Highland owners

cronkmooar said:
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
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Ah well this is true. Some are badly trained, and some now how to take advantage of the more incompetent rider. Same as any other breed :p


I can say hand on heart that Fergs has never more than bunny hopped with me, can be pulled up from gallop with a light hand in a snaffle and will plod round in all paces / over small fences with a very novice rider. Dae is only just backed and lightly ridden away, but has also never bucked/spun/spooked/beggared off or done anything rude.

If you believed every bad workman who blamed his spanners, you'd never find a tool to use :D


btw BorderRiever, your Rory looks very like Fergs when I got him :o
 
Well JFDT I would be more than happy if someone like you would give him an active home doing all sorts of things. It's what he needs now and will be very reasonable to the right home.
 
Borderreiver said:
Well JFDT I would be more than happy if someone like you would give him an active home doing all sorts of things. It's what he needs now and will be very reasonable to the right home.
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If only I could collect them and have as many as I's like, but alas finances always get in the way :o I'm sure you'll find someone who'll get him out and about though :)
 
JFTD said:
Ah well this is true. Some are badly trained, and some now how to take advantage of the more incompetent rider. Same as any other breed :p


I can say hand on heart that Fergs has never more than bunny hopped with me, can be pulled up from gallop with a light hand in a snaffle and will plod round in all paces / over small fences with a very novice rider. Dae is only just backed and lightly ridden away, but has also never bucked/spun/spooked/beggared off or done anything rude.

If you believed every bad workman who blamed his spanners, you'd never find a tool to use :D


btw BorderRiever, your Rory looks very like Fergs when I got him :o
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Lost your sense of humour this evening?:D
 
PoppyAnderson said:
your horse is stunning beautiful. Question - isn't that runtoearths Oshk horse (the coloured) with his new human?!
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Very well spotted PoppyAnderson!! :) Yes, that is indeed Oshk.. I believe he was out on loan when this pic was taken, & then went back to RTE's yard later on that season. I believe she then sold him a good few months after that, but I may be wrong!! I love that pic, it brings back fab memories of a brilliant day out with Islay! :D
 
Cronkmooar, thanks for the insight ;)

I've learnt the hard way that all breeds have ones that simply aren't the norm. My ID/TB had been with me since she was 9 months old, everyone seems to rave about the wonderful trainable natures of these horses. Coco begs to differ!! Lovable lump on he ground, total loon to ride. Professional broken, vet checked etc. 3 independent professionals all totally stumped by her and advised not to ride her. She takes napping to a whole new level, completely unpredictable with no sense of self preservation.

So, I guess what I'm saying is I don't take breed stereotypes as read, at the end of the day they all have their own characters and even the best trained animals can sometimes decide they don't want to play the game :)

At least if I part company with a highland the floor will be closer than off my 16.2!!
 
No problem GFP - always good to know the total truth:D

I have a an 17.2hh ID/TB with a lovely "trainable" temperament so I can relate.

You will be able to go places you have never been on you current horse, its a bit like having a sports car and then getting a nice comfy 4x4 that will go anywhere (including up and down hedges:D)

One thing I have noticed is that once people have them they tend to stick with the breed - and some can be very serious about their ponies!!

Even I have said I will get one - when I'm 70! as you say, they are much lower off the ground :-)

Have fun:D
 
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Here is a pony who came here but did not suit as she has sweet itch. She went to one of my helpers with two young girls who live down on the shore where there are few midges and absolutely love her!

How old is she? Over 25 for sure and she's never had a day's illness in her life. She still hacks out, pops a jump for the girls, lives out 24/7, and is loved and fussed over.



There are bad Highlands, of course there are. I parted with several bought in mares because they simply did not match up to what I want. No glearing faults at all but for breeding I demand as near perrection as I can get.

Joe was in a stallion show early on. There were just two stallions in the class and even I'll admit that the other was a beautiful pony -- but the male handler could barely manage him! Josethdene won by default that day as even the judge admitted he liked the other better!

Another time, I'd visited a friend and we were leaning on the gate talking horses. A mare approached, presumably looking for a scratch. But instead she launched an unprovoked attack on my companion and bit her hard on the arm. Explain that one. (Not my breeding, let me hasten to add!).

There are bad ones in every walk of life. It is a mistake to go only on looks which is why I view shows with such scepticism. Or on price for that matter. Do you want a show champion with a heap of vets' bills or something like Gemma above (preferably without the SI!) who has a long and healthy life without the expensive hard feeds and stabling?
 
Cronkmooar, I read your post as tongue-in-cheek because I could identify so much with the Highland sense of humour that mine subjects me to on a regular basis. He would never buck (too much effort) but he did once try little bunny hops which at first I was bewildered by cos I thought the earth was moving. He won`t jump anything for me because he thinks I can`t do it (fair point) and uses schooling sessions as a source of entertainment and ritual humiliation because he knows he`s been a highly schooled successful show pony and I`m not and who, when ridden by a Prix St George dressage rider looks like a dream and moves like poetry in motion and is described by said rider as `fabulous` even though she`s used to riding big, tall warmblood types, or whatever they are.

