HIGHLAND PONIES what do you know about them

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thatsmygirl

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I'm seriously looking at buying a highlands, well x with heavy cob but stunning boy. He's only young at the mo but both parents were 14hh so what will he make? Also I'm tall and 12 stone so will he carry me? Iv been looking at ponies for a while now but following the recent thread it has made my mind up but just want to make sure I wouldn't be to heavy. As I do worry you know. :D
also any info on the highlands or pics would be great
 
Highlands are brilliant. Up to weight and very versatile. Mine is a TB x. If I bought another pony it would definitely be a pure Highland. If I had loads of money I would love to have a few Highland brood mares and breed pure as they are getting quite rare as so many are crossed with other breeds.

Not really answering your questions but I love 'em.
Jane
 
Thanks at least it's a thumps up for them.
I never seem to hear anything about highlands, is that because there isn't many around? Or people don't seem to own one?
 
I backed a couple years ago, brilliant fun, bold brave and calm, can carry a bit of weight and cheeky as you like! Thumbs up from me!:)
 
We have a highland youngster and our yard is also an RDA centre which boasts three working highland adults. They are fantastic ponies and can carry up to 17 stone, so you will not be too big! I'm five foot six and 10 stone and regularly ride a 14h adult pony and we look fine together as his barrel takes up my leg. I have found that a well handled one is docile and affectionate but like all natives they can be cheeky so need firm but fair handling. They don't like rough treatment and will stand up for themselves in this case and if you are too soft you end up with a bad mannered tank and that can be scary. Our gelding is proving to be a loving, laid back two year old and we are very much looking forward to having him backed. They are slow maturing though - pure breds do not mature until they are seven and our boy will not be in full work until he is at least five. He will be backed and turned away next year and given every winter off until then. I don't know if the slow maturity affects a highland x? But they are fun, cheerful ponies, intelligent and affectionate. They are great fun to hack (nature's quad bikes is one of their monikers) and will always get you home. Fred, the adult I ride, is very protective of his riders. I have been building up my confidence on him so I can hack on my own again and he wouldn't let me canter until he thought I was ready, bless him! Having only recently moved over from Ireland, I had never met a highland before, but now I am a convert. If this sale does not work out, I would recommend you go to a reputable stud if you are thinking of buying a purebred. We went to Balleroy Highlands in Berkshire and Dawn Cunnigham-Reid did everything she could to make the sale as easy as possible. Robbie stayed with her for another six weeks after we agreed the sale and she handled him everyday to make it easy for us as we had never owned a youngster before. We were nervous as hell, having not had a new horse in 10 years but she reassured us that it was all just common sense and as long as we were firm with him, he will turn out to be whatever we want. She also offered to come over to us if we had problems (we haven't) and even that she would take him back and give us a refund if we felt we had make a big mistake. People like her are true enthusiasts for the breed and will do everything they can to make the partnership a happy one. We love our boy to bits and we laugh at how nervous we were before he came to us.
 
My friend has a lovely highland and shows him on the national circuit as well as affiliated dressage. and he has just started to be ridden by her 12yr old daughter.
 
Indiat has done Highland ponies - and the Highlands stud she bought from - a huge service. That was one of the nicest breed descriptions I've ever read. I've sometimes wondered in which direction to go if my lovely Irish cob mare was no longer rideable - It's now narrowed down to Dales and Highlands. Thank you!
 
My girl is a gorgeous dark dun..eel stripe,zebra legs ,all of it.She is VERY intelligent,is 14.2 and up to any weight.She jumps,is quite sharp,but wonderful loving temperament.Her line is the now defunct "Dene" line ..that breeder, Scott Macgregor retired and moved to Oz a few years back. One day I have a fancy to put her back to the Dene line ,to preserve a fantastic breed line if nothing else.
 
I have one...he is 6, yellow-dun and 13.3hh.

Steady and sensible - but fun too. Nice natured- can be a bit bossy. Very clever. Very loving. Verrry handsome( theres a pic of him on the 'Dun' thread).

He will do anything and go anywhere - he was bought as a just backed 4 year old for my then 6 year old daughter. Potentially not a great combination but I have easily brought him on for her...he's a proper all-rounder.

Does well showing and he did some PC games this year which he enjoyed.

Didn't specifically go out to buy a highland but we stumbled accross him and fell in love.:D
 
There has been some really nice things said about this breed which is lovely.
The lad I'm looking at is build like a bull already and only 6 months old. I really want a baby and to do it all myself and make him what I want. He's been handled well and a lovely little chap and very cheap. I just don't want to get to the point when he's older , where I feel he wouldn't carry me etc and have to sell as I'm looking for a baby so he can grow up with me and spent our life having fun together.
 
EAST KENT said:
My girl is a gorgeous dark dun..eel stripe,zebra legs ,all of it.She is VERY intelligent,is 14.2 and up to any weight.She jumps,is quite sharp,but wonderful loving temperament.Her line is the now defunct "Dene" line ..that breeder, Scott Macgregor retired and moved to Oz a few years back. One day I have a fancy to put her back to the Dene line ,to preserve a fantastic breed line if nothing else.
Click to expand...

that would have been Scott Macgregor from stirlingshire ?
 
