rule of thumb for determining the difference between a horse and a pony. Generally ponies are not over 14.2 hands high. However, other factors are taken into consideration when making the determination, like the animal's build and temperament.
6. An Australian Brumby is the equivalent of an American Mustang. (Both are feral.)
7. Horses, like people, are good at different things. Some are bred to be working horses, while others make good choices for pleasure riding. Some breeds are more suited to equestrian sports, such as horse racing or dressage, than others.

Courtney Mroch writes about animals great and small in Pets and the harmony and strife that encompasses married life in Marriage. For a full listing of her articles click here.

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Photo credit: Sue R B, photographer. Standard restrictions apply for use of this photo.

Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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