Haflingers

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DressageDiva1962

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I know this has been discussed before and I read the replies with interest but are there anymore comments and updates on purchasing a Haflinger pony for hacking, RC activities including dressage (Prelim) Hunter Trials up to 2ft6" and showjumping up to 2ft 6".

I want a quieter life hence why I am currently selling my very good competition pony as he needs a more active life.

Not sure what to do as I really like the look of them but there is a lot of speculation about bucking, I am getting too old to launced into space. The truth is out there so please let me have your comments and experiences. <font color="red"> </font>

Thank you.
 
Personally everyone I have known has been a stubborn git. I use to be at a riding school that had 4 or 5 and all of them use to play the kids. I’m sure there are some lovely ones out there but I would go for a good old fashioned cob (preferably coloured) any day over a haffy!

Just my opinion though.
 
We saw many at the pony driving world chamionships, certainly very stong and able ponies, although they are strong willed.
 
I used to work at a haflinger stud/riding school I do like them ,i dont think they are very good for children,the place i use to work at is just round the corner from me,they are doing well at dressage etc ,try the haflinger breed site.
 
I have also heard that Fjords are great, probably very similar, certainly similar in colouring!

I know of a mum/daughter share with a Haflinger mare, they tempted me, as I was buying, the mum is a complete novice and the horse is a little stong but not bucky, and looks after her okay.

I think they are just a bit over familiar, and pushy as they have been bred to work on a one to one basis with humans, and, hard work too.
 
He certainly has the WOW factor, have you sold him now ??
I want something I can school, hack and take out to competitions and generally just have some fun and I want a friend as well.....you spend so much time with your horse you have to get on.

Thank you for replying.
 
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He certainly has the WOW factor, have you sold him now ??


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Yeah he went to his new home 1st November bless him
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I know nothing about them at all, but that was a lovely video. He looks like such an honest horse, I am sure he will have loads of fun in his new home
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I bought a 3yo unbroken filly and she has been the EASIEST thing in the world to break and bring on. first time she tried something she would worry about it but tried so hard to get it right next time. I got her as a 2nd horse as 1st is 17hh and shared with OH. Haffie is 14.3.

The over familiar comment is spot on, she never shuts up talking to you, more like a guinea pig than a pone :-)) If you want a friend make sure you want a best friend who never leaves your side hee hee!

She is now really enjoying potty little jumps and hacking out is as reliable if not more than the other horses and she is only 4. She is ridden in a loose ring snaffle (tried happy mouth but she ate one a week and prefers something to chomp on) and thorowgood synthetic cob XW saddle and I dont need to carry a whip at all. Shes barefoot too, and rarely needs much trimming, just hoof boots sometimes in summer. Our only challenge is that shes just got really balanced in canter so she thinks going as fast as poss is a great wheeze, whooohooo.

I would say they are an absol ideal breed for what you are looking for, though I do agree with other posters that they are very smart and cheeky if given the chance so not ideal for small children as they think of them as something to play with and push around.

All in all, mine is such a joy to have around that if I ever couldnt ride her, I'd still love looking after her and it wouldnt feel a chore at all.

There are very drafty shorter types and taller ones, the Haflinger Soc website has lots of info and some for sale, and the breeders are all v helpful.....

good luck (I love Fjords and cobs too but SO glad I went for a Barbie pony Haffie)
 
