Haflingers. Anyone have one?

Enfys

Enfys

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I am debating going to see a Haflinger this weekend for my daughter, apart from knowing what they look like I haven't got a clue about them otherwise.

So, has anyone ridden, kept one? What are they like as "people"?
There is only so much a breed website can tell you.

Thankyou, as always.
 
I don't have one myself but a very good friend of mine breeds and shows them to the highest standard and I help her break and school them.

As riding horses I would not recommend them for children as they are incredibly strong and, although not that tall, can happily carry a fully-grown adult. As characters they are affectionate but definately not for the inexperienced. They require firm handling and although they look "cuddly" often have wills of iron.

Sorry, if that's all a bit negative. They are great in the right circumstances but I've seen instances of them putting children off riding for life!
 
Some friends of mine had one as a family horse. He was enormous, fairly unfazed by anything but was incredibly strong.

The girls were all very experienced teenage riders though.
 
I agree with sally2008, although I've only ever met and ridden one Hafflinger...he was v strong and stubborn. I'm sure it's like a lot of breeds though....you can get lovely ones and you can get horrible ones! Could be worth a look anyway!
 
I've not owned one but I have ridden one and am not in a hurry to repeat the experience! So round that the saddle kept slipping and, as others have said, very strong and on the forehand.
 
I haven't owned one myself but they had a few in the riding school where I use to keep Ella. And well these ones were little gits, very strong willed. They figured out the kids very quickly and took the mick. Of course this doesn't mean they are all like that!
 
I have only ever come across one and it was turned away for no apparent reason - no-one seemed to ride it anyway so perhaps there is a message in that.

She was a very voluptuous mare and had flowing blonde locks my friends gelding spent the whole summer in love with her
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Completely agree with Sally.
A few years ago I fancied something I could leave in the field and just hack when the urge took me, and haflingers looked stunning. I searched and searched and eventually went to their national show. What an eye opener, the comments round the stabled horses put me off completely. Things such as "Well, he is stubborn but eventually things go in!" "I've just given up training her, she isn't interested!"
I found just three out of the whole show of 132 I would have considered buying, one was called Allahies and was a taller more elegant type , the other two it turned out were his offspring.
I was so disappointed but after talking to a chap who had lots of them in his riding school I walked away convinced their temperament's were difficult. probably fine as trekking ponies and the part breds I've seen jump well, but if you imagine a very big shetland which is a horse in a pony body, that's what they seem to be like.
He persuaded me to watch one of his compete in a handy pony class. Talk about stubborn! He also let slip it needed a "special" home because it could attack you in the stable!!!!!
There are some good websites in Austria where men do displays on all Haffies, and that shouldtell you they are best ridden by strong adults!
I came home and started riding one of our stallions again, all interest in haffies forever gone.
I've no doubt they can't all be bad,but as kid's ponies I would say no..
 
i have only ever known 2 mares at a riding school i used to go to both very strong!!! when jumping especialy(sp) and where only ever used for experienced riders however one was used for disabled but was only walking and being lead. the other was extreamly pretty and was a little sh*t to ride but a 6 months before she died she was the best thing i had ever ridden and i loved her to bits she was only (10 when she went)but i am an experienced rider i think it depends on the horse to be honest each is different!
 
Enfys steps away from the Haflinger!

Thank you people, this place is just marvellous, I just knew that someone would know something.

Have a Great day folks.
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I used to ride many years ago at a local riding school, its the horse I rode for about 2 years in weekly lessons so I got to know it pretty well. Was a lovely pony, acted like a nativey thing basically. Was pretty calm and chilled out but jumped well too.
 
Thankyou all for your experiences, I've been to London today to see this: www.canamequine.ca, was perhaps a bit over optimistic having been spoiled obviously with Olympia etc, there were no shows but several exhibitions etc, and some shops (still managed to spend a fair bit though
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) anyway.........

One of the exhibits were Haflingers, very pretty to look at and seemed terribly laid back about being in stables in the main shopping hall! I asked their handler whether he considered them suitable riding ponies for children.....pointing at the lanky 5' mini me, and he emphatically shook his head and told me that although he loved his horses, used them for draft work, in his opinion they were really very strong willed and so powerful that it would be a mistake, they are not nasty he said, just don't always realise their own strength and didn't always respect anything in the way. Of course if I wanted them for ploughing or hauling logs they could hardly be bettered. Six of one and half a dozen of another. So, there we are.

Bad news though...........have met some local Paso Finos there and have fallen head over heels in love with them
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Going to visit the stud at the end of the month
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