Do you travel on shank's pony?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (359577)
Rockingham, Australia
July 25, 2025 7:21pm CST
Our son in Melbourne doesn’t have a car although he has kept his licence up-to-date. He has recently moved and, without a car and on unemployment benefits, he has had to rely on friends to help him shift. A friendly store-owner offered him some carpet offcuts to put on the cement floor of the place where he is living. When he explained he was on ‘shank’s pony’ and couldn’t get them home she offered to deliver them. There are some very kind people out there.
All that is just backstory to pad out this post and ask if you’ve heard of shank’s pony, meaning you’re walking. A shank of course is the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle.
The photo is of my two harness ponies. They are eyeing off a bucket of carrots.
18 people like this
18 responses
@DaddyEvil (154819)
• United States
26 Jul
I've always heard it called "shank's mare" here but both mean the same thing. (I remember two of my brothers coming home after an extended tour in the military saying they had to get different places by shank's mare. I don't know if they picked that up from dad or if dad picked it up from them or someone else.)
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (154819)
• United States
26 Jul
@JudyEv It seemed like it was used a lot more when I was a kid.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (195872)
• United States
26 Jul
I've never heard of that. The ponies are lovely. I want to pet them and feed them a carrot.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (195872)
• United States
10h
@JudyEv That is so cool. I went nuts feeding carrots to giraffes. I LOVED IT!!!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (164959)
• United States
26 Jul
Kind people. I hope things improve for him soon.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (359577)
• Rockingham, Australia
10h
We have a few plans and are working on making one or other come to fruition.
@RebeccasFarm (95449)
• Arvada, Colorado
19h
That was kind of the woman to deliver to your son.
How is the lad doing Judy?
Yes I walk and so does my son..everywhere.
I know the saying well.
We also say hoofing it.
We also say hoofing it.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (359577)
• Rockingham, Australia
10h
We've just spent four days with him which was nice. We have a better idea now of where he is, etc. He's doing okay, thanks.
@RasmaSandra (87338)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21h
That is why I am mostly home public transport is slow and almost nonexistent and all I have are my two feet for walking, I am so glad there is online shopping,
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (43933)
• United States
20h
You have the most interesting posts, Judy. Hope your son will be driving soon, instead of walking.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (3589)
• United Kingdom
26 Jul
It’s a well known saying here with the older generation ….i am in that class now …..nearly.
I do a lot of walking ….we live near a huge arboretum and it’s lovely to walk in there.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (359577)
• Rockingham, Australia
10h
It saves problems with parking. But we did see a bike wheel chained to a post but the rest of the bike had been stolen.
@MarieCoyle (46496)
•
26 Jul
I have heard of the saying Shank's Mare, which basically means the same thing that you say of your saying, that your transportation is your own two legs.
The ponies are so very sweet, Judy.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (359577)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul
Someone else knew of Shank's mare too. The ponies were lovely - just good boys.
@snowy22315 (193474)
• United States
26 Jul
Your poor son Learn something everyday. Today I learned about Shank's Pony
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (359577)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul
We're trying to work out a better solution for him but it will take time. I was surprised to hear him use the term. I haven't heard it in ages.
@JudyEv (359577)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul
I've been very lucky to have been around horses most of my life.
