So essentially in the long ago past, the three types of ponies were absolute pricks, yes?

There wasn't a fourth or fifth type?

Not absolute pricks. More like they were distrusting of each other. Each of them had a skill or power necessary to make life easy for them all: Pegasi commanded the weather, Earth Ponies were capable of cultivating the land, and the Unicorns' magic allowed for the day/night cycle to be even and controlled.

Now, instead of a Tazmily-esque society of mutual sharing of their gifts, the Pegasi and Unicorns basically demanded food in tribute for their gifts, which led to festering distrust from the Earth Ponies, who didn't want to have to give away their crops for that. Well, it was distrust across the board, really. None of them sound like they were quite going about things the right way.

I'm also intrigued by the Earth Pony segment. How is it that they were the only ones capable of cultivating the land and growing food. Is there a magical element to their farming? Does that extend to the current day?

And I wonder if Discord's reign is going to be brought up in the play.

Finally, I'm loving Spike's continued career as an announcer.

edited 15th Dec '11 9:10:59 PM by Enlong

^It seems like we're finally getting a canon explanation of the earth ponies' innate magic.

Notably the plant team in Winter Wrap Up consisted of ONLY Earth Ponies. But then again Winter Wrap Up was clearly a very traditional holiday as evident by the fact that they denied any implimentation of unicorn magic.

Well I don't ever recall seeing Unicorns or Pegasai doing any cultivating so that seems valid.

edited 15th Dec '11 10:55:32 PM by Chadaman99

Also, the role of the Unicorns in the olden days makes the absolute abundance of celestial body-themed cutie marks in Canterlot make sense.

Twilight has a star cutie mark, Naughtlicht a Moon, and Trixie also has a moon.

And you can't go five feet in high-class Canterlot without seeing stars, it seems.

Well, royal Canterlot, anyway.

It also makes more sense that there's such a high density of unicorns in Canterlot; if Earth ponies are the only ones who can farm, most of them probably aren't going to live in a city where there's very little cultivation to be done. There are obviously going to be Earth Pony landscapers and gardeners and such, but still, Canterlot isn't agrarian to have loads of EP's.

What about Manehattan?

No idea. Maybe they need E Ps around to take care of the Manehattan equivalent of Central Park or whatever.

Well we do know the Orange family is centered around there. So maybe the agriculture takes place outside city limits for the benefit of shipping and transport.

Or they make their living selling that fancy organic stuff to hipster ponies.

Construction, rail transport, etc. Agriculture isn't the only thing earth ponies are good at, remember?

Big Sister is watching you.

Princess Cadence is best semi-canonical Third Alicorn.◊

And Shining Armor in...shining armor.◊

So do Earth Ponies need to be there the whole time for growing? Do they just need to get the growing started? Do they need to do something to the ground every so often to make it usable for crops?

"So there wasn't a fourth or fifth type?"

HORSES. Big cousins to Earth Ponies. Possible warrior race? Where they went is anyone's guess, but I aim to do something about that.

Can't forget Donkeys, either. Stubborn but they posses great stamina and endurance. You think Applejack is a workaholic? Puh-leeze.

Equestria for ALL Equines! Not just the cute ones!

I loved the fact that AJ was the one who planted the seeds of truth in cutie pox. Kinda a minor case of Fridge Brilliance given what we know now

edited 16th Dec '11 1:22:21 AM by gingerninja666

If donkeys then the mule who appeared in Applebuck Session means that somepony really loved their donkey.

What about mules you racist! Just because they can't have children doesn't mean they can't have rights!

edited 16th Dec '11 1:24:06 AM by Badwolfwho

I was reading Black Beauty for a bit yesterday, and it hit me quite hard after all the ponies I've been enjoying D: The parts about Ginger the mare being flogged and worse was quite unbearable.

I didn't forget Mules. Or Hinnys. Just that they're sterile, they're a dead-end, usually. Anyway, a Mule would infer that there's Horses AND Donkeys in Equestria, that we haven't seen.

..or it was just a gag and not to be taken seriously, but that's no fun.

So if the ponies are only 7 apples high, what should our average horse be? I say 14 to 16 for most, 16 to 19 for the draft ones.