'Best' native

I'll add my vote for a Dales. I have a photo somewhere of my 5'10 friend on my 14.1 Dales. She certainly doesn't look ridiculous size wise.
Lots of photos of jumping Dales on the Dales Appreciation facebook page
 
I would unreservedly say a Welsh D; but then I'm biased as my mare is one!

They are sturdy, versatile, chatty little small horses with an enquiring mind and a vivacious nature. Highly intelligent and loyal to a fault, IMO there just isn't any other native that is anywhere near like as versatile and adaptable as a Welsh D, they'll go equally well in harness, in hand showing, or under saddle; and they'll equally adapt to popping round a decent X-country course and/or will keep you very stylishly near the action all day out hunting.

My mare is one of the lighter Welshies, some are admittedly quite heavy, but if you choose carefully and research your bloodlines carefully it is possible to get exactly what you want for whatever discipline you want.
 
be positive said:
At local level they can be shown as natives, I have never lost any marks by doing so and my natives have frequently beaten the plaited ponies, it is mainly judged on performance and conformation, turnout should be correct and smart but is not marked separately so there are no marks to be lost.

A good Highland would easily carry a 5ft 10in male rider and be great fun, dryrot on here has a nice young one for sale it may be worth sending him a pm although it may be a bit small, there are a few smart ponies on the HPS website

http://www.highlandponysociety.com/shop/ponies-for-sale.html
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Dry Rot has also sold some that have gone over 14HH as 3yo's and will still be growing. 5yo 13.2HH Morrich Fearna is currently clearing over 84cms with ease.

From my researches, I am convinced that a few hundred years ago before metalled roads, and so wheeled transport, there were at least two distinct types of Highland. The blocky weight carrying pack pony for transporting goods and the longer legged riding pony for personnel. Look at the pictures of these Highland ponies taken from Summerhay's "Book of the Pony" published in the 1940's. There are still some of this type around if you search. But the majority looking for a Highland pony these days will go for the heavier type because that is what they expect a Highland pony to be!

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for workers if you can get a Highland under 143cm then they have a better chance, the exceeding 143cm classes are dominated by Connies and New Forest as the tracks are bigger.

Personally given the choice I would get a New Forest, they don't attract the higher prices that Highlands and Connies sometimes demand and are every bit as athletic and versatile as a good Connie and have become much more high profile in recent years
 
I love my NFs personally. Absolutely cracking ponies, and amazing jumpers too.

Have a look on my posts to see what my NF is doing, they are such athletic and beautiful ponies.
 
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Personally, I do love a NF pony. They are such characters, always great fun to have around and extremely zippy and intelligent. I've known some cracking Highlands too who've surprised people with their ability :)
 
I have to say I do really like Highlands but in the end I chose a new forest because i believe they find jumping easier and are naturally more scopey than the H/D/F
 
paddy555 said:
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how about another vote for a Dales!
Far less problematical than a sec D.
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I have to agree with his.. I can because I own a Welsh D :D If he doesn't mind a different range in temperaments then sure, go for a Welsh cob - the Maesmynach Cobs are really quite huge sometimes.

I do love a Dales or a Fell - Getting rarer though. You mainly see stallions for sale i've noticed. Not that is matters to him showing wise though, he's adult. Send him this guy on if he doesn't mind putting in work over winter. http://www.horsequest.co.uk/search.aspx?ds=1&c=&rn=123504

JFKD (Mind blank.. is that her user?!) has a jumping Highland.. two infact. The younger guy has more scope but both are fantastic little ponies.

Connemaras have an upper heigh limit don't they?
 
Natives are great. Love my highlands but yes welshes are lovely, connies too and Dales so rare to see Fell and Dales in worcestershire so know so know so little about them!
 
if he wants something that really jumps then get a welsh d.. there is a top JA pony jumping round 1m30 tracks that is a welsh d (the dark emperor) , every one I have met has an amazing jump on them!
 
He wouldn't go wrong with a NF! Look at the current cover of Native Pony magazine. Wizard's rider is 6ft?

Foresters are great at dressage, Silverlea lines have some great BSJA jumpers, Farriers Brown Bear was BHS Open Cross Country Champion. I rest my case. :)
 
My vote would go to either a Highland, Dales or Fell hands down. All cracking ponies with a fantastic pop and brilliant personalities. I'm personally not a fan of Welsh's unless they have been crossed with either Arab or TB but I know many people who have them and have done very well jumping wise with them. A friend has one out eventing at BE100 and doing extremely well! My advice would be to try several different breeds and see what you get on with best as all natives are very different and in my experience, just because you like and get on with one breed, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll like them all!
 
I would always go connie! But I am biased i adore them! That said I at 5'8 have ridden a chunkier 14.2 connie & looked smaller than on a 16hh tb! I've jumped a 13.2 connie round 80cm course then the jump off & we came 2nd ! He certainly did not struggle with me at all

I do love dales & highland as well though, they are beautiful but not as easy to come by as connies so you would have less choice, especially for something established :)

Personally I wouldn't go for a D, they are stunning but all the 1s I've met have been absolute arses! & they don't seem to learn !
 
Last winter I had a fell on loan, I don't jump but know he could and decent sized jumps. He went back and I started a hunt for my own, however I got side tracked and bought a highland, a better choice as they're slightly bigger, if I could find one I would also have looked at a dales pony. My highland jumps and has been hunting (not with me so know idea how high he jumped) but the tall guy that hunted him had to admit he didn't feel ridiculous on him. Mine isn't a stocky chap but is solid.

Personally I. Can't recommend native ponies enough, but I'd go for a fell or dales or Welsh d at a push (not my type) just because they come up slightly bigger.
 
Hi I have a Highland and he's a dream I love him so much he has taught me so much about jumping but he's lame atm 😢 but I will never sell him he is my best eat friend and he is a rescue horse I have tried showing him but he act like an idiot I have jumped him up to 2'6ft as om only 13 and we r learning together x I absolutely recommend Highlands I have known Highlands to jump over 1m 😀 good luck
 
each to their own really, what one person likes wont be another’s cup of tea. I had a welsh D before and i loved her but she wasn’t straightforward, that said she was the only horse I have had that I have never come off in 3 years. She wasn’t really a relaxing ride though. I wouldn’t have another one now. I love my highlands, I have just sold my little mare who I bought rising 4 but she stuck at 13hh and although she took up my leg well we both found jumping a bit of a balance issue. I have another highland youngster thought who Im preparing to back, she is 14hh. They do have that thrawn streak though and a really clever pony brain.
 
New Forest for me. I had a part NF - Sire was Arab and dam was New Forest x Exmoor. I can only think the opinions he had (on absolutely everything) came from the native blood. Welsh Sec C are very under-rated and you can beat a Sec D for fire and fury!
 
Archangel said:
New Forest for me. I had a part NF - Sire was Arab and dam was New Forest x Exmoor. I can only think the opinions he had (on absolutely everything) came from the native blood. Welsh Sec C are very under-rated and you can beat a Sec D for fire and fury!
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Yeah we have a beautiful bay Welsh D unbroken 4yr old and I love him he's so sweet I can't wait to see him work x
 
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