Tell me about Highland ponies

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MyBoyChe

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Looking to buy a new horse, I need something a bit smaller than my TB to hack out and pootle about on. Am thinking either a Connie (which Ive had before) or a Highland, which I know little about but they seem to match my wish list. Can anyone give me the lowdown on the breed, good and bad points and an idea of what I should be looking to pay for an honest type, any reputable dealers than specialise in the breed? Ta
 
They are fab! We have one, after falling in love with the team of highlands used by our local RDA branch. We now have a yougnster that we bought from Balleroy Highlands and he is a dude. Loving, gentle with my kids, fascinated by people in general, cheeky and very laid back to ride. A little too laid back, he does have to be reminded sometimes that he cannot dose off with someone on his back! Like any native they are smart and they can be quite stubborn. I find my youngster has no problem trying to use his size to push me around. But as his breeder told me when I bought him, "handle him fairly but firmly and he will turn out to be any pony you want." We adore our Little Prince and while he is only in his first year of ridden work, he is showing a lot of promise. He has paces to die for and a lovely jump in hand so they are not all plods as some people make them out to be. He is very comfortable, and a delight to hack, nothing much upsets him. A good Highland is worth its weight in gold as a family pony and all rounder so I would do your research and if you have the time for a youngster, go to a stud. We have not regretted it one bit! Balleroy were brilliant as they gave us an awful lot of help as we were new to Highlands and to owning a youngster. The lady who owns it really does love her ponies and her priority is that they end up in happy homes. She offered to take our boy back and refund our money in full if he turned out to be too much for us. Thankfully, we have not had to take her up on her offer!
 
I have a Highland and have bred a number of part breds.

To cover the cons first, they can be obstinate and a bit pushy, you have to be careful not to let them get overweight and this can take some managing, it can also be tricky to get saddles to fit well as they can be very wide (so not so good if you have stiff hips)

On the positive side they are very easy and cheap to keep, they can be surprisingly forward going but do have a sensible side and you will have a friend for life.
 
I also have a Balleroy pony, Balleroy Mercury. AKa Freddie!

They steal your heart and are very addictive! We have three, Freds , a young mare Sea Pearl of Conway and Lord Mars of warren.

Don't fall for the dope on a rope, yes there are some like that but Freddie is very forward going, could be naughty if allowed to get away with it but very loyal and sweet.

Pearl is the opposite, quiet easy and a pleasure. If you want a forward going pony then you need to research the right bloodlines. Prices are high but you get what you pay for. Mars is retired but was pretty kick kick.

I would reccomed ether contacting dawn at Balleroy or kate at tailsker stud. Highland pony society have a good saes list.
 
For a good pony with show record and good lines £4500-5000 plus, just broken £2500 to £3000, yearling colt , £1000, filly more.

Ideal H+C saddle ad native pony. I know people in your area if you need the low down!
 
Im new to Highlands & got my first one a couple of months ago....& she was shortly followed by her full brother, ooops! I have to say, so far, they have both been brilliant. They are both very chilled characters, nothing seems to bother either them. The mare is also in foal, so fingers a toes crossed we will be having a baby Highland joining the gang next year :)
 
I don't have much knowledge on highlands, but I did know a girl who once owned one - very laid back, very cheap and easy to keep, did what you asked, a little lazy but could be strong out hacking.

What I really want to say is...
Highlands - Is you mare from the same lines as Iona of Conway by any chance? If so, what a stunning breeding line! Iona was up for sale a few weeks ago, so beautiful I almost had an impulse buy lol! :)
 
I was discussing this with fellow Highland owners the other day. Come to Scotland, the further north the better. We've wonderful scenery and delightful people. There is more choice up here, better quality, and they are a lot cheaper! Transport is not expensive either. Eric Gillies is back and forth all the time.

There's a whole range of types up here, so you are spoilt for choice. Riding ponies, show ponies, ponies bred and brought up within the family, or off the open hill. Prices vary widely too. "Been there, done it all" are hard to find as they are snapped up pretty quickly. But they are easy to break, so a well handled youngster is probably your best buy.

Yes, they are "jacks of all trades" rather than specialists. They are weight carriers so suit the whole family. Feeding does need to be managed as they are bred to survive on the Scottish hills. They prefer to be out 24/7 and grow their own rugs in winter. They really do have wonderful natures and are not at all the dull plodders they are sometimes portrayed to be. jftd posts on here and has some lovely photographs of what they can do (both her ponies were brought down unbroken but well handled from Scotland to Essex).

Do your research on here, on Google, the Highland Pony Society site, Horsequest, and on YouTube -- then come to Scotland and take your pick!

