Haflingers.

Sprout

Sprout

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www.horse-riding-world.com
Do any of you lovely people out there have any experience of Haflingers?
I have heard that they are supposed to be very calm and laid back, and are easily handled and ridden by both adults and children.
Any feedback on this breed would be gratefully received!
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That is so funny, I was just looking into them too. There are some good google results on them.

A friend of mine just bought one for two teenage girls, not an experienced home, or riders. One has slight nerve issues. This is a green mare, who had a foal last year and is 8 ish they are getting along brilliantly with it.

She said its 14.2 and jumps around 2ft currently. They said to me "she looks as though she has a spliff in her mouth all the time!"

I was thinking of trying to get one as a semi-working companion, which doesn't need shoes, or much rugging and doesn't get dizzy when not ridden for a few days. I see they like humans particularly well.

Anyone know of one to suit us?
 
I have experience with halfingers but I dont know ANYTHING official about the breed. this is 100% my experience based on the fact that my boss imports them to sell from the continent and we use them in the riding school. I have so far known 5 - anything written here is based on those 5 (disclaimer LOL)

They seem to be really nice ponies, sturdy and strong but most of the ones I knew would work naturally in an outline without too much rider input and (with one exception) they all jumped 3' comfortably - didn't test them much above this as no call for it on the riding school but I did think they all had nice confident jumping skills. The one non-jumper had very odd conformation so probably isn't a good breed standard.

They did seem to have a buck though. My friend who is 13 now bought one and uses him for pony club. He does everything, works in an outline, jumps XC/SJ, is easy to handle etc but he bucks her off regularly. Of the other four, only one of them didn't buck and i only knew her a few weeks before she was sold so who can say LOL

Also they can be tricky on the ground - the imported ones at least. PERSONALLY I think this is to do with how they are broken abroad because the ones who have gone on to new homes have all had their little 'quirks' ironed out by their owners but certainly when they came to us they could all be very strong and determined about things they didn't want to do. One of them was particularly bad and nearly pulled my boss over (full grown man) when he tried to load him. Basically they are strong and some of them know this.

In generaly though, I have found them to be bright ponies with lots of personality. They are easy to work with as long as you are confident, they naturally enjoy work and work well, good in traffic, good in company, easy to train, keen and athletic jumpers and very popular with lots of the kids. They are also strong enough to easily carry an adult.

Once again, 100% based on personal experience of 5 different imported haflingers at my yard so bound to be some generalisations and inaccuracies here.
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I have a 4yr old haflinger gelding. I bought him last year unbroken and pretty unhandled. He was the easiest horse to back, just took everything in his stride. As long as something is ok the first time he does it then he's perfectly happy to do it again. For example the first time I showed him so tarpaulin he looked a bit worried, then he put his head down and sniffed it, bashed it a few times with his foot and then started trying to eat it! I wouldn't describe him as a calm or laid back ride, turbo-charged describes him quite well. He is perfect to handle but he could definitely become strong and bolshy on the ground if he wasn't kept in check. I'm rather keen that he never learns how strong he is because he's built like a tank. His temperament is 100% in fact I'm not sure he is even capable of putting his eyes back let alone kicking or biting. I think other halfingers tend to be quieter than mine as all horses within a breed are different.
 
Thanks for those great replies.
I had heard that some can be very strong and bolshy to handle, but its difficult to know if it is the breed, or past handling that has produced this behaviour.
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It was interesting to hear about the ones that buck - I was drawn to Haflingers because they are like a bigger version of my New Forest, build wise they are very similar -and my forrester bucks for Britain!!!
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Robinhood have you known him to buck yet? ...or daren't you answer that one?

southwestwhippet, that's very helpful indeed, thank you. actually sprout, thank you! for asking....

Anyone hunted one? Are they quite normal in lots of company and exciting circumstances?
 
If you read any of the breed profiles of these ponies then it will say how wonderful they are and how suitable they are for any rider.....this has definitely not been my personal experience. I've found every one incredibly bolshy and with its own mind. In an arena I never saw any problems except perhaps them being way too strong for some riders, however out on the trails is another matter.

I personally would never even consider a Haflinger for a child or a novice adult, based on what I have seen of them. They are work horses - if you can find a good job for them then I'm sure they do it perfectly.
 
hmm, no personal experience but I have a friend in the USA who bought one 2 years ago and has been through 2 years of misery with him. He was sold to her as child friendly, loving kids and would allow kids to do anything with him. Not so! My friend cannot even ride him to the level she wants, let alone feel he will be safe with her children. He is stubborn and moody, fly kicks, bucks and generally likes things to be all his own way. She has sent him off to trainers where he behaved well doing advanced dressage really being put through his paces, but once home and asked to be a family horse, he turned into a little git again! Seems to me he thrives on hard work and being pushed to do well - who knows if this is just him or a "breed characteristic".

Mind you, no two horses are the same, even if they are both the same breed, so any haffie you might go and see should be assessed as a "horse" not as a haffie.
 