Monsters said:
I just don't want to get to the point when he's older , where I feel he wouldn't carry me etc and have to sell as I'm looking for a baby so he can grow up with me and spent our life having fun together.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm 40 and I ride our highland.....he's my second pony, he belongs to my daughter really;)

He will have a home for life with us, daughter may get 'too tall' for him but never too heavy, and as he's maturing and filling out he takes my leg up nicely. I've taken him showing and done ridden classes and I think I look fine on him.:)
 
We have a highland on loan, he is absolutely fantastic!! Such a dude of a pony, cheeky yet well behaved when he needs to be, calm and very level headed, loves his food! Can go like the clappers and is a forward ride but never gets strong or silly, and when he's working properly he is absolutely stunning, his neck is solid and he really flicks his toes out in trot, we have high hopes for him showing next year. I hunted him this week and he was wicked! Get one... they are absolutely brilliant ponies.
 
They are such a great breed, i have two full highlands a 9year old and a 2yr old. My 9 year old is going into foal next year with a dun stallion shes grey and 14.2. My 2 year old is a mouse dun who have high hopes for in showing ring been placed at most shows shes done so far in top 3. Both have very good bloodline.

It depends on the highland you get as my older one has to be rugged, is not the nicest horse to handle however she is great to ride could so anything with her ridden she puts her heart into whatever she is asked to do.

My youngster is a dream to handle, get told off for how calm she is in the show ring!
 
I'm another Highland owner, with my brood mare, her two yr old son and a three yr old rescue. We have had several over the years, lovely ponies. All that has been said is true, including the bad things! A highland will definitely carry you, and someone else as well.

I went up to see Scott McGregor on a HP club visit, just as he was breaking up the stud. Great to see all his ponies there, and himself such a character.
Have a search and find the enthusiasts club website with a lively forum, also Highland pony talk, more Scottish based.
 
Rose Folly said:
Indiat has done Highland ponies - and the Highlands stud she bought from - a huge service. That was one of the nicest breed descriptions I've ever read. I've sometimes wondered in which direction to go if my lovely Irish cob mare was no longer rideable - It's now narrowed down to Dales and Highlands. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Thank you! Like most Irish people I firmly believed that Irish horses were the best in the world and the Irish cob a true family mount. We had one for 10 years before she died of old age and she practically nannied the children when they were toddlers. While I still think Irish horses are some of the best in the world, a Highland is equal to an Irish cob if you are looking for a kind mount for all the family. But so few people get to meet them. If we hadn't moved to this yard and met the Highlands at the RDA centre, I probably would have gone back to Ireland for our next horse. Like a lot of people, we were looking for a small wieght carrier that could carry me comfortably and still be competed at PC level, kind natured, easy to do, easy to keep. Balleroy's Highlands are so nice natured I could have come home with all of them! I have been warned by Highland enthusiasts that they are not all like that, which is why I would recommend a good stud, with proven ponies. I also have heard very good things about Fjords and a well bred one is very impressive. Those pictures of Norman on a thread yesterday were quite something.
 
Thanks guys
iv done it, iv made the call..... HE'S MINE :D
he will be delivered 1st thing in the morning.
I'm like a little child now, so excited and clock watching.
 
I would love to post pic but can't with my phone, no computer. But if anybody is willing to pm me there e mail, I can e mail it to them to post??
He's only 6 months old so a long way until I can ride him but all the handling etc now will be great fun and lead up to the finished pony in years to come
 
Everyone should have a Highland pony at some point in their life. They are wonderful to ride, have real character, love people and are suitable for everyone from small kids to the oldest riders out there. They are real weight carriers as they were bred to carry stags down from the mountains. Look forward to seeing the photos of the one you are buying Monsters.
 
If that's the one on adtrader he looks lovely. Would have bought him myself if I'd seen it earlier!
I have had Highlands in the past and they are great fun.
Good luck with your new purchase. Keep us up to date. :)
 
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I've had two and my sister has one who is ridden by her partner. He is 6' tall and the mare is 14.2. They are wide and so they take up your leg length. The only word of caution would be to make sure they have good manners. Some can be very bargy. If they know the boundaries, they are the most wonderful breed. My first was 14.2 and the present one was out of a 14.3 mare and by a 14.1 stallion. He stands at 15.1 and it fantastic. My horse of a lifetime. You'll have such fun, enjoy your new friend.
 
I had a highland for 3 years, he was a fab pony but I had a freak accident on him that meant I couldn't walk for months let alone ride.

Because he was left for so long, he was one hell of a handful and I had to sell him as I couldn't get him back to being handled or worked as I was still rather fragile. But handled frequently in a fair but firm manner, he was always a really good lad and if I hadn't had the accident I would certainly still have him now as I adored him.
I've now got an Irish cob - just as great and he reminds me so much of the highland I used to have.

Their strength is incredible for their size, I've yet to meet any 16/17hh horse as strong as the highland I had, and he was only 14.1hh. He'll carry you with such ease he'll hardly know your there :)

Good luck, he sounds a fab wee fella, I hope he's everything you dreamed of xxxxxx
 
I don't know anything about Highland ponies, but was recently taking photographs of the ponies for Mendick Highland ponies. Kate and John run the Mendick Highland stud and I am sure would be happy to answer any questions you may have. The contact details and some more pics are on the website:

www.scottishpedigree.co.uk

Here are some of the photographs we took, beautiful models to work with!

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