pony

{plural – ‘ponies’}

a breed of horse – short heavy body with thick hair, short head with broad forehead with thick hair falling, short straight ears, relatively short neck with thick mane (= long hair on the back of the neck), relatively short legs, long thick tail; size: 2½-4 feet tall at the shoulder, and weight: 135-180 Kg; feeds on (eats) the common horse fare – grasses, grain, etc; lives for 20-30 years (some individuals can live up to 40 years); several breeds originally found in the northern hemisphere, but now bred in many parts of the world

male ~~ stallion

female ~~ mare

baby ~~ foal

group ~~ string

voice (call) ~~ neigh

home ~~ (man-made) stable

movement ~~ run, trot, frisk, gallop

Some common ponies are: Hackney pony, Connemara pony, Australian pony, Welsh pony, fell pony, Manipur pony, Shetland pony

Special Features:

Some breeds of ponies are so small that they are some times grouped as ‘miniature horse’ breeds: the smallest pony is only 1½ feet tall at the shoulder and only 24 Kg. in weight! {There are ponies that grow to 3½-5 feet and weigh 135-390 Kg!}

Originally ponies were bred to be used as pack animals (beasts of burden), mostly at the mines.  Later, they were used for pulling small ‘horse carts’ called ‘traps’.

In recent times, ponies have been used for riding for fun, or practice for children learning to ride as these ponies are small and easy to handle!

Some ponies are trained and used in races and in sports, such as polo.

Some ponies are kept as pets by people who love horses but cannot afford a large horse.

Figures of Speech:

1.

pony (noun)  =

(a)  something that is small for its kind, such as a glass for water, beer or liquor

(b)  an amount of whisky enough for one gulp

(c)  {British usage} an amount of money = 25 pound sterling

(d)  {in education} a word-for-word translation of a foreign language text, used secretly by some students preparing or taking a test in that particular foreign language, which is not the right method (illicit method)

2.

to pony (verb)  =  to study with the aid of  a pony (translated foreign language text)

3.

pony-tail  =  a kind of hair-style in which the hair is tied at the back of the head leaving the end loosely falling on the back, usually not touching the back of the neck

4.

(a)  shank’s pony

(b)  to go on shank’s pony

=  to walk; to go from one place to another on foot

5.

dog-and-pony act  =  a carefully worked out, usually with many parts, stage event (stage play, drama), etc.

6.

to pony up  =  to clear a loan or debt; to pay up money owed

7.

to ride the pony  =  to get payment (money) in advance for some work

8.

riding a pony  =  using something to cheat in an examination

9.

pony-trekking  =  the sport of riding ponies in the countryside in small groups

<<< Back to List P —-    Next … pooch >>>