Haflingers, the marmite horse?

[Clava]

OK, I've read quite a few threads on here about Haflingers and heard them described as like marmite (love 'em or hate 'em). I'm buying a filly weanling in September and so I love them, but this is the first I will have owned. So please tell me your thoughts as to why you feel as you do.

 

[Dolcé]

Im a lover, they are amazing. They are strong willed and you have be firm with them but once they have got the message they don't forget (well, they do but remember quickly when you growl at them) I bought our girl for my nervous novice daughter after a bad fall at riding school. She terrifies me to ride but is totally different when my daughter rides her, she really looks after her. The first few days were awful, she bolted in hand every time I turned her out, barged out of the stable, reared when you went in the stable, I was sending her back!! I used treats to teach her to wait and walk nicely and within 2 days of starting that she was faultless. They are the most loving, affectionate ponies and clever in many ways (but very 'thick' in others).

In Austria they are brought up as part of the family and as long as they know where they stand they are pliable and dead eaasy to own.

 

[Katikins]

Can't stand them. Never met a nice one and would certainly never own one. In my experience they are bargey, rude and opinionated and take the p too much. One including rearing AT you in the field when you went to get your own horse if you didn't give him treats.

I realise that I have probably only met ones that have never had manners instilled in them but its really put me off them and think they are better off in the meat herds over here. Harsh but true in my opinion.

 

[bexwarren24]

No strong feelings either way. I like chunky horses but prefer big chunky horses so something 14hh-15hh is no good for me. They are pretty in colour and from what I know of them they can make nice low level allrounders. I guess with any larger breed horses they can become bargy/rude if good manners havent been installed right.

 

[peanut]

I love natives and I love palominos so haffies are a great combination

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Love them, have had my mare since she was unbroken 3 yo and she is my horse of a lifetime.

But they absolutely need consistent firm treatment, preferably from a single owner from a young age. So I think you are doing exactly the right thing buying a youngster (normally wouldnt say that but with Haffies its that firm continuity thats everything).

I dont think ones who havent had the benefit of that treatment are going to be cut out to be the barbie pony for the kids that a lot of people assume. Also a lot of the continental imports dont have to be pure haffie so you can get some funny other breeds mixed in and still call them haffie, which doesnt help predicability of temperament.

I think Haffies and welsh Ds have quite a lot in common, both can be fantastic but both need a strong leader figure and good early education.

Edited to add that I do know some are not great behaved, my farrier nearly didnt take on my horses cos of his previous experience of Haffies, but my girl has redeemed their reputation. Shes barefoot, lives on fresh air and is a delight, lots of character but in a good funny way not a nasty or bolshy way

But who could resist this???

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

When I bought my current horse I had a fling of desperately wanting a palomino, which is something I've always wanted!

Enter a definitely dodgy dealers yard which had two haflingers for sale; one, the gelding, had a distinctly weird gait - the other, the mare, was fine whilst I was on top of her (but it felt like riding a powder keg), but as soon as I tried to dismount she started rearing up and plunging around!!!!

I later found out that these poor horses had been trailed all round the local markets but hadn't sold. The gelding apparently had a special line in power broncs, the mare was known for the trait I'd experienced. So this put me off Haflingers a bit, tho' I'm sure there are some lovely ones out there, and I still think they look gorgeous.

I've got a piebald man now; which isn't what I thought I'd get!!! But he's a sweet boy and I love him to bits.

 

[MochaDun]

The first pony I tried when looking for a horse was a Haflinger. Beautiful looking, more chunky version as opposed to some of the lighter lines you can get today. And they did tell me he could be bargey on the ground as he knew his own strength and would buck in canter occasionally but he was perfectly well behaved when I tried him. I didn't go for him as he was needing re-schooled as had been passed from pillar to post and out of work for a while and I was wanting just to crack on with someone I could start riding straightaway. I think as with the larger and stronger native breeds (as someone also said this to me about Highlands) they think for themselves so need firm handling from the start. And I'd agree with that and what I know now of my native cob x!

