Can ponies die from magic exertion?

[Brony Man 172]

Let's say a unicorn used up all his or her magic by using one powerful spell. It had depleted their magic levels really low, possibly leaving them exhausted but they kept going? Would they die?

[Gestum 2,493]

If they survived when Tirek took their magic, then they'll survive using it up.

[Jeric 46,861]

If they survived when Tirek took their magic, then they'll survive using it up.

 

I consider what Tirek did was strip the Ponies of their access or connection to magic. The OP brought up exhaustion as well, which is evidently possible based on what we have seen in the show. The only jump would be if over exhausting yourself magically could have the same effect as overextending yourself physically. If so ... then yes it would not be a stretch to say that they could die if they pushed themselves too hard. 

[Shanks 10,816]

Yes, magic in the MLP universe is much like the concept of Chi/Ki which DBZ fans should be at least somewhat familiar with or the "Force" in Star Wars in that it represents the very life force itself. We also know in the show that magic as in the kind unicorns manipulate is not the only form of "magic" we see but that all the ponies, even earth ponies have latent magic meaning their life forces are inextricably tied to it. It is true that the ponies Tirek drained didn't die but that was likely due to the fact that he severed their connections to magic and absorbed the conduit they use to tap into this. If he had absorbed their life force itself like say Shang Sung (Mortal Kombat) than they without question would have died.

 

As we have seen in the show as well as the other franchise examples I gave tapping into said magic requires energy and all beings have a finite amount of energy and if took much energy is expended at one time it could lead to injury or in some cases even death. Yes a pony can die from magic exertion much like they could from physical exertion because of this. The only way around this would be the ability to tap into magic with an outside conduit much like how someone uses a remote control to control a machine but even then said conduit can still be overloaded. Can you imagine though a character, especially a villain combining high technology with magic?

[Jeremiah 1,586]

This also brings up the question: Is there a limit to there magic exertion?

[Shanks 10,816]

This also brings up the question: Is there a limit to there magic exertion?

There probably is but what it is would depend on the pony in question, due to Twilights sheer magical ability and years of practice she can exert herself to a much greater extent without risking injury than most ponies can. Since it is common for unicorns to use magic to aid them in tasks and even in their professions like Rarity's gem finding spell for example it is reasonable to assume that most develop some endurace as they get more practice and age but how much depends.

[Nit Pick 247]

Well according to my head cannon; I believe unicorns can get extreme horn aches because unicorns and alicorns have muscles on the top of their head that squeeze a soft muscle like tissue in the horn. Fibrous nerves (connected to the soft muscle tissue in the horn and colored to the unicorns horn glow) connect to the rings on the outer horn. It emits what unicorn scientists call mana particles, the unexplained force that horned ponies and horses have that can only be defined as magic.

 

I can go on and on about this but I won't. I do see horn cramps are just as bad as a foot cramp times five.

[colt .45 259]

In the Journal of the Two Sisters, before Celestia and Luna raised the sun and moon, a team of six umicorns raised and lowered the sun and moon. It took so much magic to do so, that they would eventually deplete all of their magic and need to be replaced. It didn't kill them, but essentially rendered them to earth ponies with a horn.

[GuyNamedEarl 1,332]

Probably the closest they get is passing out or exhaustion.

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

Yeah I suppose, just in the same way over exhaustion can kill someone. 

[Malinter 3,064]

I doubt it can but that said, they'd be so fatigued they might be vunerable to lesser dangers in that state 

[Nature's Spell 526]

It's possible, but it doesn't appear that many Unicorns ever use spells that can drain them. Basically the spells you do or learn are part of your special talent. Only a unicorn like Twilight who so loves magic would push themselves to the limit. Spells are to unicorns what flying is to pegasus. It's part of them. Yet we've seen ponies come close to exhaustion trying to maintain spells, so it would work head canon wise.

Edited July 13, 2015 by Nature's Spell

[The Wubstep Brony 13]

I think they would survive but they would be really low on energy

[The Nth Doctor 663]

I'd hope the body's natural fail-safes knock out the pony to prevent that sort of thing