cow pony

American  

noun

1. a small, fast, agile horse trained for use by cowhands in herding cattle.

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cow pony British  

noun

1. a horse used by cowboys when herding

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Etymology

Origin of cow pony

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

First, she was a cow pony at Connie Wilbur’s ranch east of Laramie, where she was born.

From Washington Times • May 24, 2017

Tala was a cow pony, mentor mare and endurance racer, but Swiatek said she will always remember Tala as her best friend.

From Washington Times • May 24, 2017

Here, too, there are improbabilities: an effete Thoroughbred flat racer could not really move like a cow pony or return him to nature as easily as this movie suggests.

From Time Magazine Archive

Said one fervent rancher: "A cow pony with a master's degree."

From Time Magazine Archive

For Josh to so nonchalantly trot through the mare’s legs, as well as the legs of the black cow pony, then back to me, came in the form of a message....

From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen