Even Further Thoughts on Sapient Species · 5:24am Mar 8th, 2020
Ponies and pretty much all sapient species have an extended range of motion compared to most quadrupeds, enabling them to stand and walk solely on their hind legs as bipeds and use their forelimbs and hooves as arms with the same range of motion. The problem is is that the art of doing so is basically lost as it is uncomfortable for them to do so and even potentially mildly painful up until the proper muscle mass and balance have been built up as it is not natural feeling initially, and making it be so taking a little time and training. Most Sapient Beings lack the time, patience, and mental fortitude to commit to said training. Gryphons, Dragons, and their descendants are the most likely to bother given their forelimbs end in hands. Of those not descended from there, Pinkie Pie is probably the only modern equine to have bothered, and everyone has dismissed her ability to do so as Pinkie being Pinkie, which is rather a shame. As an extension of the above, said equines as an evolutionary holdover all have secondary mana channels leading to their fore-hooves enabling very localized telekinesis, basically giving phantom hands. However, given the fact they tend to spend almost all their time with 3 or 4 legs on the ground, most never train their dexterity beyond being able to very roughly grab stuff and use their mouths, wings, or Grey Magic telekinesis for fine manipulation. On that note, Pegasi are capable of fine manipulation using the feathers on the end of their wings, the Primaries, although it isn't very strong and can be awkward.
Diets:
Gryphons and related: Omnivorous with carnivorous tendencies. Most Gryphon Dishes have some meat component to them.
Dragons and Descendants: Omnivores and Gem Eaters. Dragons prefer eating gems but are capable of surviving off of normal food.
'Lings: Omnivores and Emotivores. Their bodies will digest physical food first before their life energy.
Seaponies and related: Also Omnivores.
Other Equines and buffalo and similar: Omnivores with very heavy Pescatarian tendencies. Most ponies, buffalo, zebra, and similar are culturally trained from a young age to not eat meat besides fish and the occasional piece of chicken or pork. Pegasi and Thestrals are the most likely to experiment and eat other meats. All however are capable of chewing meat, and providing it is lean, digesting it.
Flesh and Blood Wolves: Omnivores with Carnivorous Tendencies. They tend to stay far away from ponies and roam in packs in the frozen north. The most that are usually ever seen is solo scouts trying to find out the news given the nearest Equestrian cities to them are extremely hostile to them due to thinking they eat ponies and are non-sapient, having thought they'd all gone feral. Scouts are trained to pretend to be non-sapient due to fear of ponies. They have a mild sensitivity to theobromine but can eat chocolate in light quantities without problems.
None of the above species will willingly eat the flesh of a sapient species unless facing extreme starvation, viewing it as extremely taboo and basically cannibalism and punished as such except under extremely extenuating circumstances.
Expansion on Magic types:
Earth Magic. Channeled through feet. Used by earth ponies naturally. Also used by Wolves and a bit by Zebra. Concerns enhancing the users own body. Also encompasses growth spells and alchemy. It's a very subtle magic school that most don't think exist. Changelings are also capable in this school due to mimicry.
Weather/Flight Magic: Used by Pegasi, Gryphons, and Thestrals naturally. Also useable by Changelings natively. Contains spells to walk on clouds and manipulate the weather. Also aids in flight. Cloud manipulation channeled through feet while Flight Magic is channeled through wings. Dragon Flight is also powered by this but it is all they are naturally able to use is the flight granting portion.
Music Magic: Capable musicians are capable of creating literal magic that can inspire feelings and even suggestions in listeners such as compulsive dancing and enhanced abilities, getting things done faster if the song matches. Note: Misjudging mood and tastes can actively cause the opposite of the intended effect to happen.
I like your ideas of how ponies acts and what they can do. I think almost the same things in my own headcannon about them. I wonder if you are planning to use these ideas and interact with them in your Harry Potter story? It would make sense that with Harry spending time with humans would make him take advantage of being able to be bipedal and using his hooves, and if he brings that idea to Equestria, it spreading to other ponies if they can see how useful it could be. Such as if Harry becomes close with the mane 6, then if they go bipedal or use their hooves more often, inspiring others to follow suit. Yea, Pinkie doing it leads to ponies saying it is just Pinkie being Pinkie, but when Twilight or Rainbow Dash starts to do it, I can see it leading to a potential shift in culture. Sorry for my rambling here, I think your ideas are cool.
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If you haven't caught it yet Princess Celestia has been to the human world often enough in my HP fic and knew Lily well enough that she is legally Harry's godmother and guardian under an almost perfect anagram of her name and subspecies. Not yet published is a chapter where she tells him to practice moving as a biped and wearing clothes precisely so when his Hogwarts letter reaches him he can fit in. The CMC will also catch him and join in on his semi-secret practice. And by wearing clothes I mean shirt, pants, and underwear as yes, ponies do know what pants and underwear are. It also won't take long for them to figure out bras, especially since Celestia knows what they are and why they are used.