Fetish 101 Ponyplay: Tricked out in leather, adorned with plumes, trained with whips...what you might not know about ponyplay

Show pony, art by John Willie

A recent reading of A. N. Roquelaure’s Beauty’s Kingdom made me curious. About what you ask. Spanking? Sex slaves? We are talking about Ann Rice, after all. But nope, I wasn’t wondering about those things. I was curious about ponies. To be more accurate, people pretending to be ponies: ponyboys and ponygirls.

If you read the second two of the Sleeping Beauty series, you know doubt remember Tristan’s fate of being forced to pull the Captain of the Guard’s cart in book 2, Beauty’s Punishment, then being sent to the stables as a punishment in book 3, Beauty’s Release. Ann Rice’s latest book, the fourth in the series, Beauty’s Kingdom, features extensive description of the stables and human ponies. It was that lengthy detail that got me wondering about real life human ponies and ponyplay.

Ponyplay is just what it sounds like, animal role-play when one or more person involved pretends to be a pony. Ponyplay may or may not involve BDSM and in some instances, it is non-sexual or involves little “normal” sexual contact. Typically, the sexual thrill comes from the fantasy created by the pony, the concept of actually being a pony under the control of a groom, trainer, or owner. The trainer, groom or owner is dominant, in control of their animal. “Normal” sex may occur if the ponies are engaged in ‘stud services,’ meaning one pony is bred to another. This studding requires permissions and arrangements of the ponies’ owners. 

One of the draws to ponyplay is that there are many opportunities for individuals to put their own

creative twist on their preferred activity. Many ponyboys and ponygirls create a distinct ‘personality,’ or temperament, for their pony. They, as their pony self, are a particular breed and have detailed nice and naughty characteristics. For example, their pony self may be a hard-working even-tempered pony that thrives on praise or their pony self may be a naughty pony that often misbehaves and requires constant direction and punishments.

Cart ponies, art by John Willie

Most often, all ponies wear tack and other adornments. Tack may include a bridle, with bit, saddle, designed especially for human or actual ponies, harness, plumes, and horsetails. There may also be a lot of leather or rubber suiting. Rains or riding straps are another possibility. And of course, pony shoes which are shoes designed to look and sound like horse hooves. The trainer and/or rider will also have equipment: whips and crops, for example.

Generally, there are three types of ponies.

Riding ponies.

Cart ponies.

Show ponies.

Riding ponies are ridden by their riders who may also be their trainers and owners. Riding ponies can be two or four legged and there are saddles designed for both. Real, actual horse, saddles can also be used. Obviously, riding ponies must be strong and agile to bear the weight of riders.

Cart ponies pull carts, carriages, wagons, sulkies…you get the idea. These ponies pull something someone else rides in. The cart pony many or may not wear fancy gear but cart ponies do have tack that is designed to get the job done. Typically the vehicle pulled by the cart pony seats one or two people, but there are larger carts pulled by a team of ponies. Team ponies, most often two-legged, require specialized training and often have matching tack. Additionally, they often have matching physiques or are arranged by physique.

Show ponies are tricked out in fancy tack and ornate accessories. As the name indicates, these ponies are valued for their beauty and ability to perform. They learn human pony gaits and are taught intricate routines by their trainers. Most often these ponies who off their dressage skills, sometimes in organized events.

This video shows a lovely training session, a nice blonde show pony displaying gaits with and without boots.  Prefer something more art-y? Ponygirl Nemi.

Cart pony, art by John Willie

Ponyplay is not new. Historians have debated the notion that Aristotle was in the habit of pretending to be a pony for the enjoyment of his wife and/or other women. This explains why ponyplay is sometimes known as “The Aristotelian Perversion” and also reveals that this penchant has been around and thriving for a long, long time. Images of ponyplay in the US can be found in books, magazines and artwork. It’s the sort of thing that once you start looking for it, you’ll see it. One place to start looking is in decades old copies of the American fetish magazine, Bizarre, which featured ponygirl stories throughout the 50’s and 60’s. The artwork by John Willie is intriguing, to put it mildly. Were to look next? I'll leave that up to you.

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Want some more right now? I suggest this ten minute video that offers a great overview as well as some ponies in action:  ponyplay tv5

Interested in why people are involved in ponyplay? Try: Pony and Master, interview and Addicted to PonyPlay.