Highland x TB as a hunter - yr thoughts please

T

turnbuckle

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 April 2014
Messages
1,511
Visit site
Have always had an idea that the right HighlandxTB would make a cracking hunter - quality leavened with soundness and common sense!

I'm 6ft and ride 15st, so clearly would need a little height in the end result.

Thoughts and experiences all v welcome....
 
It is unlikely to be big enough as a first cross, I had one at livery that was 14.2 he had the limbs of the tb and the body of the Highland, not as bad as it sounds but he was no weight carrier, a Cleveland as suggested above would be an excellent choice, a rare breed that needs supporting.
 
I used to teach a Highland x Arab - wasn't a good cross. It was as sharp as an Arab and as stubborn as a Highland. Looked like a Highland too - he was dun, about 15.1 and lazy as all get out. (except when he was napping, spinning and rearing)

I can't see it working as a first cross, but then what would you put it back to? Back to a Highland, you'd reinforce the stockiness, but not get any taller, back to a TB, you'd lose the bone.....

As with all mongrels/cross breeds, it would be hard to predict the outcome. I can't imagine you would get the height to carry you - a pure Highland would carry you - my OH has put more weight than that in stags on his working Highlands, but I bet you'd feel too tall.

Depends how much quality you want, with the weight carrying ability - I would go down the Cleveland Bay, RID route - or stick some cold blood in there, and go down the Shire or Clydesdale route (although you can get height without bone, and Shire crosses IME can be quite stressy)
 
Maesfen said:
As reasons stated. I'd go for a proper ID x TB, bone and substance with quality. Talking about stubbornness, a CB is up with a Highland for that any day.
Click to expand...

Maesfen - I was trying not to insult a much revered rare breed, but sometimes things are rare for a reason...... the only CBs I have met have been very light in front and so backwards in coming forward, that they needed to turn up for a lesson the day before.

They produce fabulous in hand youngsters though, for hunter showing......
 
Lol, totally agree with you.
TBF to them,they need work, a bit like collies and spaniels; if they have a proper job to do they can be delightful if it suits them. The ones I've known have been what we call - noggin headed and that's what colours my judgement; I'm sure there must be wonderful ones out there, the same as there must be some nice Shetlands.............somewhere!
 
All makes sense, and explains why you don't see many. Still, one day when I'm rich and idle it would be fun to try and prove everyone wrong!

Mind you that's from the man who thought about bringing Mongolian ponies over as crossing stock. Not my brightest. Luckily didn't get past the planning stage :)

Still think they might sweep the board at mounted games though!
 
My first thoughts would be 'why' would anyone want to breed such a thing. Welsh D x TB used to be a popular for riding club all rounders, not popular now probably due to the bigger Section D stallions no longer being around. In my youth there were plenty of of them and many were really useful and successful small horses.

For 15 stone and 6' an ID would be ideal. A ready made one will command a good price. I would not touch another CB, I had one as a teenager and it could argue with itself.

How about a clipped out one of these OP ? When mature he will carry 16 + stone. Irish Cob on a Shire, sharp and forwards but eventually will be a nice horse.

P1010022_zpshzlsbm0t.jpg
 
I don't breed but have seen several Highland x Tbs and Highlands x Arabs and liked none of them-either as mentioned you get Highland body on TB legs or Arab/TB front or backend with the Highland on the other. None have been very big. I seem to remember someone on here though who had one that was rather nice but that was ages ago.

An overheight Highland would probably do you-depends how long in the torso you are and if you like 'em wide or not! Rather that than a CB anything (sorry CB fans). Highlands can be quite sharp btw..
 
People who want a compliant, easy to ride horse don't like Cleveland Bays IME. CBs have minds of their own and don't like to be bored going round and round in pointless, endless circles. They are loyal and love their people, would jump off a cliff for their rider if asked to but are perfectly willing to stand still while someone they don't know or like is ineffectually flapping around on their back.
They are fantastic heavyweight hunters and excell on the hunting field. They're brave, sensible and reliable. They are also an excellent first cross as competition horses and a second cross at international level competition. They just don't suffer fools gladly, or at all....
 
I bred one 25 years ago, seemed like a good idea at the time.