 

[4leggedfurries]

Love 'em, think they are fab. Used to ride one at a RS years ago when I was in between horses (just to keep me ticking over) and I had so much fun on him. Used to bomb round like a nutter on him and never once felt unsafe but he could also do some nice work and had a lovely pop in him when we jumped. He was just awesome

 

[Montyforever]

I think they are stunning BUUUUUT ive only known 2 stress-head bucking/rearing haffy mares .. soo

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I love natives and I love palominos so haffies are a great combination

Ok, this is what drives me potty about Haflingers. They are NOT palomino! It is impossible for them to be palomino as they don't have the cream gene required! they are ALWAYS chestnut with flaxen mane and tail. Yes, some are pale but this is due to a gene called pangare (also found in exmoors).

On one hand it doesn't matter that people don't call their horse the correct colour but in this case I have seen many overpriced Haffies being sold by dealers and they are overpriced purely because of their 'fancy' colour... which they aren't. I don't like people taking advantage of other peoples ignorance and to be honest chestnut isn't exactly a difficult colour to recognise!

Flaxen chestnut haffy

Flaxen chestnut haffy with pangare (note pale areas on nose and tummy, ignore blaze)

Bay exmoor plus pangare (note pale areas on nose and tummy)

An actual palomino! It is golden with a white mane and tail with no paler bits in tummy and nose.

Ok, rant over!
I have met many Haffies and one of the main problems I have found is that if they are imported from abroad they 1, don't understand English commands/handling yet 2, were often driving ponies and have very little experiance with being ridden. This results in a pony that is confused and greener than it's age would suggest. Couple this with the fact that they are STRONG (in strength and will) and you can see how problems can start.

 

[Clava]

Thanks for the information on the pangare - that's very interesting. I know they are an honest chestnut, but I wouldn't say their colouring wasn't "fancy" I don't know many chestnuts with flaxen manes and tails .

 

[horsecrazy25]

Love em. There so pretty or handsome. x

 

[Libbyn1982]

This is the little sod that I ride sometimes. Absolute nightmare for me but very very loving and always took care of my friends little girl who was very much a novice.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Thanks for the information on the pangare - that's very interesting. I know they are an honest chestnut, but I wouldn't say their colouring wasn't "fancy" I don't know many chestnuts with flaxen manes and tails .

I come from an arab point of view and you get quite a few with flaxen manes. And while I agree that they are very pretty (and chestnut is actually my favourite colour) they aren't really fancy.

Flaxen arab (I love this horse!)

Now this is what I would call fancy...

Brindle

 

[Clava]

I think it's just a difference in personal terminology , brindle is fancy as in unusal and odd (to me, I wouldn't want one), flaxen chestnut is fancy (to me) as it is unusal amoungst the horses I know and striking (as in contrasts, especially as haffies have so much mane and tail against the chestnut.) . My mother had a flaxen chestnut arab mare, she was beautiful - but her mane wasn't as "white" as many of the haflingers I've seen. (One of my lifetime horses was an arab, I love them too)

 

[Justine834]

i LOVE them. My big boy (herman =]) is a haffie and he is the most loving, affectionate, caring horse i've met. He's my first horse and my best friend =].
I do admit though he can be very strong, but only when ridden but its never been something i can't control. He's so quick off the leg but when i want him to stop he stops immediatly no worry (this can be useful when galloping across a field!). They learn things so quickly and with mine you don't need to tell him more than once if he's doing something naughty =] lol. He also used to be a driving horse but i don't feel it has affected him (as regards to him being ridden).
Definitely the breed of horse i would get again
(pictures of my beautiful boy in my photo album on profile if anyone wants a looky )

 

[Enfys]

Haha. Hello again!

Just answered this somewhere else You have a different name there, I am the same everywhere.

Enjoy your filly.

 

[Clava]

Haha. Hello again!

Just answered this somewhere else

Enjoy your filly.

Yes, I wanted to try and get other opinions, not everyone posts on different forums Sorry to be repeatative to all those members who do use other forums. I 've also asked this question on a US forum as I wondered if they were viewed differently there.

 

[Clava]

Haha. Hello again!

Just answered this somewhere else You have a different name there, I am the same everywhere.

Enjoy your filly.

Oh, a different name, excellent, I'm Clava in most "UK" places (and yes I know this site is international), but thought I'd try a new name out on a new forum for a change.

- wish I hadn't now....I prefer Clava.