Ponies and small horses have specific welfare needs and health challenges that differ from larger horses. Understanding these differences is essential for appropriate care of these hardy but vulnerable animals.
Pony welfare is frequently compromised by treating ponies as lower-maintenance versions of horses. Native pony breeds in particular face specific welfare challenges from their metabolic efficiency - access to rich pasture that would be normal for sport horses causes obesity and laminitis in native ponies. These are not failures of management but natural adaptations to the sparse environments these breeds evolved in. Appropriate pony welfare requires recognizing their specific needs: restricted grass access in spring and summer, daily exercise to prevent obesity, dental care as rigorous as for larger horses, and social housing appropriate to a herd animal that often lives three decades.