Highland Ponies

[Mr Punch]

After umming and arring for a while have decided now is the right time to get another horse (well pony).

Have always wanted a Highland and been looking at several youngsters.

Can anyone who has a Highland give me any pointers what to look for conformation wise etc?

 

[PorkChop]

I would get in touch with Dry Rot who posts on here, he breeds Highlands and is extremely knowledgeable

 

[Dry Rot]

I would get in touch with Dry Rot who posts on here, he breeds Highlands and is extremely knowledgeable

Now you are making me blush! May I suggest the OP does a Google for Images of Highland ponies? I don't really know much about the show side. It is breaking and training that interests me. The OP will also find quite a lot on Youtube, also Facebook, and don't forget The Highland Pony Society.

Do be aware that Highland ponies vary in type quite a bit as in the past they filled a variety of functions and strains would have been loaclised. The west coast and island ponies were smaller and the ponies in the north east were a much chunkier type. They are now interbred and the races are less distinct, but the different types are there if you look. The best solution is to choose what you like! That has always worked for me.

 

[pennandh]

To be honest, as long as it has a leg at each corner and looks sensibly-proportioned, you're unlikely to go horrendously far wrong.

The HPS (as Dry Rot mentioned) and HPEC (more properly the Highland Pony Enthusiasts Club) are absolutely brilliant if you need advice - full of very friendly people who're always up for a chat about HiPos.

I'm a big fan of the island type Highlands, and that's what Mr H is (though he's Yorkshire-bred if you want to get technical about it), but I'm sure the mainland sort are lovely too, if you want something a little bigger. Mind you, saying that, I know a lovely 14.2hh-ish gelding from the same stud as H, which is very islandy in his looks, just big. There's plenty of variety regarding what's correct depending on exactly what you're looking for.

And then you have the joys of choosing between hordes of lovely ponies in a wide array of colours, shapes and sizes. Good luck with your search!

 

[Greylegs]

Just speaking as the owner of just one of these amazing beasties, I have to say you've made a good decision. My lad is full up 14.2 and chunky with it, leg at each corner, strong, cheeky and utterly adorable. To look at you would think he'd be a bit of a plod, but he does great dressage, hacks all day and lives on fresh air (which can be a problem at this time of year) .... I think he's pretty special (he's very well bred by highland standards!!) so I wish you luck with your search OP.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

Just try and get one with manners-mine didn't want to be caught today so he head butted me in the back of the head and gave me concussion!

 

[indiat]

Just try and get one with manners-mine didn't want to be caught today so he head butted me in the back of the head and gave me concussion!

Oh God, mine does that to me regularly! If you are in the market for a youngster, I recommend Balleroy Highlands, every one they produce is stunning with a lovely temperament.

 

[GirlFriday]

See, I know nothing about Highlands but keep checking back to see if anyone has posted pictures... *hint*

Go, on, show OP what to look for?

 

[windand rain]

last summer an Island type She is 20 years old and has done every discipline you can imagine, had a foal and is now doing veterans. Do be aware they can be very good jumpers which can mean houdini tendencies. Taught properly from birth they dont need to be bargy thugs. She is presently teaching her 20th and 21st pupils to ride. Is ridden by novices, toddlers and competes in HOYS qualifiers with the better riders

 

[Lintel]

Well, I'm not one for conformation or what to look for to be honest I'm fairly rubbish at that! - I'll leave it to those with more brainpower!
But whatever you do

DO NOT GET A HIGHLAND

They look at you like this:



And get away with murder.
- and there is nothing you can do to stop them!

 

[Lintel]

Other than look at everybody that passes him with the "I'm a poor starving pony" look he does hack anywhere, will let anyone ride him, jumps like a stag(also out of fields!) schools when the mood takes us and gives excellent horsey kisses!



However... give him an inch he takes a mile.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

However... give him an inch he takes a mile.

This. They're not a 'softly, softly' breed, you have to mean everything you do.
Concussion giving aside, I adore mine though. I've never met a horse that tries so hard, he does everything (not always particularly well but he gives it a go) and I can stick him in the field for weeks, drag him out to go for a hack, and he's exactly the same.

Is the only way of posting pictures if you use photobucket?

 

[honetpot]

I have had three and they are quite capable of doing anything a Connemara can do dressage, jumping etc. The only but is they have to be taught manners when small as when they are bigger they are so strong the are a bit of an immovable object.

 

[honetpot]

Highland pony facebook group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/4626919367/

 

[JFTDWS]

See, I know nothing about Highlands but keep checking back to see if anyone has posted pictures... *hint*

Go, on, show OP what to look for?

Oh all right then...

highlands come in all shapes and sizes:

They can't do dressage to any level - they're just not built for it:

They're too clumsy to show jump:

You'd have to be mad to try to XC one:

They aren't bold and will refuse to do things just because they can:

You'd never get one in the water:

They're completely untrustworthy:

And untrainable:

There just really aren't any suitable jobs for highlands:

And most of all, they'll never act like idiots in the field and make you laugh. Oh no...

