Highland Ponies

[Pegasus5531]

Hi all looking into my next horse and interested in Highlands, have had other natives before but recently been riding a friends hunters while I'm in between horses and not sure if I'll feel something smaller and chunkier isn't enough if that makes sense. I'm mainly wanting a nice allrounder type want it to be safe for my OH to handle and possibly hack occasionally. Bonus if I can jump a bit still and have some fun. Would love to hear anyone's experiences positive or negative of Highland ponies!

 

[fidleyspromise]

I've got a 21 Yr old and she gallops along the beach, still whizzes round 70cm courses, goes for 2 to 3 hour hacks.
My partner is non horsey and has handled her since she was about 8.
I've had my nieces on her from 4 yrs old and she gave a friend's daughter confidence going round 45 cm courses when she lost it from their horse. By the end of the season they were consistently in the ribbons in the 45 and 60 classes.

I'd love another Highland but a little taller. I hack with a 16.3 Standardbred with a huge stride so looking for something around 15hh (looking at Arabians).
Tilly is my heart pony. She's cheeky, fun and safe. I'm going to struggle to find her replacement.

 

[Widgeon]

The only thing I would say is that it is *incredibly* hard to find backed and ridden Highlands - people tend not to sell them. I really like them and was looking for one a few years ago, but there was almost nothing for sale. If you have the means to buy a youngster and get it professionally backed and ridden away that might be the most straightforward way to find a nice one. I'm 5'7" and used to ride a 13.3hh, she took up my leg easily and was a super sensible hack - she would go marching out on her own, cantering in open spaces, no problem. She was very stuffy in the school but that's probably just because she'd never been properly schooled.

 

[wills_91]

My friend had a highland and I used to school a highland x. Both were strong willed and incredibly stubborn . They were fabulous ponies though.

 

[J&S]

I have schooled and shown a Highland pony mare, she was a real cracker, lovely in every way and tried very hard to please. On the other hand, we had several Highlands at our RDA centre and they were all quite pushy and very much wanted their own way.

 

[throwaway2022]

Fabulous ponies, they’re ‘my’ breed. I’m on my third now, a rising 2yo Heald Town gelding. As a generalisation they can be stubborn but once you get them on side they’re fabulous! They’re incredibly versatile all rounders and love a varied life. Many can be sharp, they’re certainly not dope on the rope types!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Physically strong, tough in all weather, brave, strong-willed, intelligent.
Add that together & you're talking dream pony or your worst nightmare, depending if they're for or against you!

 

[sbloom]

I saddle fit for a lot of Highlands, they can be awesome when you work with them, they shouldn't be sluggish etc and some are super active. They are usually wide in the ribcage and across the back, they're not usually super hard to saddle fit for someone who's working with brands that work on wider shapes (so many offerings from non-specialists really don't do the job that well, and I'd say changeable headplate saddles often fall into that category). However, that width, and needing wider saddles, does mean that it's hard for many riders to get their legs down underneath them, especially if the rider has narrow hips. If your knees commonly turn out when riding your natives, or you sit in a chair seat no matter the saddle, it is likely to be worse on a highland compared to, say, a Connie.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

I adored mine, but it was very much a case of learning to ride him rather than getting him to go the way I wanted! Strong in all senses of the word.

 

[honetpot]

They are very active and capable of a lot, if they are not allowed to get fat. One I sold 15 years ago, looks amazing and is still in work, and can jump, its been home since it was four. I have Connemaras as well, but the Highlands tend to have a more settled temperament, you have to make sure they have not been over handled and not pushed too much, or they just down tools. Everything you have has to extra strong, you have about 450kg in a very small package, my yearling took a metal gate off its hinges, and bent it.

 

[Surbie]

We have 3 at our RDA - the gelding has mellowed a lot and is very sweet, but both the mares have strong opinions about people. I think they are super, but as has been said, it's really hard to find one with experience as people just don't sell them often. I have a friend actively looking.

 

[Caol Ila]

Mine is a bit nuts but he's not a normal Highland. Very sharp, spooky, and he likes to be a drama queen. But when he's not doing that, he is the ultimate all-terrain pony. Very forward in the school as well, so long as the floodlight monsters aren't out.

 

[suestowford]

I've ridden a few and loved them all. One is particularly memorable. A safe plod everywhere, until you reached the sand on the beach. He was still safe then, but far from plodding.
We had a bit of a race once along there. Three big horses and the Highland neck & neck into a howling gale. It was fantastic. Another time in the sand dunes I found myself on a track I hate as it's got a sheer drop on one side. I'm afraid I shut my eyes and hung on to the mane, and let the pony do it his way.

