How to Care for a Pony

Caring for a pony is much like caring for a full-sized horse, but there are important differences. Caring for a pony should be closer to the care you give a horse, not the care you give a pet such as a dog. Many people mistakenly treat ponies like pets. Learn to properly care for a pony by following these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Contain your pony in a safe pasture. Ponies need fencing similar to horses, but without large gaps under and between rails. A pony can roll under a fence more easily than a horse. Make sure the fence is low to the ground and has rails close together so the pony is not able to stick his head and legs through.
2. Keep predators away from your pony. Dogs and ponies do not mix well. Ponies are too small to defend themselves from dogs. Many ponies have suffered extreme wounds and even death because of a dog attack. Make sure stray dogs can't get inside the fence with your pony by putting up a wire fence with small sized squares.
3. Build a shelter for your pony. If you don't have a barn and stall for your pony, build a run-in shed. If she shares a pasture with other large horses, build the shed tall enough for the pony but low enough so large horses can't get into the shed. This may be the only place the pony can get away from the horse.
4. Clean your pony's hooves daily. Ponies have very delicate feet that are more fragile than most horse's hooves. The pony should be trimmed on a strict schedule of every six to eight weeks. Have a professional farrier trim your pony's hooves.
5. Feed your pony an adequate amount of feed and hay according to his body weight and health. If the pony is on pasture grass, he won't need as much hay. If the pony is not ridden or exercised much, he does not need feed. Ponies don't need as much food as horses do to stay healthy.
6. Exercise your pony daily. If she is not ridden much, allow her time in an open pasture to run around each day. Lunging is a great way to exercise a pony without riding her.

Tips & Warnings

• Ponies need vet work and vaccinations 2 times a year at a mininum
• Ponies are more prone to becoming obese this can lead to many health issues such as founder or laminitis