What a lovely video!
I toyed with buying one a few years back and even went to their National Show, seeing 130 all together was quite an experience but there were many i didn't like very much.
I did however love one stallion and two I saw competing, it turned out he was the sire of them both and he was called Allahies.. They were taller, more free moving and really performed well all day.
If you want a nice one the lady five miles from me has a small upmarket sort of riding school and she has five haffies who she swears are perfection to ride. they won't be riding school types either as her daughter competes and schools them. I am sure she always has one or two for sale, and we bought a pony from her years ago which was exactly as described.
I do know what you mean, at my age I have no desire to fall off or do anything other than enjoy my riding, but I sometimes pop on Chocolate the stallion because he is very well mannered.. I also love the look of them, the rich chesnuts are super, though the paler ones sadly reminded me of pink pigs...(that's why I didn't buy one...
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i rode at a haffy stud back in Greece, they were nice, relaxed ponies, but then you'd expect that in those sorts of temperatures. i would, however, go for a Connemara for what you want. they can be lazy, but are so fun, and have very beautiful faces, and are lighter then haffs too, and never ever buck! and you could get a pretty dun one
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Brilliant could you get me the details please. I am not actively looking yet as I still have to sell my lovely Connemara pony, but I dont want to be waiting around too long after he goes hence why I am currently doing lots of research.

But thank you so much your reply is a big help. x
 
I am currently selling my Connemara, he is very talented and currently wasted as I have to have some time off for personal reasons so he needs to go to someone who will take him out and have some fun. I am doing the Haflinger research for future reference.
 
Thank you for those enlightening comments. I love to go for long hacks and I regularly take the trailer and go up onto the Mendip hills or Exmoor and got to RC camp twice a year, so I want something that will enjoy an active life.

I am getting more positive than negative reponses so that is good.
 
He is the 4 year old called Silveretta Rossetta or something like that, I have emailed them tonight, I am actively looking yet still doing research but I thought going to a reputable stud/dealer would be a better idea. Would you recommend the place. My friend lives in Dudley so I thought I could go and stay there and we could go and look together.
 
Yes i would recommend the place,there is a girl also on here that use to work there has wel,and i think here friend is training there at the moment ,so she may have details on them im trying to think of her user name,lol
 
Yes i would recommend the place,there is a girl also on here that use to work there has well,and i think here friend is training there at the moment ,so she may have details on them im trying to think of her user name,lol
 
I have a friend who has a Haflinger. He does dressage, long distance rides and is also a fantastic driving pony. He really is a versatile chap, with a lovely temperament and is an extremely good doer. He is one of my favourites in our long distance riding club.
 
I used to have a Haffie. He was extremely strong willed and could be a right pig. My old instructor loved him coz she said she could be a bigger pig than him but me and him had a serious argument in a lesson one day and he put me in hospital with an almost broken neck after a spectacular temper tantrum that makes Pro Bull Riding on Sky Extreme Sports look like a walk on the beach!
 
My daughters haffy could walk up a steep hill like it wasnt there, jumped strong, problem was it was very strong willed, riding her was difficult as she had to be legged on all the time, my daughter was baked in sweat every time she rode her, and fetching in was a nightmare, loading onto the lorry to take her away when she sold her was a nightmare as well, other than that she was a sweetie, get something else.
 
At my old riding school there was one...As stubborn as hell, but the most amazing pony i think i have ever ridden!! He could buck the socks off everything and if you stayed on he would behave, if you came off you knew there would be trouble!! I had a jumping lesson one day, and the jumps kept going up and up. And the final jump was about 1m45. and he cleared it! He had fantastic dressage paces, amazing jump and was as lovely as anything on the ground, but would try and do anything to get you off!! there was nothing wrong with him, but noone wanted to ride him...The first time i rode him, it was in a competition, i didn't even had my feet in the stirrups and he bucked, got into the arena and he was spinning and bucking.

He used to get away with loads when other people were riding, but for over 4 months i had 2/3 lessons a week on him, and in the end we could get through a lesson without bucking, and if the owner hadn't of wanted so much money for him, i think my parents would have bought him, as i used to get on well with him, and we seemed to get on well with each other!!

But i know other people who have had haffy's and they have been really fabulous! I think it depends on the horse really.
 
these are usually very easy ponies to deal with can be a bit bolshy on the ground sometimes a bit heavy on the forehand but on the whole make good alrounders not usually phased by a great deal, ive sold approx 30 this yr to both novice and experienced riders some going to private homes quite a lot going into riding schools and trekking centres
 
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