My experience with Haflingers ( and I've known a fair few) is that they're either very easy and laid back and do everything you want, or they can be complete gits.
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I had a lesson on one at a riding school once, he bucked me off 3 times in 10 minutes, then the instructor got on and also got bucked off, then I got back on and got bucked off again and he would do this on a regular basis.
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But I've also broken a mare in and had her hacking out in 3 days from never even being lunged before.
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They are very intelligent and can be very headstrong, and are not really a breed that I would recommend for novice owners, unless you know 100% for certain you're getting a nice one.
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H. I brought a Haflinger mare (14.3hh, 5yr old) 8 weeks ago. She was imported from Germany.

She is very friendly - torts up to you in the field, and is chatty. She is very strong to lead - I use a bridle as I bring her in with another horse and would have trouble if she was in a headcollar. Loves being groomed/fussed.

She is great to ride - forward going, but can be fairly strong - and is learning quickly. She does buck if you use you legs too strongly, or has a mini-paddy, but quickly works through it and settles down. Hacks out by herself/ with others.

Taking things slowly so not jumped yet.

Wouldn't describe her as a child's pony as fairly sharp.
 
I have to agree; they do love to work. I took one of the RS ones in my staff lesson because he'd been getting that 'I'm thinking' look in his eye with the kids. Asked to work deep and round and really use himself properly he was a totaly dream to ride. My boss who orriginally went "what the hell are you doing on that?" was actually pretty impressed with him (not me LOL) by the end.

They need keeping on top of though because they are intelligent and like to be challenged. And I would echo all the "strong to lead" comments as this is problem we have found with several of them. As I said though, new owners all seemed to installed ground manners but if you were a 'passive' or 'novice' owner I think they would take the p*ss
 
That's funny cos I'm in Cheshire too and i've had experience of a rather difficult Haffy in a riding school, though they sold him soon afterwards and never let any novices ride him, to my knowledge.
The Haflingers I've known of have been good fun though, not the easiest but hard workers.
 
So much good advice, thanks everyone.
Its so interesting to compare the breeders/dealers opinions on the breed, compared to those of you who have had the joy of dealing with them in a school/home enviroment!
A strong, bolshy, bucking monster is not what I am looking for, so I will have a rethink!
 
I agree with you AleeDee, I have always adored Connies or ConnieX. The trouble is, I am only looking for something to be a "happy hacker" and my friend for life, and all the Connemara`s I see advertised are described as having done it all, and therefore have a telephone number as a price tag!!!
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Why go for a particular breed? Why not look for a horse that is a suitable height with a lovely temprament? I hack on George and do a bit of schooling and I intend to keep him for life as my 'friend' and for that he is perfect, he is a thoroughbred ID shire x (I think).
 
I'm so excited as my first ever haflinger pony arrives tomorrow!!!! I've actually bought him for my mum as the breed are generally very quiet, sensible & easy to do & my mum finds my dressage warmbloods a bit scary!

Haffy's come in two types like welshies. You have the quiet, sensible angel on legs type (which is what I have just bought) or you get the slightly zippier ones which tend to be a little bit bolshier with it! Generally though they all have nice temperaments, rarely spook or do anything nasty & are nice people. They are also getting fairly easy to buy in this country now without importing
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Buck? No not even in the field. TBH he is still so uncoordinated with a rider on his back that canter is enough of a challenge let alone bucking
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Dont get me wrong, gorgeous-george, I am not looking for a particular breed, its just that a suitable sounding Haflinger came up for sale locally, so I thought I would try to find out more about the breed before any possible viewing.
As you say, if the size, temprament etc are right, then it doesnt matter what they are!
Havent found what I am looking for yet, but I know he is out there somewhere!
 
I have a haffy that I have backed this year. Ridden she is fab and I think could be handled by a child, on the ground it is a diff matter she is stubborn bolshy and a complete tart at times. I went to the breed show and it seems that this is a bit of a trait with haffies. If you can channel all of that naughtyness somewhere they are fab but really know when to take the michael out of you.
 
OH DEAR!
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I just posted that I was looking at one last week and was shot down in FLAMES with bad press on them
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actually put me right off the sale and I never went to see her again
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I have been told that Haffies are like Huskies, bred to work and happier when they have a job that actually touches on their physical capabilities. I know my haffy x QH actually enjoys going out and working, really working, he enjoys pulling lumber out, his loppy lugs go forwards and he is bouncing about on the spot just waiting to be told to go on.

Ohh, Jade, did you feel like you were being got at? Sorry, not the intention I'm sure, in fact I asked way back in April or March and got pretty much the same replies as you did, put me off a purebred.

I wonder what replies one would get if the same question was asked about arabs/ welsh ponies/ warmbloods/QH's etc.
 
There is 1 at my yard and I would not say so! She tries to bite me every time I walk past her stable. Her owner has had real trouble with her behaviour.
 
i wouldnt say you were shot down in flames
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Haffies can be wonderful to ride I agree. On the ground mine was a nightmare. 'Nuff said
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I do beleive its a trait.
 
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