Hard-working horses have always been man’s best friends, but the playful pony is a kid’s best friend.

A pony is a small horse. Like horses, they have a lot of hair. The most well-known is the small Shetland pony, only as tall as a six-year-old child! Shetland ponies can pull twice their own weight (重量), with only their thick hair to protect them from the cold.

Ponies eat grass, oats and bran (燕麦和糠) and they also love carrots and apples. They don’t eat meat, ponies can sleep both lying down and standing up.

They are very playful, which is why they get on so well with children! They are happy to hang with their friends and go for rides. They enjoy having fun as much as their riders.

Like you and your friends, every pony is different. Some are quiet and some are cheeky (嬉皮笑脸的). Some are hard-working and others can be a bit lazy. Ponies are sensitive and often try to cheer you up when you feel sad. Just like you, they prefer to be spoken to kindly rather than shouted at!

A pony makes a great playmate but remember that it is not a toy. It is a living animal that needs care and lots of loving attention. You have to learn how to feed and groom (刷洗) it every day, how to clean its feet so that they stay healthy, are they?