Argh…I just lost a LONG fricking post by hitting the wrong button…
Short version, I disagree with SerinaPerido’s assertion about the male ponies in the show.
Only two of them are idiots - Snips and Snails. 4 others - the Cloudsdale Bullies and Prince Blueblood - strongly display other negative traits (the Cloudsdale Bullies are, of course, bullies, Blueblood is a self-centred snob).
There 9 others with significant enough speaking roles to say anything about their personalities - Big Mac, Caramel, ‘Doctor Whoof’, ‘Ace’, Hoity Toity, Braeburn, Uncle Orange, Mr Cake, and Soarin’ - who don’t display any particular negative traits.
Some who deserve special mention:
Big Macintosh (the single most used male pony in the series) is probably the most intelligent and level-headed pony in Ponyville, Canterlot, Cloudsdale and Appleloosa. He’s taciturn, yes, but taciturn isn’t the same as stupid, and when he speaks at length, it’s quite intelligent.
Braeburn is a bit overly enthusiastic about Aaaaaaaaaaappleloosa!, but can a pony be blamed for being effusive about the accomplishment that is Appleloosa? But once the plot really gets under way, he’s one of the few characters - male, female, pony, or buffalo - who thinks that compromise is possible before the end of the battle (even if he, like everybody else - including the core cast - initially looked at the situation with blinders that kept him focused on Appleloosa’s needs, rather than the Buffalo’s - reverse that for Little Strongheart, Spike, Pinkie, and Rainbow, who were on the other side before they started trying to work toward the compromise).
Caramel’s only major role is losing the grass seeds in Winter Wrap Up, so he could reasonably be taken as a dummy - however look at the point of the scene. Ponyville’s Winter Wrap Up is a disorganized mess, so even the ponies who look like they’re on top of things really aren’t - Rarity is shown to only have one nest done at this point, for instance - so he deserves the benefit of the doubt - and Ditzy Doo, too, despite her name.
Hoity Toity is…blunt with his criticism of the girls’ gowns, but…he’s also relatively witty, and quite correct (though Rainbow Dash’s would work quite well for a superhero costume), as well as being effusive with his praise when Rarity’s actual designs are shown.
