Haflingers

MrsHutt

MrsHutt

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I am horse shopping at the moment and I have seen a lovely little haflinger that may suit. I haven't been able to ride him myself due to injury, but he was ridden by the owner's daughter and he looked good. I would go back in a week or two if he's not sold to have a ride myself, of course.

My question is: my instructor said that haflingers are not 'easy' and not to get one. What are members experience of this breed, please?:confused:

I am looking for something 'bombproof' and easy.
 
Hi there,
I have owned a Haflinger for2years. She is lovely and well behaved now, but has taken me this long and much £££ to get her there!
Haflingers are known for their dominance and stubborness. I didn't worry about that when I got my mare, and I wish I had.
They are the type of breed that will take the mick if they can, and small things such as being a bit naughty and not standing when asked or being bargy, need to be addressed on the spot because otherwise the small things get bigger and you end up with a horse you can't catch because she rears at you or ride because she bombs off (that is my example!)
Having said that, once "tamed", they are lovely!
It depends if you have the time and the knowledge to always be on the ball with them!!
Good luck!
 
I don't have any experience of haflingers personally, there is one on our yard, his owner is quite novice, he isn't what I'd describe as bomb proof, but nothing major, he is however quite bargy on the ground, and i read somewhere that they are prone to sweetitch (correct me if I'm wrong mind!!)
 
Yes I'd set my heart on a Haflinger too, and went to see two (one mare, one gelding) at a dealers yard (not a very reputable dealers yard I found out later, but got the vibes there from my visit) - so perhaps not a fair "trial" as it were.

They were lovely looking ponies but both definitely had minds of their own! Which might just have been coz they were both green and/or had issues, which was a pity.

I went to see another Haflinger (mare) at another yard and found out she'd just been shipped in from the continent, which is quite a common thing which Haflingers, and didn't understand verbal commands in English! (she was advertised as a ride & drive!), plus when ridden was very nappy and absolutely terrified of going anywhere near a puddle!

So having seen/tried three Haflingers, I didn't exactly have good vibes from any of them; tho' am sure they're OK if (1) broken properly and (2) brought on properly and (3) given enough work to do them justice.

They do look gorgeous tho', and totally irresistable. The thing to watch apparently is that they're purebred and if this is the case they should have the proper "H" brand from the stud in Austria. If you're not fussy and/or don't want to breed, then don't be fussed about the brand. Most Haffie's will be imported, and you therefore can't guarantee their backing and/or bringing on, so might well have issues, especially as they apparently have quite a feisty temperament to start with!
 
The only experience I have with Haflingers was when I escorted a trail in Italy (escorted clients on a riding holiday). They have a variety of horses, mostly QHs or similar, but also 2 Haffies. They are all ridden western and the main guide, a very knowledgeable horseman, said that one of the haffies is his 2nd favourite lead horse. Both were lovely - one was a little bit stubborn but an excellent ride nonetheless (the one that is sometimes lead horse) and the other was an absolute gem. He carried a very nervous rider up a mountain and didn't put a foot wrong.
 
We have Haflingers to back as 3 and 4 years olds and although they are what i call busy ponies as long as the know there rules and these are stuck too the can make lovely ponies they just need to be taught the ground rules and not be given an inch. They are extremly quick learners and can usually turn there hooves to anything. Of all the ones ive backed theyve never bucked reared ect. and have actually been really easy to bring on.

A girl at our yard also has one, she is a very nervous novice rider and is only 12 and the pony looks after her so much it is so quiet she can do anything with it in a snaffle no martingale she hacks it, it also jumps and has fun with an older teenager. It is the perfect pony.

I do think it depends on the pony and the upbringing and groundwork, if you have found what you think is great it could easily be 'the one'. :)
 
I've owned my haflinger x mare for a year now, and she was no way bombproof when I got her. As previously stated they can be very stubborn and some will take the micky if they can get away with it. My mare would barge everyone about, never stand still (except for our farrier) and didn't want to be caught. Now she is well behaved, has taught a few people to ride. I did put alot of time and effort into her.
 
Alot of the freshly imported Haffys are really driving ponies with a tiny bit of ridden experiance. See Mijods' post above. Therefore they are not riding schoolmasters and are often very green.

Also don't be conned into thinking that you are buying a palomino, all Haffys (no matter how pale) are flaxen chestnuts.
 
I have an 11yr old Haffy gelding who I have owned for 6 years. He is not at all bargy on the ground and has amazing character. He is so willing, friendly, cuddly, very placid on the ground. My farrier loves him as he is so good and stands quietly for ages, leads quietly etc.