How's this for laid back! (That's a Welsh on the right, BTW, but very definitely a Highland on the left).

[youtube]llLgWst3UlQ[/youtube]
 
Morrich highlands are brill from what I have seen of them :cool: ;)

Honest cleaver willing little horses always up for a bit of fun. I took JFTD's fergie to pc for the 3rd time I had ever sat on him! He was great fun and loved every minuite of it, he would be a true pc all rounder if his owner was still able to be in pc.
 
Having had and bred highlands for over 30 years they are definitely addictive ! Super rides - nice long striders like a horse. Can turn there hoof to anything - over the years mine have pony clubbed, hunted, hacked, dressage etc.

Thanks for the comment regarding Iona of Conway - she is out of one of my mares, Holmedown Caitlin who I sold to Iona's breeder as a 3 yr old and she really has done them well.

I do have two foals left to sell from this year and a couple of broodmares.
 
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This is my lovely mare. I would recommend coming to scotland to get a good stamp of the highland breed. she is a speedy one, no kicking needed. Though im not sure what her lines are known for!
 
FF, that is the most beautiful pony, exactly the picture I have in my head when I thought about this breed. Also loving the pony with the pointer! You guys are fab, will definitely be thinking about these ponies now. Im looking for something a bit smaller and hardier than my 15.3 TB that will live out if needed and just be a nice safe hack to escort kids with. So if anyone knows where I can get to see some not too far from Bucks shout up!
 
I have a 13.3 unregistered highland....he is lovely...can be politely stubborn, never nasty- bit like a big dog. He is a safe but fun ride- enjoys jumping and hacking out.....moves nicely. He's really my daughters pony but I do ride him out in an effort to keep the weight off. Loves people, good with everything really- takes everything in his stride.

I didn't go out to buy a highland but was very taken with him as a newly broken 4 year old. He's just turned 8 now and we wouldn't part with him:)

(He has a native pony saddle which fits nicely and is THE most comfy saddle I've ever had.)
 
Love your pony, Feebee! Are there any "denes" (Scott McGregor's stud name) in his pedigree? He looks the same type as my stallion, Josethdene. The bottom photo was taken when he became Champion Ridden Highland at the Sutherland Show.

DSC_0655.jpg


joeatshow2.jpg
 
These are my 2, TJ, the dun, is 12 & Stroller the grey is 10 (not me on her, its a friend of mine), they are full brother & sister. Excuse TJ's feet, this is a couple of days after i had him & we were waiting on the farrier.

TJ.jpg


Stroller.jpg
 
Here are a few of fergs at pc with me
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Such a little dude! and I'm sure JFTD will be along with more photos when she reads this :cool:
 
Dry Rot said:
Love your pony, Feebee! Are there any "denes" (Scott McGregor's stud name) in his pedigree? He looks the same type as my stallion, Josethdene. The bottom photo was taken when he became Champion Ridden Highland at the Sutherland Show.

DSC_0655.jpg


joeatshow2.jpg
Click to expand...

Lovely lovely, stallion! Just had a look at her family tree but no "denes" but lots of "Whitefield" in her line.
 
Anyone know how to find out about a highland that would have been about 30-40 yrs ago? Registered as 'Altnaharra'.
 
Feebee-Friesian said:
Lovely lovely, stallion! Just had a look at her family tree but no "denes" but lots of "Whitefield" in her line.
Click to expand...

Whitefield is a top stud. I had a Whitefield mare here who had a weakly foal. I was advised to try to hold the foal up to the udder to get her to suck, then top up from the bottle.

This had to be done every three hours for the first three days after which things got better! The first few times I tied the mare up to milk her, but I soon realised that wasn't necessary. There are not many cows you could milk by hand, let alone milk without tying them first! The foal survived and thrived. Her rain coat was made out of one half of a pair of leggings!;) Here she is at a few days old.

Gracies_foal1.jpg
 
pip6 said:
Anyone know how to find out about a highland that would have been about 30-40 yrs ago? Registered as 'Altnaharra'.
Click to expand...

Here you go:

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/altnaharra3

Altnaharra is the name of the home and estate belonging to Lord (Marcus) Kimball. He used to be a member of Parliament and is now, presumably, a member of the House of Lords. I would think the pony might have come from there. You can see what sort of country it is below, with a picture of a pony dated 1965 but it may not be the one called "Altnaharra"! Nice traditional type of Highland pony though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedouglascampbellshow/5129732212/
 
Dry Rot said:
jftd posts on here and has some lovely photographs of what they can do (both her ponies were brought down unbroken but well handled from Scotland to Essex).
Click to expand...

dafthoss said:
Such a little dude! and I'm sure JFTD will be along with more photos when she reads this :cool:
Click to expand...