As for farting, we went down a lovely quiet lane this morning in beautiful sunshine and lovely blue skies, said hello to some walkers at the same time as he decided let rip with the biggest release of gas he has produced for a good long while. I was mortified in case they thought it was me! He picks his moments!

But for all his misdemeanours, he is my rock, my sanity and my therapist. When we are out on a hack or galloping along the beach with the wind in our hair, it is bliss and I love him with a totality that exceeds all expectations.

I would not hesitate to recommend a Highland pony for all disciplines and in all circumstances. It may take a while to find the right one for you but when you do there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can swell the heart like a Highland.

Of course I am totally biased! ;)
 
sula said:
Cronkmooar, I read your post as tongue-in-cheek because I could identify so much with the Highland sense of humour that mine subjects me to on a regular basis. He would never buck (too much effort) but he did once try little bunny hops which at first I was bewildered by cos I thought the earth was moving. He won`t jump anything for me because he thinks I can`t do it (fair point) and uses schooling sessions as a source of entertainment and ritual humiliation because he knows he`s been a highly schooled successful show pony and I`m not and who, when ridden by a Prix St George dressage rider looks like a dream and moves like poetry in motion and is described by said rider as `fabulous` even though she`s used to riding big, tall warmblood types, or whatever they are.

As for farting, we went down a lovely quiet lane this morning in beautiful sunshine and lovely blue skies, said hello to some walkers at the same time as he decided let rip with the biggest release of gas he has produced for a good long while. I was mortified in case they thought it was me! He picks his moments!

But for all his misdemeanours, he is my rock, my sanity and my therapist. When we are out on a hack or galloping along the beach with the wind in our hair, it is bliss and I love him with a totality that exceeds all expectations.

I would not hesitate to recommend a Highland pony for all disciplines and in all circumstances. It may take a while to find the right one for you but when you do there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can swell the heart like a Highland.

Of course I am totally biased! ;)
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Hear Hear I love this statement as it is so true well in almost all its content my Highland would be horrified if she farted where as the Connie mare is like the trump et voluntary
 
Ooh love seeing all these gorgeous highlands ;) we have a 10 year old lad. Stands about 13.2hh. I'm 5.9 so takes up my leg pretty well!!

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Sorry about the quality they are taken off photos but are the most recent I have!
They are cheeky ponies but will give you there all if they have your trust. He will eat everything insight with half a chance so is on a restricted diet on a bare paddock and hay. But he can turn his hoof to any job and is definitely a favourite of people wherever he goes cos of his attitude lol
 
My two babies went to the beach for the first time today. Kelpie, 3yo next month on the right, and Fearna, 3 1/2yo, on the left.

In fact, it was their first time anywhere! They had to go about half a mile on the road, then through forestry, then the beach. Ponies were fine, riders were fine, owner was very nervous! (I'm a worrier!:().

A couple of hairy moments with cars but mostly the public were careful and considerate. I followed in the Landrover and was able to flash my lights and wave arms to get drivers to slow down, which they did without exception. They had more problems with a line of pony eating wheelie bins. not to mention a horse stalking stone hiding under some seaweed!:eek:

Sorry for the lousy picture but it is a frame grab from video.

 
In all seriousness Dry Rot. How much money would you charge for me to come spend time with your Highland clan?! I am a hardworking Lackie! Ps currently owned by a highland mare.
 
cedar said:
Ooh love seeing all these gorgeous highlands ;) we have a 10 year old lad. Stands about 13.2hh. I'm 5.9 so takes up my leg pretty well!!

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Sorry about the quality they are taken off photos but are the most recent I have!
They are cheeky ponies but will give you there all if they have your trust. He will eat everything insight with half a chance so is on a restricted diet on a bare paddock and hay. But he can turn his hoof to any job and is definitely a favourite of people wherever he goes cos of his attitude lol
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Love your boy, he's very handsome!!

...and I think you have summed Highland ponies up to a tee there too!! My mare is a like an equine equivalent of a hoover, and cannot understand why she is permanently on a diet! lol! :D
 
Feebee-Friesian said:
In all seriousness Dry Rot. How much money would you charge for me to come spend time with your Highland clan?! I am a hardworking Lackie! Ps currently owned by a highland mare.
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You'd pay??:eek: Money??? :eek::eek:

I hope you don't mind, but I am printing out your post, having it framed, and will be hanging it in the tack room wall!!!

It is quite difficult to get good experienced riders this far north, but I have two here and consider myself very lucky. One is paid, the other isn't.....

BTW, that beach goes for miles. Difficult to get it all on film. There were two others riding and one on foot, not connected to me, so it was unusually crowded but I suppose that's because it is a Bank Holiday!;)
 
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