He is not 100% bombproof hacking though, mainly because he had no experience of traffic til he was 8 or 9 and has since had a few bad experiences. He is a very forward going ride, light mouthed and responsive off the leg. However, I would not say he was particularly an "easy" ride and does have sudden "explosive" moments randomly if something spooks him (could just be his own shadow lol). He is technically my younger sister's horse and as she is away at Uni right now, she doesn't see him to often, so he does take the mick a bit when she rides. He can be spooky on hacks if he thinks he can get away with it. He needs a confident rider to ride him through this so he doesn't get "cocky".

He is the only Haffy I have had, so I can't comment on the breed as a whole, but I know I will never sell mine. He has the sweetest nature, even though I would not recommend his as a novice ride or first horse. We often say he lives in his own little world sometimes (imagine "lift-music" lol) - he gets easily distracted/randomly dozes off on hacks then frightens himself :rollseyes:

Good luck if you choose to get one, they are beautiful :)

p.s. re DibseyDeb's comment about sweetitch, Vinnie suffered for the first time this year at age 11, if this affects your decision.
 
We have two at our pony club that are fantastic ponies, winning regularly at WH/SJ/dressage.

I worked in Europe years ago, and we had two in the riding school. They were both lovely. Very kind. Could be lazy if the rider allowed them to be, or worked well if rider was good. Very footsure. Hardy. Cope with cold and heat very well, as the region that they come from experiences both. Could be quite strong to lead around, or indeed ride sometimes, for the smaller kids. Great mother/daughter ponies.
 
I know someone who keeps their Haflinger mare at the same livery stables as me. Mare is lovely, affectionate, cheeky, allrounder who hacks out on roads safely with 16 yo owner (has had her since she was 14 I think). She's just a regular horse - I don't think you can really generalise and say `all haffys do or don't do such and such'. Personally I can't believe that a haffy is any more demanding to own or train than any other type. I know some people generalise about certain types (a common one being that many people are `scared' of TBs, or think Warmbloods are too difficult) but.....it's just a horse!! and properly handled or trained can do the job as well as any other.

That said, I can understand that people have their tastes, which may lead them to choose a Haflinger, or not. If you like them, then go for it :)
 
We have had our Haffy gelding for 10 years and he is super. He was my daughters first pony and has looked after her in every situation. I think you cannot generalise about a breed - Fudge is lovely but sometimes opinionated to be honest but he does everything so slowly he does not cause any difficulties!

If you find a good one they can be a horse to die for!
 
Obviously I can't judge an entire breed by a few horses, but I've never particularly "clicked" with them. My first pony was a Haffy, and was very bolshy&bargy on the ground; probably because I was a novice and she must have picked up on the nerves I had when handling her. She was very stubborn when ridden, and would buck like a bronco if she didn't get get own way. She was also very "stressy"
in the stable. My friend also had a haffy mare and had a similar problem. So I haven't had particularly nice experiences with them, although I'm sure this is not the norm, and that there are plenty if lovely haflingers out there :) I think horses are so individual and have such different characteristics to eachother, it's hard to give a general view of one breed!
 
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Thank you everyone for your really interesting and helpful replies":D

I think I have gathered from all of this that there is no hard and fast rule, and like all types there are good and bad in each breed! I think it will depend, as always, on their history and past treatment/schooling etc.

This one is 14 and has been used in harness in the past, but also used as a riding pony for a young girl. He is being sold through a breeder/dealer, but I think he came from Belgium? The girl was cantering him today for me, with no reins and he stopped with a voice command - so I'm guessing he speaks English! ;)

He is very pretty!
 
Yer i think its the same as any horse TBH, you need to have a ride yourself when your all mended and see how you get on, have a ride in the school and out hacking alone and in company!! Youll get alot more of a feel for it then. I really like them and quite fancy one when my daughters a bit bigger (shes 6 at the minute) as then ill be able to exercise too if shes away or in the winter. As i do think they make really good alrounders if as you said have been schooled correctly. ect. As ive said ive seen quite alot come through where i work ive been there 8 years and have had several most years and not had a bad one yet. I also havnt had any with sweetitch if that helps. :)
 
I have a haflinger mare and foal. The mare was rescued as skin and bone a couple of months ago, but is now looking good. She is 5 years old and very sweet natured, her foal was unhandled by now is very happy to be handled - both have learnt really fast and are delightful charaters.
 
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