Pretty ponies in an Irish field
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325758)
Rockingham, Australia
September 16, 2017 3:45pm CST
While travelling through south-east Ireland yesterday we came across these pretty ponies in a field. They are Irish Cobs, also known as Gypsy Cobs or Gypsy Vanners. They are mostly on the small side with hairy legs. The majority are either piebald (black and white) or skewbald (any other colour and white).
We have seen a number of coloured horses since we’ve been in Ireland and there were also quite a few in France. My father used to breed coloured horses but in those years there was quite a bit of prejudice against them.
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9 responses
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 17
Equines are mostly measured in 'hands' - a hand being 4 inches. Sometimes the measurement is given in inches or centimetres.
In Australia, ponies are those under 14hh (hands high) but in some countries the cut-off point is 14.2hh. The height is measured at the highest point on the withers (the part of the backbone immediately in front of the saddle. This part does not move relative to the ground which is why the height is measured from this point.
Thoroughbreds (race-horses) typically measure 16 hands (64 inches). Here endeth the lesson. 
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@peachpurple (13884)
• Malaysia
16 Sep 17
They are beauty indeed. But the pony hair is longer than the horse right?
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 17
Horses are taller than ponies and that is the real difference. Many ponies do have longer hair but that doesn't differentiate horses from ponies. In Australia ponies are 56 inches tall or less but in other countries the measurement might be slightly different. Horses are measured from the withers which are just in front of where the saddle sits.
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Sep 17
@peachpurple Ponies are mostly ridden by children as they aren't so tall to mount. They have many purposes. In olden days they were used in coal-mines to pull carriages full of coal. The bigger ponies took children to and from school or farmers' wives to the town to do the shopping.
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@peachpurple (13884)
• Malaysia
17 Sep 17
@JudyEv so ponies aremeant for circus and rides?
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 17
I grew up on a farm and always loved the animal side of it. We had stud sheep and cattle and being interested I guess I just absorbed it all at the time and read up and absorbed more as I got older. Some people know all about horticulture; I know a little about livestock. I really think it is that simple.
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 17
Yes, it's a mare and foal. Many thought paint horses had weak bones or whatever. They just weren't popular.
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Sep 17
Awww look at the little baby.
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@YrNemo (20261)
•
17 Sep 17
OMG, you mean there was such a thing as racism among the horses world? Which one would be favored more (more expensive)? Pure black? Thanks so much for explaining to us piebald and skewbald (I read about them, but never really understood what was what!).
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@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Sep 17
Fashions come and go even in the horse world. When palominos weren't so common they were highly regarded too. Palominos are the 'golden' horses with the white manes and tails. I guess it depends in what sport you're involved in as to what horses are most sought after now.