Since we've been mentioned I will share a few photos of one of my highlands, which illustrate, to me, the awesomeness of the breed. This is Fergs, who I bought from Morrich Highland Ponies (though they didn't breed him) three years ago. He's home broken and schooled by me, so he's never had any more direction than from the muppet which is me :o Despite this, he's turned into a really lovely pony who is great fun to be around and pretty talented (imho) for his type and age (6)...

currently jumping short courses around a metre at home

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has springs in his hooves

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competing at novice level dressage

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Is generally pretty awesome (I'm biased)

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and recently won his first full TREC (pairs with another forumer :D)

He's the most versatile pony I've ever known. I also have a Morrich bred two year old who is looking like he's going to be just as much fun as Fergs. I couldn't recommend the breed strongly enough!
 
indiat said:
They are fab! We have one, after falling in love with the team of highlands used by our local RDA branch. We now have a yougnster that we bought from Balleroy Highlands and he is a dude. Loving, gentle with my kids, fascinated by people in general, cheeky and very laid back to ride. A little too laid back, he does have to be reminded sometimes that he cannot dose off with someone on his back! Like any native they are smart and they can be quite stubborn. I find my youngster has no problem trying to use his size to push me around. But as his breeder told me when I bought him, "handle him fairly but firmly and he will turn out to be any pony you want." We adore our Little Prince and while he is only in his first year of ridden work, he is showing a lot of promise. He has paces to die for and a lovely jump in hand so they are not all plods as some people make them out to be. He is very comfortable, and a delight to hack, nothing much upsets him. A good Highland is worth its weight in gold as a family pony and all rounder so I would do your research and if you have the time for a youngster, go to a stud. We have not regretted it one bit! Balleroy were brilliant as they gave us an awful lot of help as we were new to Highlands and to owning a youngster. The lady who owns it really does love her ponies and her priority is that they end up in happy homes. She offered to take our boy back and refund our money in full if he turned out to be too much for us. Thankfully, we have not had to take her up on her offer!
Click to expand...

muckypony said:
I don't have much knowledge on highlands, but I did know a girl who once owned one - very laid back, very cheap and easy to keep, did what you asked, a little lazy but could be strong out hacking.

What I really want to say is...
Highlands - Is you mare from the same lines as Iona of Conway by any chance? If so, what a stunning breeding line! Iona was up for sale a few weeks ago, so beautiful I almost had an impulse buy lol! :)
Click to expand...


Iona is a fantastic mare she is a half sister to pearl. Isla of Conway was for sale. Very tempted but not allowed!
 
What a lovely thread to read! Since I bought my hipo 18 months ago, I wake up & feel so lucky every day! They really are the best breed! Loved the photos of josethdene- my boy's sire is Ritchiedene, dam is an Armoury mare. Just fabulous - recommend this versatile breed +++
 
I have started another thread, dont know how to link, sorry, with a pic of my new purchase :) Have to agree with you all so far, although I cant get a saddle fitting appt til 12th Oct so havent actually ridden yet, Murry is the sweetest, fluffiest, most biddable little chap to handle and seems to have settled really well. Roll on 12th!!
 
Think if you are looking for a general all round pony to do a little bit of everything at a lower to medium level ( other than showing of course)highland is an excellent option. Having been involved with the breed for nearly 30 years I can't see past them.
However if you want to jump over 3' and or do medium level dressage they are probably not for you. Some will do it but in the majority they will not stay sound. They were not bred to do that! I have seen too many pushed to the limit - because they are so honest and will try -and suffered for it.
However if the highland ticks the boxes for what you want to do you will make an excellent choice and have a wonderful partner . They are no plods but are clever and if you get them on side they will give you their all.
Look at the various types- go to shows, look on highland pony society website and forums.
One of the lovely things is the highland pony community is very friendly and helpful and get together at shows, club events and lots of other things.
Having a HP is a great ice breaker to conversation :)
 
Here is Josethdene's latest daughter, aged about 1 hour. You've probably seen it, but I can't help that as I'm the proud godfather and need to flaunt!:D:D:D

Highlands are sooo laid back. We've taken two of our youngsters from tacking up to ridden in a few afternoon sessions (starting mid September) without a single buck, rear, or upset of any kind.

3yo Ferna was ridden at the weekend by a 12yo who had lost her nerve. She started out just lying across the saddle, then when she was comfortable with that, she sat up and was led. Then the 4yo sat on her! (I think mum was quite brave but Fearna looked as if she'd been doing it all her life).


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