He was out of a stonking 14.2 Highland, by a 17.2 son of Sir Ivor. Grew to about 15.1, looked quite nice, wasn't strong enough for hunting and was a little git.

Look for an ID or Clydesdale type.
 
Hepsibah said:
People who want a compliant, easy to ride horse don't like Cleveland Bays IME. CBs have minds of their own and don't like to be bored going round and round in pointless, endless circles. They are loyal and love their people, would jump off a cliff for their rider if asked to but are perfectly willing to stand still while someone they don't know or like is ineffectually flapping around on their back.
They are fantastic heavyweight hunters and excell on the hunting field. They're brave, sensible and reliable. They are also an excellent first cross as competition horses and a second cross at international level competition. They just don't suffer fools gladly, or at all....
Click to expand...

Exactly this.

Owner of four, and other warmblood breeds.

Pure and part bred alike have been used to create and improve the lines of many competition lines, and several big names are out there right now, achieving high standards and achievements in various spheres of work.
 
Hepsibah said:
People who want a compliant, easy to ride horse don't like Cleveland Bays IME. CBs have minds of their own and don't like to be bored going round and round in pointless, endless circles. They are loyal and love their people, would jump off a cliff for their rider if asked to but are perfectly willing to stand still while someone they don't know or like is ineffectually flapping around on their back.
They are fantastic heavyweight hunters and excell on the hunting field. They're brave, sensible and reliable. They are also an excellent first cross as competition horses and a second cross at international level competition. They just don't suffer fools gladly, or at all....
Click to expand...

Exactly this!
Had my CB for 7 years and you will not find a more brave and loyal horse. shes by far the easiest I own and have ever owned. Don't get me wrong she took a bit of getting used to but I would buy another in a heart beat.
They can be opinionated with people who confuse them.
 
Someone I knew as a teenager had a super Highland x Anglo, it was the envy of everyone at pony club. That said it was only 15hh and far to light a type for a big bloke!

Go for a good quality draft x TB.
 
You can't beat a good ID as a substantial hunter .
I not even really a huge fan of the ID/ TB I can never work out why you would not have either a lovely NH type of TB to do the job or an RID ( Height to suit you ).
The ultimate hunter for a rider is a TB they have the full package .For someone working all week who needs a pal to take them out to hounds you simply can't beat the purpose trained RID .
I have two RID.
Fatty is the nearest thing to a black leather sofa you will ever hunt he's a remarkable horse he knows more about hunting than any of us and I could fill pages with amusing tales about him .
His best attribute Irish draught auto correct which is engaged when the rider has more than three drinks it's pause after landing to check the rider is there followed by hitch to centre the rider if Fatty considers it necessary.
H takes a bit more riding ( of course he's half Fatties age ) he has enough about him to field master. He one of those horses who adjusts his behaviour according to who is riding him and goes very well for Fit young friend out in front and then next time out copes with MRGS's loose rein you sort it horse method of riding.
He arrived an angry nervous horse with a serious bronc I am very proud of how he's taken his opportunity for change .
Having said of all this I do think ID's are usually to wide for all but the tallest ladies to hunt. My favourite hunter was an Anglo Arab I had as a teenager and I had an epic 7/8 bred TB with splash of Connie who I still miss twenty years after I lost her .
 
I can't believe the negative comments I'm reading towards the CB's!
How many have you against them actually had or dealt with.
I myself have had nearly a grand total of 40 pure and part breds (combined) and none have been stubborn or backwards. In fact they have to be one of the easiet and most loyal breeds I have come across (and I have plenty of ish, warmbloods and Welsh ponies in my yard). And no matter what they seem to be crossed with they still seem to make an incredibly versitile animal.
Just look at some that are out there, winning hunter hoys qualifiers, psg level dressage and some crosses have completed badminton. There's a lot to be said for the Cleveland Bay , they are certainly not to be overlooked.

And to the OP I think a highland x tb could make a great hunter however I'm not sure you'd get the height required.
 
Goldenstar, can I please send my lovely, mainly-blood ISH to Fatty for some lessons?

