The beasts need time to manipulate espionage! (6)
I believe the answer is:
ponies
'the beasts' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ponies that I've seen before include "Small breeds of horse" , "rides" , "Small horses" .)