Highland owners

I've owned my mare Islay for 4 years now & right from the beginning she dispelled any notion I ever had that Highlands may be 'slow' & 'ploddy'. She's that lively that each time we take her out we get asked if she is a stallion. I'm 5'6 & just over 8 stone and I find her a very strong, forward thinking ride. Whilst she is a very fun adults ride, I wouldn't recommend my mare for a child.. She never says no and verges on cocky, which I love about her. I have hunted, dressaged, shown & jumped her all with success and out of all my horses I own, Islay is the one who creates the most conversations with strangers when we are out and about.

She shares the same sire as Stirlingdene & has bred a lovely foal as a youngster... If you're looking for a nice hardy fun pony, then the Highland is definitely the pony for you. I've just bought a 3 year old ex racehorse & in comparison Islay is by far the cheekier & mischievous... I smile everytime I ride her, and in my opinion that's what owning horses should be all about...

Here's a few pics of my young lady!! :)

islay20.jpg


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Well if you insist, have some Storm pictures

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He is the single most stubborn horse I've ever ridden, and so strong. I've also never known a horse that tries as hard as he does, awkward thing.
 
JFTD said:
A fun hacking home would be fine - I'm ambitious but my ponies don't know what BE is if it jumped out and bit them on the nose (incidentally my collie once did that to fergs while I was schooling...)

I'd have a wee chat with DryRot via pm if I were you ;)
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Dry Rot is unfortunately becoming a collector.

I've only got 10. How could I bare to be left with only 9?

(Highland owners will understand.....:)).
 
Gluttonforpunishment said:
Thank you all, food for thought certainly. Slightly scared now at the required budget!! Only thing I'm now wondering is if a highland would be bored with just a hacking / pleasure riding home. I'd rather have an older gelding that's maybe wanting to semi retire - don't think I've got the time or motivation to take on a youngster. Will have to do some digging, do you think it would be OK to approach some of the highland breeders and have a chat or would that be a bit odd?
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Pm me and I can put you in touch with a few people! Check the highland pony society out too! Ponies slightly cheaper up north but transport is expensive! Good luck.
 
Dry Rot said:
Dry Rot is unfortunately becoming a collector.

I've only got 10. How could I bare to be left with only 9?

(Highland owners will understand.....:)).
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Quick buy another.... Or you can have Lord Mars of Warren aka Findus.... It bites ( quick health warning..... He is a grumpy gut.. Not normal for a hipo!)
 
i love a good Highland:D I grew up riding an assorted collection of them , belonging to various friends ad neighbours. Ive never met a truly bad one, naughty yes, stubborn yes, bolshy yes but I'll never forget the kindly pony Islay who tolerated a mad keen but clueless 10 year old, standing on a milk crate and attempting to tack her up using pictures from Horse & Pony magazine as a guide. She then behaved like a saint as I, with no thought whatsoever rode her out for hours across open fields and on roads - I doubt she'd been sat on for weeks prior:o

I have a Sec D who I adore but if I didnt, I def be looking at another HiPo now.. a nice dark bay or dark mouse dun. Am enjoying all the pics on here:D
 
Highlands said:
Quick buy another.... Or you can have Lord Mars of Warren aka Findus.... It bites ( quick health warning..... He is a grumpy gut.. Not normal for a hipo!)
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Buy another? He keeps producing more of his own :eek: He'll have to get used to the idea of selling a few when I get more land and remind my mother how much she wants her own pony... [for me to steal ;) ]

Mind you, that could take a while round here :eek:
 
I have two pure bred highlands they are little ones very pretty and sturdy.
They are probably the most versatile of all ponies they (if you get the right lines) jump extremely well, are big paced so do very well in dressage, are tough and calm so do endurance, fast x country, steady enough for beginners but forward enough for a good rider to have fun, can be shown successfully to a high level and most importantly love people so are everyones best friend
The best thing about my older mare is that you can leave her for weeks months or even years and just get on and she is safe sane and sensible. Her daughter has just been backed and in the space of three lessons ridden is out hacking calmly along a busy main road so I guess she will be just as sensible as mum
 
Highlands said:
JFTD is so right, so many are far too fat. Mine are fit but admit I do keep some weight on ( don't worry they don't go obese or lami) otherwise look like connies! They are quite capable of 25 mile pleasure rides!

JFTD think you would approve of Freddie.... Very switched on!

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JFTD said:
I've been questioned on what mine is many times, with considerable incredulity! Connie? Eriskay? Spanish bred? Nope he's a highland... Oh... what's he crossed with?! :D I don't mind - I take it as a compliment!

Freddie looks sweet. Heavier than I would keep him, but not fat ;) I'm obsessive with my weight tape! I'm sure he's lovely to ride :)
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These are reassuring. Mine is not registered and when I first got her I was 100% determined she was highland but then I started working her, she was fit and lean and I started to doubt myself and wonder if she was connie. She then put weight on, and she's definite highland.