 

[Tarragon]

I would have got myself a Highland Pony when I first started looking to buy one of my own, but ended up with Exmoor ponies as I couldn't afford the prices of a well bred Highland, which is a decision I haven't regretted. I did have one for nearly a year, to get out and about hacking for a friend, and I loved her. She was similar to my Exmoor ponies in that you needed to work with her and earn respect and you got the best out of her if she was persuaded that what you wanted to do was a good idea!
However, she had a huge itchy backside and very few fences were quite the same after she went!

 

[Widgeon]

I would have got myself a Highland Pony when I first started looking to buy one of my own, but ended up with Exmoor ponies as I couldn't afford the prices of a well bred Highland, which is a decision I haven't regretted.

*Mutters darkly about jealousy and "people like you" who are small enough to ride Exmoors*

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

I got into Highlands , by accident , about 30 years ago . My background was eventing but I went with someone who was looking to buy a Highland as an advisor . She didn't go for it in the end - but I came home with two ! I've had many more since . As well as showing , ours did BD dressage up to Elementary , hacked , hunted and , if they had the apptitude , did WH and a bit of show jumping . They can be quirky ( some breed lines more so than others ! ) but that's not an excuse for bad manners , I don't tolerate those in anything , be it a tb or a hairy pony ! They are tough , intelligent and versatile and can accomodate a variety of riders , ours have gone from being M+M champion at an affiliated show one week to looking after a child in a ' Best Mane and Tail ' class at a local show the next .

With me


Best Mane and Tail


Champion Young Handler ( this young lady had both learning difficulties and physical issues but they made a great team together ! ) .


BD Area Festival with Sir Lee Pearson . 4th - the only pony ( never mind native ! ) in the class .



M&M WH

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

*Mutters darkly about jealousy and "people like you" who are small enough to ride Exmoors*

Me too ! I would LOVE to be small enough to ride an Exmoor . They look so tough and ' primitive ' - and by that I mean that they don't look like someone's gone " Oh here's a perfectly nice pony . Let's muck about with it's breeding until it looks like something completely different " . They look like they've always looked , and that you could open the stable door , let it out into the wild and it would be perfectly capable of looking after itself , thankyou very much !

 

[Tarragon]

They look so tough and ' primitive ' - and by that I mean that they don't look like someone's gone " Oh here's a perfectly nice pony . Let's muck about with it's breeding until it looks like something completely different " . They look like they've always looked , and that you could open the stable door , let it out into the wild and it would be perfectly capable of looking after itself , thankyou very much !

Oh, absolutely this! Special little ponies
But they only come in shades of brown

 

[NeverSurrender]

I have a highland, similarly to you I downsized from a 16.2 Cleveland Bay but wanted something smaller and less intimidating for the non-horsey partner to handle and have the occasional sit on! I couldn't afford a ready-made highland so purchased a lovely then yearling, he is 3 this year. He is a fabulous boy, very much a people pony, built like a total unit already - that said, as above, you have to work with him or he stands there with ears back and pursed lips like a brick wall (not so fond memories of frustrated pulling when planted loading! definitely a breed that teaches you patience, and to control your emotions) - just under 15 hands at 3, too! so they do come in bigger sizes x

 

[atropa]

I have a Highland, as well as two sport horses, and the Highland is more horse to handle than either of the other two put together.
The best parts - pretty bombproof, goes when asked and stops when asked, loves jumping.
The worst parts - mine is certainly not placid, she has a huge repertoire in planting/rearing/bucking in certain situations.
Hugely intelligent and independent, really a horse you need to earn the trust of. Also need very careful weight management which can be difficult and time consuming on a livery yard..I often think of them as the Border Collies of the horse world, they need plenty of both mental and physical exercise to be at their best.

 

[Hepsibah]

I love mine. We both enjoy hacking and all is well. If I tried taking her into a school she'd be a different animal.

I did see one for sale....

Horses & Ponies for Sale, Rehome & Loan | Preloved

Find local classified ads for horses and ponies in the UK. Rehome loan and sell with zero fees, and give an animal a forever home with Preloved!