On second thoughts, I'm not sure we'd get very far...:)
 
Goldenstar said:
You can't beat a good ID as a substantial hunter .
I not even really a huge fan of the ID/ TB I can never work out why you would not have either a lovely NH type of TB to do the job or an RID ( Height to suit you ).
The ultimate hunter for a rider is a TB they have the full package .For someone working all week who needs a pal to take them out to hounds you simply can't beat the purpose trained RID .
I have two RID.
Fatty is the nearest thing to a black leather sofa you will ever hunt he's a remarkable horse he knows more about hunting than any of us and I could fill pages with amusing tales about him .
His best attribute Irish draught auto correct which is engaged when the rider has more than three drinks it's pause after landing to check the rider is there followed by hitch to centre the rider if Fatty considers it necessary.
.
Click to expand...

I agree with your post. On another point, my son had a welsh B pony who he hunted and did XC on, he never shortened the reins so he had any contact but that pony could do it by herself. She really did hitch the shoulder to keep him on if he was going out the side door, a rare and precious commodity.

I have known one CB and he was an excellent hunter. didn't do circles though, spent his whole time thinking out better ways to keep entertained.
I think anything Irish bred (not this new silly Irish warmblood stuff but a proper ID or ID x )tends to be a fantastic horse.
 
KSR said:
Exactly this.

Owner of four, and other warmblood breeds.

Pure and part bred alike have been used to create and improve the lines of many competition lines, and several big names are out there right now, achieving high standards and achievements in various spheres of work.
Click to expand...


I stand to be corrected - I can only speak as I find, and the ridden CBs I have met have clearly not done the breed any favours.

KSR and Celyn - can you tell us who the successful ones are, please, as they are obviously not advertising their breeding?
 
spacefaer said:
I stand to be corrected - I can only speak as I find, and the ridden CBs I have met have clearly not done the breed any favours.
Click to expand...

Ditto this and also the ones I've known on the ground. Without doubt the strongest, stubbornest, most property damaging beasts I've ever known; will walk through walls to get where they want.
 
Maesfen said:
Ditto this and also the ones I've known on the ground. Without doubt the strongest, stubbornest, most property damaging beasts I've ever known; will walk through walls to get where they want.
Click to expand...

I suppose at the end of the day they were bred to be cart horses and stubborn is probably a plus for that. I hope Rollin doesn't see this thread!
 
Bonkers2 said:
Cart horses .......... NO, BRED BE CARRIAGE HORSES, GET YOUR FACS RIGHT.
Click to expand...

Perhaps that fact indicates why they are now, very sadly, on the rare breed list. Together with the fact that top end four in hand teams are warmbloods with paces that score well in the dressage phase, have scope to gallop and are more athletic. You only have to look at the teams the Bowmans drive to see that a CB would not have a hope in hell of competing against them.

As a riding horse the CB unless crossed with a TB would not have the speed and scope to event beyond the lower levels, his paces are correct but not special, his look is plain and often coarse through the head.

I don't think they fell out of favour as such, more a case of other breeds improving and becoming more useful than a CB. The one I had in my youth was nice enough and his outlook improved as he aged, but he was never generous and never 'took' me, far more of a 'make me' type of horse. He was also bone idle and paid the price of idleness by turning over out hunting, thankfully he threw me clear but he paid the ultimate price for being careless.

There used to be a splash of CB in some show hunters but not now. There is always a reason why a breed or type of any animal does not thrive be it habitat, predators or usefulness. Sadly for the CB, the Suffolk and the Hackney things are not looking good.
 
Maesfen said:
Ditto this and also the ones I've known on the ground. Without doubt the strongest, stubbornest, most property damaging beasts I've ever known; will walk through walls to get where they want.
Click to expand...

Got to agree with this - though I have only had one, but would never have another!
 
Feeling rather guilty, this seems to have turned into a we-don't-care-if-CBs-become-extinct thread! Tempted to go and buy one to prove everyone wrong, just for the hell of it :)
 
I don't ever understand why we worry so much about breeds becoming extinct. If they were useful enough they wouldn't :p and they are't an entire species just a human manufactured breed.

And no, you don't see many CBs at driving trials, can't actually think of any. The nicest team are arabx friesians :p and none of the warmbloods used are crazy either, well normal enough to stand in stalls just chilling in between phases.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top