I would highly recommend a highland to anyone. At shows, I've had various people compliment her and say how much fun she looks. Others have warmbloods or TBs and say they wish they'd bought a highland.
As JFTD says, they're sparky, foward going and you need to get them onside with you. I've lost mine to a girl on the same yard so that she can build up her confidence to ride her mum's horse. They're looking to buy a horse next year and they're already looking at highlands. :D
 
photos
18 year old after a 12 mile fast pleasure ride average speed 7mph

Her 4 year old daughter first day with a rider


All my ponies live out 24/7, work to maintain weight and are lovely to live with
Baby will be for sale when she has done a bit more
 
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MyBoyChe said:
Ive got one, had him just less than a year now after riding mainly Tbs, TBx and a connie. I am not in the first flush of youth and wanted a steadier, slightly smaller and easier horse. He is 14.2 and a big solid boy but has perfect manners and is a joy to deal with. We are happy hackers mixed with a little bit of schooling. I do have to be very careful with his weight as he doesnt do enough work really but that said, I can hop on after not doing anything all week and hes just perfect. I originally started off looking at connies but they seem to be much lighter and sportier now than of old and not what I really wanted. I did speak to several breeders who were, without exception, extremely helpful and welcoming so I would say this is a very helpful thing to do. Good luck with your search, they are truly lovely ponies.
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^^ this .... Wouldn't be without my boy now after 2 yeas together and am definitely envious of those of you who have the time / facilities / money to start a herd. Maybe one day if I win the lottery ....!! But my boy does lovely dressage, pops a fence, hacks all day and is a joy to be around. I can ride him every day or give him 2 or more weeks off and get straight back on. I do have to watch his weight, of course, especially at this time of year, but he's kept at a yard where he comes in every night all year round, which definitely helps. Absolutely the perfect horse for a rider like me and OP who are getting on a bit but not so much that we can't still enjoy our riding. I say go hipos every time.
 
JFTD said:
Buy another? He keeps producing more of his own :eek: He'll have to get used to the idea of selling a few when I get more land and remind my mother how much she wants her own pony... [for me to steal ;) ]

Mind you, that could take a while round here :eek:
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I'm going to buy Stirlingdene.

I'm going to make them an offer they can't refuse....

Meantime, I am expecting a delivery to tide me over any day soon.;)

 
Iv had nothing but tb's but for some unknown reason I brought a highland foal as I fancied something difference. He's 3 and I'm just starting to long rein him and further his education this year, love him he's a star. Very forward going and such a lovely boy plus the feed bill is a big difference. Won't go back to tbs
 
Dry Rot said:
I'm going to buy Stirlingdene.

I'm going to make them an offer they can't refuse....

Meantime, I am expecting a delivery to tide me over any day soon.;)

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Will you PLEASE stop posting these pictures as I want one and its a totally irrational idea that I really cannot afford :p
 
This is my rescue boy Rory (left pic). I've had him for 5 yrs now since a yearling. He was such a little scrap but has blossomed into a lovely cheeky boy. I'm hoping to find a forever home for him this year though as I have 4 others and he needs his own person now. On the right is homebred Borderreiver, also Highland


This is Reivers baby bro Bertie as a yearling last summer:
 
My baby is by Johnsondene so related in some way to Josethdene and Stirlingdene think her grandad is Stirlingdenes dad or something like that
mum and baby four years ago she was born on my granddaughters 5th birthday she is about 4 days old in this photo as she was a little slow to feed and was bottled for 24 hours
 
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Yay Highlands!! My favourite thing about them has to be their gorgeous little pony ears, they have the cutest ears ever...I just want to eat them theyre sooo cute....but I haven't....yet...

Heres my monster!




 
Right, this Highland love fest can just stop right now!:p

OP what you need is someone who will tell you the truth:

I was told that by a friend who has a couple that they a brilliant. Took one to a show - got bucked all round the show field during the warm up - this is true do not let anyone tell you a highland cannot buck- not a couple of bucks either- all round a 15-20 acre field as soon as I put her into canter - people were taking photo's for gods sake- one helpful soul did shout keep sitting up - would have preferred that they had rugby tackled the damn thing to stop it

Oh and a tip if you are ever in this situation - pushing them forward just makes them buck quicker!

I recovered my composure enough to enter the class but then was carried at speed bucking and farting out of the ring during the lap of honour.

Should have learnt my lesson, but then she asked me to hack out her just backed youngster - trot was a revelation - I have never actually been trotted off with before.

Still I continued (she must be a good friend) then I discovered how Highlands like to off road One moment I was hacking nicely along the road - the other I was on top of a 6ft hedge.

Again this is true - do not be fooled by these creatures

Bloody overgrown Sh**lands the lot of them
 
No pics to hand at the moment but I have a 15 year old Highland mare and she is the best horse I have ever owned :) She is built along the same lines as JFTD's Fergus i.e. lean and fit. She is ridden 5/6 times a week, mainly schooling and hacking. We sometimes do local shows and dressage too. She is forward going and loads of fun but would happily change down a gear to look after a novice. Perfect in my book but I am biased of course :p

If you want a HiPo, I would look for an overheight one since you are tall, as long as you don't want to show of course :) My husband had a 15.2 hh Highland who was very handsome and moved beautifully (some Highlands can have rather a shuffling gait) but he never had time to ride so, sadly, we had to sell him :(
 
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