I could go on, but I've probably convinced you by now. Nobody wants a highland!

 

[FfionWinnie]

Best post EVER JFTD!

 

[ester]

Your 'you'd be mad to take one XC' comment did make me think of some of Fergus's not so glam moments!

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I'd consider an Eriskay because it is endangered, only problem is that they are a good bit smaller, maybe more a family pony.
Highlands are hardy and have a good temperament, they can do lots of activities, and go all day if reasonably fittened.

 

[JFTDWS]

Your 'you'd be mad to take one XC' comment did make me think of some of Fergus's not so glam moments!

No idea what you mean - F's super:

It's not his fault the jockey can't keep up!

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Oh all right then...

highlands come in all shapes and sizes:

They can't do dressage to any level - they're just not built for it:

They're too clumsy to show jump:

You'd have to be mad to try to XC one:

They aren't bold and will refuse to do things just because they can:

You'd never get one in the water:

They're completely untrustworthy:

And untrainable:

There just really aren't any suitable jobs for highlands:

And most of all, they'll never act like idiots in the field and make you laugh. Oh no...

I could go on, but I've probably convinced you by now. Nobody wants a highland!

Yes, but yours is a special case, and I suspect he only behaves well when you spoil him with mixy-matchy outfits.

 

[pansymouse]

The therapy centre next to our yard have several (from Balmoral, I believe; they're very well connected) - their latest is a lovely youngster which I called donkey coloured but they refer to as mouse dun; so pretty and unusual.

 

[ester]

Which was the one with the green astro turf on top .

pansymouse a friend's daughter (autistic) started there about 16 having had nothing to do with horses before and is now finishing her 2nd year at sparsholt

Highlands do like to have a plethora of dun names

 

[Hipo]

http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab174/pebblescooby/Rorysupereventer.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I am totally in love with our Highland , he's so straightforward, we can take him anywhere and do anything. Good luck with your search, I'm sure whatever type you find you'll be smitten.

 

[JFTDWS]

Which was the one with the green astro turf on top .

pansymouse a friend's daughter (autistic) started there about 16 having had nothing to do with horses before and is now finishing her 2nd year at sparsholt

Highlands do like to have a plethora of dun names

Oh that was just bad riding

I'm currently calling Dae an "oatmeal dun"

Dun gene on a brown base with grey. At that stage of greying out where he looks distinctly oatmealy

 

[Dry Rot]

JFTD puts forward a good case for the performance Highland. It's just a pity about the temperament, especially of the stallions, all too often passed on to their progeny, or they'd make a great all round family pony!

 

[JFTDWS]

They're wild. Nobody should let a child near a highland.

Fergus wasn't letting an 18 month old ride shoulder in bareback on the byway last summer. Oh no. Definitely not...

 

[LittleBlackMule]

I know Dragon Driving isn't known for the quality of its content, but there is a rather lovely Highland boy on there at the moment -

http://www.dragondriving.co.uk/horseforsale-84756.html

 

[Borderreiver]

Yes they even drive. Good choice, have fun finding your perfect one.

 

[NiceNeverNaughty]

I love Highlands, I learned/taught myself to ride on one when I was about 10! They can be opinionated and nowadays there are a lot more sharp and very forward lines than there used to be. Overall they are lovely people though. They take up the leg extremely well, a 14.2hh Highland is a LOT of horse, I went to see one and was like a pea on a mountain, Im 5ft4.

This was my little mare I bought as a newly backed 4 year old, I hoped she would grow but she stuck at 13hh. she was my first project really as she had only been sat on a couple of times, I learned a lot from her.. not least how to stay on , the small ones are not always easy to stick on I wasn’t huge on her but for jumping I felt the balance was wrong and I sold her last year. She has gone to another small adult rider.

and this is my lovely girl Brook who I bought last year as a 3 year old, completely unhandled from the islands. She is a lighter framed type and has been a real joy to work with, he temperament is wonderful.I knew this line were known for being quiet and I waited quite a while to be able to get her, having never started anything completely by myself it was paramount to get the right type. It took a while and some patience to get near her and working with her at the beginning but once she trusted me she was fab. She is quietly hacking out now and I’ll probably potter about with her a bit over summer and then she will be turned away again to mature. She is 14hh. She is Dun on her passport but will grey out.

 

[Mr Punch]

Thanks for all the replies!!! Photos are fab!!

I've found a few I like the look at but going to have to take a trip up to Scotland I think

There is a 13.3hh i'm interested in but not sure if too small but I understand they ride quite big?? I'm 5ft 2. He has however just turned 4 and within my budget so would be able to start breaking him in.