How do ponies hold things?!?!

[BronyDoesBronyThings 63]

I read an interesting theory, which I can't find now, that said that every pony had an invisible magic force that they could channel into "fingers" from their hooves that allowed them to hold stuff, and that this force was most prominent in Earth ponies. Do you have a theory as to how ponies hold things? Let me know here!!!

(Sorry if I posted this in the wrong place, or if this thread already exists.)

[Sapphire Lightning 784]

A lot of fanfiction includes the idea that a pony focusing on "holding" an object with their hooves magically glues it there, and from what we see in cannon works that seems to be somewhat true. A good example is Octavia with her Cello bow. In a world full of magic, this would make sense. Other methods seem to involve the use of the final joint before the hoof to kinda "squeeze hold" an item. I use this at work when filling the cooler, when I have to carry 5 to 8 bottles in my arms/hooves. Ive gotten very good at it, so I can see it being used by ponies in certain circumstances. For stuff that wouldnt work for the above mentioned ways, or would be too tedious to maintain, they seemed to have invented some easy-to-use specialty holders that they will strap to their hooves. Failing all of that, they always have their mouths.

Edited September 27, 2015 by Sapphire Lightning

[Ecntrix 86]

Well, I know unicorns use magic to hold things. Most of the time ponies hold things in there mouths. But ponies do hold things with their hooves like here:

 

and here:

Edited September 27, 2015 by Ecntrix

[TigerGeekGuy 4,662]

There's this theory:

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/06/pony-hooves-explained.html

 

I also heard another one where pony fur is made of alicorn, (the substance that give unicorn's horns magical properties). Since it seems that their hooves may be covered with their fur, they may be using the fur itself to grip things.

[BronyDoesBronyThings 63]

Other methods seem to involve the use of the final joint before the hoof to kinda "squeeze hold" an item.

I see that a lot (your profile picture is a prime example), but it doesn't explain when they are obviously not doing that. It might be a combination of both, but I don't know. Hasbro, you got some explaining to do...

[Ecntrix 86]

Here's an example on how ponies hold things like sticks and other things that require the item not to just sit on their hoof:

 

[BronyDoesBronyThings 63]

Here's an example on how ponies hold things like sticks and other things that require the item not to just sit on their hoof:

 

That ties in with what Sapphire said, too. 

 

There's this theory:

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/06/pony-hooves-explained.html

 

I also heard another one where pony fur is made of alicorn, (the substance that give unicorn's horns magical properties). Since it seems that their hooves may be covered with their fur, they may be using the fur itself to grip things.

I haven't seen that one before, but that's really neat, Hasbro, pick one.

[Daring_Do 552]

Faust, I hear, specifically forbade hoof hands and urged more creative solutions (like the umbrella saddle).

[BronyDoesBronyThings 63]

Faust, I hear, specifically forbade hoof hands and urged more creative solutions (like the umbrella saddle).

I didn't see that, but I'm also not well informed on stuff like that, so idk. That's strange, considering the ponies shown holding stuff in the pics... 

[Daring_Do 552]

I didn't see that, but I'm also not well informed on stuff like that, so idk. That's strange, considering the ponies shown holding stuff in the pics... 

Hmm, what seasons are the pics from?

[BronyDoesBronyThings 63]

Hmm, what seasons are the pics from?

 

Here's an example on how ponies hold things like sticks and other things that require the item not to just sit on their hoof:

 

Ecntrix, I don't know stuff, everypony thinks I know stuff, requesting backup, over.

[Daring_Do 552]

That one's definitely from Return of Harmony - Faust wasn't involved as much in S2, I hear. Not sure on the others; I think the one with the jar might be from Mare Do Well... Was that S3 (after Faust was completely gone)?

[BronyDoesBronyThings 63]

I don't even know, It has been so long since I've actually WATCHED the show, I've just been sitting here in a pool of fanart and roleplays... XD

[Ecntrix 86]

Ecntrix, I don't know stuff, everypony thinks I know stuff, requesting backup, over.

