Better to Be Safe Than Sorry
When winter starts approaching, Jody does not let the Red Pony when he goes to school because he does not want the pony to get sick from being out in the rain. One morning when the sky was clear, Billy Buck tells Jody that it would be good to let the horse out because it will not rain. Jody is skeptical, but he still follows what Billy Buck says. While at school, Jody notices that it started to rain and began to worry about his pony. When he got home, the pony seemed fine. The next morning, however, the horse was sick just like Jody feared. Billy Buck was unable to save the Red Pony, and it died soon thereafter. This reveals the theme that it is better to be safe than sorry especially while dealing with something or someone you love.
No Matter the Circumstance, Give All You Can
When the Red Pony got sick, Jody devoted himself to making the pony better. When it was clear to Billy Buck that the pony was not going to live, Billy Buck tried his hardest to help the horse survive. Even after Jody realized the pony was not going to live, he still took care of the pony as much as possible. Although the pony did die, Jody's father later promised Jody a pony because of the way he took care of the pony when there was no hope. This reveals the theme that no matter what kind of chance you have, give all you can because you will always be repaid in the future.
Nothing is Ever Useless
When an old man name Gitano, who supposedly lived near the Tiflin ranch previously, comes back "home," Jody's father indirectly compares Gitano to their old horse Easter who is useless as much as possible. He says how it would be better for the horse, and everyone else, if Easter just died. One day soon after, Easter did not come home after grazing. Jody's father figured he finally died. Gitano disappeared also. Later on, the family was told that an old man was riding on an old horse into the mountains. This reveals the theme that although something seems useless to you, it is not useless to everyone.
