So... Why don't some people like Haflinger's?
- Thread starter caitlineloise
- Start date
Montyforever
Well-Known Member
I've only known a couple and all were bargy, unpredictable, rude and difficult rides. I find them too much on the ground but I'm quite happy with nutty welshies and thoroughbreds 
I don't do the 'Barbie pony' look either. Just not my type at all!
I don't do the 'Barbie pony' look either. Just not my type at all!fjordhorsefan
Well-Known Member
I think they are lovely! They remind me of my fjord though - people either love them or hate them, and if you get a bad one they are really bad. I remember being advised not to get a fjord because my friend had worked with one that was horrid and bucked, napped, you name it, but my boy is pretty fab all in all 
I wouldn't judge a horse because of its breed until I have met a few of them. As another poster said earlier, haffies are not that common in this country so people will not have that much experience of them. If I wasn't so obsessed with Fjords, I would look at getting a haffie for my next horse
I wouldn't judge a horse because of its breed until I have met a few of them. As another poster said earlier, haffies are not that common in this country so people will not have that much experience of them. If I wasn't so obsessed with Fjords, I would look at getting a haffie for my next horse lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
Mine is my horse of a lifetime.....but....I was prepared to buy a youngster, bred in GB and bring it on and back it rather than getting a cheap imported driving one from a joblot from the continent which wouldnt have had the consistent firm handling a Haffy like any coblet needs. The GB registered ones are often (mine was) bred from stallies that come across form the head stud in Austria. There, they cull anything that isnt up to snuff and that either can be for temp, conf or whatever. Whereas in Continent they ship the reject to UK!
My farrier disliked the breed (having been kicked) before he met mine and she has converted him to the breed.
She is funny and talkative and cheeky and the kindest mare I have ever met (she has converted me to mares, before I got her I was always anti mare).
The breed was allegedly originally reasonably tall (they all go back to an Arab stally x with the tyrolean mountain pony) but in WW2 the occupying Nazis bred them smaller as pack ponies, since when the trend has been to try to breed back up in size - hence you get the two types, stocku pack pony type often with a plain wedge shaped face and taller finer ones with more of an arab look. My girl is quite araby seahorse snouty)
I think they are great but I wouldnt say they are kids ponies unless the child is quite a reasonable rider and also firm with them. No treats, no spoiling, and no teaching them to stand on a bucket - or they will do it when you least want it...) They do seem to think of children as 'fresh meat' ))
I have a 17 hander but would choose this madam anytime....
Heres Liesel - how could anyone resist?
nb she only had a rug on as it was -20!! she is never rugged until minus 10 degrees!
My farrier disliked the breed (having been kicked) before he met mine and she has converted him to the breed.
She is funny and talkative and cheeky and the kindest mare I have ever met (she has converted me to mares, before I got her I was always anti mare).
The breed was allegedly originally reasonably tall (they all go back to an Arab stally x with the tyrolean mountain pony) but in WW2 the occupying Nazis bred them smaller as pack ponies, since when the trend has been to try to breed back up in size - hence you get the two types, stocku pack pony type often with a plain wedge shaped face and taller finer ones with more of an arab look. My girl is quite araby seahorse snouty
)I think they are great but I wouldnt say they are kids ponies unless the child is quite a reasonable rider and also firm with them. No treats, no spoiling, and no teaching them to stand on a bucket - or they will do it when you least want it...
) They do seem to think of children as 'fresh meat' ))I have a 17 hander but would choose this madam anytime....
Heres Liesel - how could anyone resist?
nb she only had a rug on as it was -20!! she is never rugged until minus 10 degrees!
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patchwork puzzle
Well-Known Member
I love my mare. She can be opinionated under saddle and will happily spend forever 'not listening', but most of the time she is fabulous. We came third at this years Sunshine Tour dressage champs the other week She is very clever and a really quick learner.
Also, she is a true to the old type, heavier set Haffie, darker chestnut (rather than the paler type that most you see tend to be). Its funny, because I often get comments of ' oh I didnt think it was a Haflinger' because people are used to seeing the lighter weight/ colour version, and she is actually the closest to the true type that I have ever seen in the flesh.
She is very clever and a really quick learner. Also, she is a true to the old type, heavier set Haffie, darker chestnut (rather than the paler type that most you see tend to be). Its funny, because I often get comments of ' oh I didnt think it was a Haflinger' because people are used to seeing the lighter weight/ colour version, and she is actually the closest to the true type that I have ever seen in the flesh.
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
I love my mare. She can be opinionated under saddle and will happily spend forever 'not listening', but most of the time she is fabulous. We came third at this years Sunshine Tour dressage champs the other week
Also, she is a true to the old type, heavier set Haffie, darker chestnut (rather than the paler type that most you see tend to be). Its funny, because I often get comments of ' oh I didnt think it was a Haflinger' because people are used to seeing the lighter weight/ colour version, and she is actually the closest to the true type that I have ever seen in the flesh.
There are two 'true types' in the Haffie - neither is more 'true' than the other, it just depends which type you like and fits your requirements - one is the WW2 developed pack pony type, the other the pre war/more recent reversion to original size. One favours the Tyrolean pony ancestry, the other the Arab. Both as good as each other for different roles IMO