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[Gloi]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid025kxaCswYBSsjE5cgUnAj5Gm6ZwsvKgmquy4xA9ZQ1Hb8dNvPbq2S68VPre968LCBl&id=100000408901138

 

[Boulty]

It’s a bit like owning a small bulldozer with the personality of a Labrador, all the get up & go of an arthritic slug (with the ability to perform impressive airs above the ground when it suits him!), a complete inability to respect any fencing that wouldn’t also contain a velociraptor & no concept whatsoever of personal space! He assumes all solid objects will move out of his way if only he pushes hard enough & that if his head fits into a space surely the rest of his body can follow? He licks & grooms dogs (& cats & people) that come within reach, picks up & either tries to eat & throws in the air anything you are stupid enough to leave near him & I think if my yard owner ever left her front door open & he got loose he’d try to get in. He puts the bare minimum amount of effort he can get away with into anything that falls into the category of work & has made many, many attempts to get himself retired (he is 6 & rather a lot of these attempts were before I’d even backed him which was only finally achieved at the start of last year… he was not impressed & conspired to injure himself & then me & then changed shape so his saddle didn’t fit. Currently think we’re on his longest recent run of actually being rideable but we are heading into the time of the year where he normally books himself a few months off via a vet visit!)

 

[Pegasus5531]

Thank you everyone for your insight! I've just been to see a backed and ridden highland mare that is for sale in my budget and only half an hour from my house which from your comments sounds like gold dust. Have only been able to hack her as there is no arena but have been assured that she goes well in the school and owners have given me no reason not to trust them. They have had her since a yearling and she is now 10 and seems to be everything I am looking for, just feeling nervous about taking the plunge of buying another horse after losing my last mare to injury so really keen to get this one right to avoid anymore heartache! She's definitely a bit fat at the moment though despite living mostly out with no hard feed so I'm sure there is potential that she would be a tad feistier when in more consistent work (that would probably suit me rather than bother me). Does anybody know what I would expect to pay for a vetting these days and what are the breed specific health issues they may have? My welshies have always been a nightmare with lami management for example.

 

[gallopingby]

Just be aware there are mainly two types of highlands - fatter and ploddy which is increasingly rare and the more athletic sports type which may come with the aforementioned airs about the ground. highland feet aren’t always as good as some of th e other breeds. Vetting is from £300 to around £450 depending where you live.

 

[Sprig]

It sounds like you should get a move on and snap that pony up before someone else does!

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Thank you everyone for your insight! I've just been to see a backed and ridden highland mare that is for sale in my budget and only half an hour from my house which from your comments sounds like gold dust. Have only been able to hack her as there is no arena but have been assured that she goes well in the school and owners have given me no reason not to trust them. They have had her since a yearling and she is now 10 and seems to be everything I am looking for, just feeling nervous about taking the plunge of buying another horse after losing my last mare to injury so really keen to get this one right to avoid anymore heartache! She's definitely a bit fat at the moment though despite living mostly out with no hard feed so I'm sure there is potential that she would be a tad feistier when in more consistent work (that would probably suit me rather than bother me). Does anybody know what I would expect to pay for a vetting these days and what are the breed specific health issues they may have? My welshies have always been a nightmare with lami management for example.

Non of mine have ever had lami but then we absolutely don't do fat ponies ! I have had judges comment that they would like to see them more ' mature ' , ' developed ' , ' carrying more condition ' and a dozen other euphemisms for FAT , but I never succumbed ! I know I've been marked down in showing because of it but I would rather be down the line on a fit healthy pony that can actually do another job than standing top with a lump of lard that rolls round the ring ! And then of course you also get the lovely educated judges who compliment you on their condition and tell you how nice it is to see a Highland that can really move !
Feet wise they seem to fall into two categories - brilliant or appalling , with nothing in between ! Never had one with sweet itch , mud fever , or any other skin issue . Only ever lame through sustaining the odd knock , eat anything , constitutions of an ox . Live in or out , with rugs or without , they just go with the flow !
Our have proved to be tough , sound and long lived ( two 20 + ponies currently out in the field ) and of all of ours the ones least likely to run up a vets bill ( touch wood ! ) .
Get it bought !

 

[pistolpete]

Mine was as sharp as ****when ridden. Now retired due to stifle injury. Very wide. Very handsome and far more go than woah! He doesn’t really like people unfortunately which I think is unusual for highlands but I don’t think I’ll ever bring myself to have another even though I love how they look. Also ridiculously good doers on the whole so mine was often hangry too!

 

[Caol Ila]

Fin is built like a brick sh*thouse - looks like a proper deer pony - but he's sharp as a sharp thing. Way sharper than my PRE (who is, well, the opposite of sharp...more like a Highland should be).

 

[JFTDWS]

One of mine is also very sharp. The other is a pillock, but he really isn't sharp. Both on the sportier side. My proper horse is much more straightforward in pretty much every way.