The pony is a small horse whose highest part of the back does not exceed 148 centimeters in height. Despite its small size, this animal has a robust structure, although its head and neck are short and the shape of its body tends to be rounded as a whole.
This is an animal with a wonderful character, it stands out for being very docile and affectionate, calmer than other horses and also very intelligent. While there are 250 known breeds of ponies, these traits are common.
For all these reasons the pony is an animal with which many people dream of sharing part of their time, which is why in this AnimalWised article we explain what you must take into account before adopting a pony.
Legislative aspects
The laws that regulate the ownership of horses (including the pony in this group) may vary from one autonomous community to another, for For this, it is advisable to obtain adequate information before adopting the horse. The generic aspects included in this type of legislation are the following:
- The owner has the obligation to keep the horse in adequate hygienic and sanitary conditions
- The stable must meet certain conditions: adequate dimensions, effective closures, drinking water, good hygiene and ventilation
- All those preventive treatments that are declared mandatory must be carried out
- Horses traveling on general circulation routes must comply with traffic regulations, although it will always be preferred that they travel through alternative routes
Poly feeding
Welcome any animal means the acquisition of a great responsibility, so it is essential to know in advance what care the pony requires to determine if our commitment is sufficient to cover these basic needs.
The pony is a herbivorous animal and its diet is made up exclusively of foods of plant origin, being able to distinguish two main parts:
- Concentrated feed: Concentrated feed is that which is very rich in energy, such as oats, barley or corn.
- Fibrous feed: The main fibrous feed in the pony diet is hay.
You may also be given other foods that you especially like, such as carrots and some fruit.
The pony needs to always have a block of mineral s alt and clean, fresh water available, in the same way, Its feeding should be supervised by a qualified professionalsince it must be adapted to the age of the horse and the time of year, making any dietary change progressively to avoid the onset of colic.
He althcare
It is important to have a trusted veterinarian to advise us on the he alth program most suitable for the pony, since veterinary care It will be essential to keep the animal in optimal he alth.
He alth care affects any horse but is especially important for broodmares and young foals.
Generally, regular vaccinations and deworming should be applied, these becoming specially important during the spring to prevent numerous diseases that could occur in the months later.
