Usually, if you know what breed the equine is, you can tell whether it's a pony or a horse. Some breeds have the word "pony" in the name, for instance a Shetland pony. This means that all equines in that breed are ponies, even if a few happen to be a bit taller than 14.2hh.  Quarter horses are all horses, even though some of them are shorter than a horse should be. Finding out the breed of a horse may be as easy as asking its caretaker what breed it is. You can also ask the animal's veterinarian what breed it is. A pony's body tends to be stockier than a horse's body. Stockier proportions usually mean ponies have better endurance for work tasks. Their bones are thicker, their necks are shorter and thicker, and they have thick heads with broad foreheads. Ponies usually have thicker coats than horses. Thicker coats make ponies more resistant to cold weather. In addition, a horse's mane is usually smooth and relatively thin, while a pony's mane and tail are usually thick and course. Spend some time with the animal, either walking it around or petting and brushing it. Ponies tend to be calmer than horses. They are also very smart, just as horses are. Perhaps this combination of calmness and intelligence is why they are so good with children. Horses and ponies also differ in what they are good at doing. Ponies, because of their strength, hardiness, and tough build, are good at working on a farm. They can pull twice their weight, while a horse can usually only pull half of its weight. Horses, on the other hand, can work on a farm but their strength lies more in carrying people. They are not as strong as a pony but they have good stamina and can be more skillful animals.
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