So... Why don't some people like Haflinger's?

caitlineloise

caitlineloise

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There's many a thread if you search the forum on Haflingers, about how its either a love or hate breed.

I love my boy to pieces and would never be without him, so, only as a question, ans I will not get the hump. I would just like to know why some people dislike or like Haflinger as a breed and why!

Thanks! :)
 
I dont know a lot about them as a breed, but I do like them
I could never have one because they dont come big enough

I have heard that their headstrong and naughty... but I could say that of several horses, not down to breed lol
 
I have a one & love them. He can be a quirky ride, but to handle he is the perfect gent. I have had him nearly 7yrs & believe me I have had many ups & downs to begin with. He had been passed from pillar to post & ended up in a market because the dealer said he was dangerous. I would def have lots of them if I could :p

I see them as marmite you either like them or you don't ;)

Here is my boy.... How could I not love him!

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I have ridden a few over the years and love them however agree with rubysgold in that probably wouldn't buy one as not big enough for what I want x
 
We have 2 on our yard and they are fantastic characters. You'd be hung drawn and quartered for criticising them in our part of the world
 
My friend was mis-sold one. She wanted a beautiful pony that was suitable for a novice only the Haffy was actually recently imported by a dodgy dealer (advertised as a pally, of course ;) ) and was hurriedly backed for sale. He had been a driving pony before, so was really green to ride and not suitable for a novice at all.
 
I have a haffie,love him to bits.
He can be opinionated and a tad stubborn,will do anything for food but he's very bright and is teaching me loads. He's my first horse(at the grand age of 51!) and I don't regret buying him for one minute.
He will turn his hoof to most things, not keen on hacking out alone but we're working on that one. :D
 
The trouble is when you have a fairly unusual breed, most people will have only come upon examples of them once or twice, so tend to base their opinions of the individuals of the breed on those individuals they have met. So if they have only met poor examples of Haflingers, they will assume most of the breed are the same. I must admit I have ridden only one, and it did put me off as he was rather lazy, with a choppy stride and so round that the saddle slipped all the time! But I am sure not all are like that!
 
If I'm honest I have to say that I don't really like them. As a breed I think they have fallen foul to changes and that the British versions are not as chunky and don't carry as much bone as I think they had originally. Having sat and watched classes at County level there appeared to be a huge variation in type, some with poor conformation and long backs with no depth of body. I have also not come across many that are straightforward and not bargy or nappy. Having said that I'm sure there are many good ones that do exist and there was quite a solid chappy on the Haffy stand at HOYS on Sunday who was very handsome.
 
The only reason I'm not sure about them is because one bolted with me when I hadn't been riding long, causing me to still four years later not be confident taking my own pony out hacking, Lol :D but I'm sure I could be persuaded otherwise if I met a different one :)
 
I do like them however my experience with one of them has been that he was bolshy and unpredictable. He seemed to have had a bad upbringing as in he'd walk over you, and the people that bought him were absolutely useless so they actually made him worse. He ended up going to a dealer and turns out he actually works at a trekking centre now!!
 
Here's me riding a friends Haffy :) I think she's excellent!

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The friend in question is a tiny 13yr old girl. How she controls that tank is beyond me! Sandy (horse) is actually very lovely, but can get a little strong. I would snap her up in a second though! She's gorgeous.
 
monkeybum13 said:
The only ones I have met have been obnoxious, rude little sods. I'm sure if I met a nice Haffy it would change my opinion.
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YOu should come and meet the haffie foal at our place, he is like a little fluffy yellow toy. Dieseldog had to be forcibly restrained from shoving him in her car and taking him home.
 
I dont find them physically appealing, but I certainly wouldnt say I hated them! More indifferent, so not marmite for me, neither hate nor like. Ive seen a few out and about but Ive dont think there are any locally.
 
I agree with the point about the variation in breeding. my daughter and I attended Equifest this year to watch the Haflinger classes. There seemed to be two specific types, a taller much leaner modern version and the chunkier traditional one. Oakley is chunky!!!!! His back is like a table top and he hardly has any withers. i prefer them traditional, they were originally bred to be a general purpose farm horse, I can't see the modern type being up to the task.
We also saw the haffie at Hoys, he was a nice chap.
 
The ones I've come across over the years have been lovely. I like them, but always had a soft spot for palomino (ish) ponies! There is one at pc that is a superstar and jumps like a stag - wins everything, even against bigger horses. Two we had in a riding school I worked in were great. Another couple I have known were crafty and lazy, but mainly because their owners let them be!
 
I actually like how diverse the opinions is on them, because all breeds are different, but then again, all horses are different, no matter there breed! :p

Mine, can be a sod, but not with me, he tries, you tell him, and he respects you, he listens. He can be lazy, but tell him, he'll produce really brilliant work when he get's his little bum into gear. I can really get where people's opinions on the breed come from, but IMHO they can be brilliant little horses, as can any breed, with the correct handling, and being told! Cos mine certainly needs to, he's cheeky as anything. But I can honestly say, he is the smartest, cheekiest, most gorgeous (if I may say so myself.) And he just oozes presence, character and I wouldn't change him for the world! :o

And don't even start me on them being advertised as Palomino.. :roll eyes:

ETA : Mine's a proper chunky one too!
 
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I LOVE my haffy. He is a perfect gentlemen. A dream to hack, safe and sensible but fun at the same time. I have never met another pony as brilliant as him!

Here he is
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And again :)
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To me, haffy's are just the best of both worlds. Size of a pony, heart of a horse. I love that he is strong enough to carry weight (my dad likes an occasional plod round) but small enough that I can get on easily from the ground (Im a short arse) When out hacking I end up easily missing the tree branches and cob webs as I am a lot lower than my friends on their TB :) He is unflappable to the point I can walk right up to the gallops calmly, have a mad sprint up them, then walk calmly again at the top, while my friends horses are jumping around like numpties. Hes a celebrity in my village because he is so handsome and a change from the hunter types that you generally see in the area. Hes hardy so needs little feed and stays rugless and lives out 24/7, His feet are fabulous and barefoot. My list of reasons why I love my Haflinger are endless...
 
i too dont like them too much, but again this is just based on the one that i know, who is rude, bargy, evil to other horses and just generally a spoilt prima dona.

I would like to meet a nice one though as I am certain they are not all the same but it is hard not to generalise based on what you've met.
 
I love Haflingers. My daughter is 8 and still on her 13hander but i actually quite keen for the next step up to be one. Most are up to being able to do all PC stuff with a kid. And then i can steal it to do a bit of showing and take out for the occasional days hunting!! And im 5'10, theres not many pony breeds that are upto that and still be athlectic enought to go out and jump 3ft pony club classes. Plus they are very beautifull. I would want a traditional chunky one though not a new finer one.
 
Mine is a a real chunky type, leg in each corner, no withers. He is such a softy, always picked on by others poor boy :(, he is lovely with my 2yr old daughter. The only time he gets a bit bargy is when you open the stable door, but apart from that I can't fault him. He is a very strong ride certainly not lazy, but I like his quirky ways & he is so much fun. Even my mum has gtot brave & has the odd ride on him :p
 
I love mine, but I've met some horrors in my time. My boss used to import them and without fail they were all bargy, rude, far too clever and inclined to buck!

But my boy is totally the opposite of most haffies I've met. He is sharp, sensitive and never bucks, barges or is in anyway rude. He can be spooky, he gets worried if things go wrong yet he carries my 2 year old daughter like a lamb, lets her drag him about and is so gentle with her. He is amazingly clever and loves to work.

If I could get another haffie like him, I would say I would never look at another breed but he seems quite unusual - I've not met another like him.

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