Haha, I just looked up "ponies holding stuff"  But, not too many references showing ponies holding things. It's either between their two hooves, on top of their hoof, or their hoof wrapped around.

 

That one's definitely from Return of Harmony - Faust wasn't involved as much in S2, I hear. Not sure on the others; I think the one with the jar might be from Mare Do Well... Was that S3 (after Faust was completely gone) ?

 

Yes, it was from Mare Do Well.

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Honestly, I think it depends on the item. If its a drink, it's between their two hooves. If it's something like the jar or something that is easy to balance, its on top of the hoof. And if its something like that flag it needs to have a hoof wrapped around. And if it's something like a book or food or something simple, they put it in their mouths. And I think ponies wear wearable objects because (they're lazy) it's easy to carry around. Wouldn't you like to wear a umbrella hat instead of having to hold up one? Probably even if it made you look silly. So yea, it all depends on the object, in my opinion.

[-Octavia- 1,176]

So how would you explain the archer in the background? The hoof is wrapped around the bow, clearly, but how would one pull the bowstring? I don't imagine "squeezing" the string somehow with the fleshy part of their hooves is viable: there are far too many pounds of pressure.

 

Though I suppose as a statue it could merely be for aesthetics. The bow itself looks functionally useless.

Edited September 27, 2015 by Wubtavia

[Side Bird 566]

Well, a Gryphon can just use their claws, so woopie.

 

I agree with Sapphire up above. It seems to work, that if they think about holding it, it'll sort of "stick" to them, and they can set it down without a thought. They can also wrap their hooves around it, or have a little latch for it.

 

However, Sapphire's seems to work best, as in this picture from above- 

 

 

You can see the pony in the backround firing a bow. I'm pretty sure the item just sort of glues to their hooves, otherwise nocking an arrow would be pretty hard without magic. So along with being able to wrap their hooves around things, I'm thinking the item just sticks to them. Maybe they make all items magical so hooves can do that.

Edited September 27, 2015 by Side Bird

[Ecntrix 86]

You know, they could always have sticky hairs like spiders. XD

Or, it could just be magic. This is Equestria, a place of magical ponies that could pretty much anything. Or there could be no physics at all. This is a cartoon

[cmarston1 5,959]

The world may never know.

The world may never know.

[BronyDoesBronyThings 63]

Maybe all of them have fingers and invisible paint.

[Dark Horse 12,961]

There was that one time we saw Pinkie holding a bubble blower with sticky tape attached to her hooves, and IIRC the comics also showed us that solution. As for all the other times though I have no idea. I'm guessing their anatomy works different to real life Ponies. Or it's magic. Let's blame magic. -_-

 

[PROJECT: Simon 3,954]

The world may never know.

The world may never know.

This, just made my day~! xDDDD ^~^     

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,367]

There was that one time we saw Pinkie holding a bubble blower with sticky tape attached to her hooves, and IIRC the comics also showed us that solution. As for all the other times though I have no idea. I'm guessing their anatomy works different to real life Ponies. Or it's magic. Let's blame magic. -_-

 

Pinkie_Pie_making_a_bubble_shaped_like_a_pony_S4E12.jpg

I don't remember this at all. She used sticky tape there? This could explain an awful lot, though they don't seem to use it in any other scenario. Honestly, that is what they should do, it would be a funny, makeshift way to hold stuff. Instead, we have the magical glue force, which seems to be the best explanation. That or pony hooves have a controllable, intense gravitational pull. 

[ManaMinori 4,145]

With da majiks! Wait, no, I mean...da nubs!

[TerminalObsession 250]

With da majiks! Wait, no, I mean...da nubs!

thumb.JPG

That's beautiful.

 

As for me, I think pony hooves contain alicorn, which lets them attract things, similar to magnetism. It is highly manipulatable, but not particularly strong, so ponies balance larger things on their hooves.

[Bendy 1,821]

It seems all ponies seem to have magical hooves. Even Earth ponies.

 

It's a passive magic that only allows them to use hooves as good as human hands.

Edited September 28, 2015 by Bendy