Tell me about Highland ponies

[Alec Swan]

D_R, your mare looks VERY well!!

I used to stalk at Kingairloch, and the removal of stags from the hill was performed with quad bikes, but still every morning at 9 am, the pony Rose would stand at the gate, waiting to be tacked up. It never happened, as the younger ghillies had no time for anything which was so slow. Such a shame, the poor girl.

Alec.

 

[navaho]

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 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

has springs in his hooves

competing at novice level dressage

Is generally pretty awesome (I'm biased)

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

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!

Those jumps are huge, i cant imagine my boy ever jumping anything over a foot lol, bless him, he tends to think things in the way need to be trampled rather than jumped!! Fergs is lovely

 

[Dry Rot]

D_R, your mare looks VERY well!!

She's the old fashioned Highland, a real stocky type, and not actually over weight as I feel their ribs daily and adjust grazing/feed accordingly. Remember, she will be out 24/7 through a long Highland winter and has a foal to feed (who will be out with her). Because of their history, Highlands vary considerably in type. There are heavy weights and light weights, some can carry it, others just get Laminitis! The foal is, by the way, full sister to jftd's Darach).

I used to stalk at Kingairloch, and the removal of stags from the hill was performed with quad bikes, but still every morning at 9 am, the pony Rose would stand at the gate, waiting to be tacked up. It never happened, as the younger ghillies had no time for anything which was so slow. Such a shame, the poor girl.

Alec.

Deer extraction with ponies is coming back big time. The punters will pay extra for tradition. Reliable stalking ponies regularly fetch four figures over and above what they would fetch as riding ponies.

I used to regularly pass some Highlands next to the A9. One day I decided to stop and take a closer look as they were feeding on a bale of hay not far from a lay by. I gave one whistle and they were off up the hill like stags! Not all stalkers are good pony men, especially the younger ones, and the ponies know it!

 

[Caol Ila]

I love them and would consider one for my next horse (which could be next year or in ten years, as my current horse is 19, but going as strong as ever, so you never know). My horse (Shire-TBX) is a pretty solid medium level dressage schoolmistress (and has a few advanced maneuvers she can throw in there on a good day) and I love the work at that level. I don't think I'm a good enough rider to get much further than that, but would certainly want to bring the next one along to that level. Not showing, necessarily, just schooling for my own edification and amusement.

I saw Forthland's post earlier saying Highlands really just aren't suited to medium level dressage. That makes me kind of sad. Could there be ones out there who are, or will I have to stick to the draft-crosses if I want to keep riding furry dressage horses at medium/advanced?

 

[Jenny56]

I am not a Highland expert at all but recently did some photography for Mendick Highland ponies. They were wonderful ponies with great temperaments and made beautiful subjects to photograph. They are all bred on the farm by Kate and John Dykes. Very tempted to go Highland now! Kate and John are very approachable and I am sure would answer any questions you might have... Their website has details of ponies for sale too. www.scottishpedigree.co.uk

 

[Harkins2000]

Hi all Highland lovers, I'm looking at buying a 14h highland mare as a mother/daughter share. I need a weight carrier to carry 13-14st adult but also something small enough for my 8 year old to learn to ride on. Any advice? Am I looking at the right kind of horse? Or would a Haflinger or cob around 14h be more suitable??? Thanks in advance for your info.

 

[Dry Rot]

Hi all Highland lovers, I'm looking at buying a 14h highland mare as a mother/daughter share. I need a weight carrier to carry 13-14st adult but also something small enough for my 8 year old to learn to ride on. Any advice? Am I looking at the right kind of horse? Or would a Haflinger or cob around 14h be more suitable??? Thanks in advance for your info.

They are out there and one of the right type and maturity would be ideal for you. But even though there is a recession and it is a buyer's market, you can still expect to pay a fairly hefty price for a "safe plodder". If I had older "done it all" Highlands, I could have sold a dozen in the last twelve months. But, as a breeder, I seldom have older ponies for sale, only youngsters who are not really suitable for an 8yo child to learn on although they might be perfect for an experienced teenager.

The only older pony I did sell in the recent past was a 16yo mare who did not fit into my breeding programme. I had three serious buyers after her and she went for £2,500. I've just exported her 3yo daughter to Holland for about the same price. So, if you can find one, a Highland would be ideal but if I were you, I'd be looking for one at least 10 years old with a bit of mileage behind it that would be forgiving of an 8yo's mistakes. Hope that doesn't sound patronising, but some Highlands can be quite strong and promising youngsters are easily spoilt.

 

[Highlands]

Agree with Dry Rot, safety goes for a price. I was 10 when I went onto a 5 year old highland. It was not a good move for 2 years, she was too strong, was a baby herself. I spent most of pony club bring bucked off. She became the most wonderful mare once she had Sussed me out. She never did it to my mum!

They are characters and will take advantage if they can. They can be strong too. Agree 10 plus or even 12. Good luck.

 

[TrasaM]

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]

What a great video. He looks like he wants to climb up but pony is being very unhelpful

 

[Dry Rot]

What a great video. He looks like he wants to climb up but pony is being very unhelpful

Here is a recent photo of the same pony, Morrich Finn, at work on a local stalking estate. He is nearest the camera (eating, of course!).

 

[putasocinit]

Highlands are brilliant ponies, but unless you can give it lots of work, let it out with very little grass, they can be high maintenance weight wise. A friend has had 3 all dearly loved and all have died of laminitis, 3rd one two weeks ago.

 

[Dry Rot]

Highlands are brilliant ponies, but unless you can give it lots of work, let it out with very little grass, they can be high maintenance weight wise. A friend has had 3 all dearly loved and all have died of laminitis, 3rd one two weeks ago.

There is almost certainly a genetic influence in this problem not helped by some show judges who believe that all Highland ponies should be obese and modelled on the ponies in the Thelwell cartoons!

I am sorry your friend has had such bad luck with laminitis but not all strains are prone to the disease. Some natives are what can only be described as voracious eaters -- they never stop! Others are quite good at managing their intake without strict dieting, though every horse needs intelligent management. How long does it take to feel for a rib?

I've a few theories about this that I won't bore you with but, touch wood, I have not had a single case of Laminitis here with a herd of about 12 ponies for quite a few years now. Any pony bought in with a tendency towards an eating disorder was sold on pretty quickly as I would not want to breed from it.

 

[windand rain]

It is only a question of managing their intake no pony should get laminitis and I am sorry but your friend wasnt just unlucky to lose three to it . One is barely acceptable now a days three is unacceptable. I have had Highlands for 30 years and I have never had a case of Laminitis and I have had them on grass all their lives short grass admittedly but on grass I have never used a muzzle and have never deliberately rested a field in Spring Mine range over four acres year round and the grass looks like a billiard table I have two highlands, a connie and a dartmoor the only one ever to get laminitis was the dartmoor who some kind person put in a well grown hay field as they thought I was cruel as his paddock had so little grass in it. He was fine in the morning and unable to move by teatime he was sound again within 48 hours and was freed into his short grass after his 30 days restriction without further occurance. Mine are also bucket fed year round
Highlands are not more predisposed to Laminitis than any other native or even a thoroughbred as these too can be prone So it is not a valid reason not to have a highland If you can look after a good doing pony it will live a long and happy life regardless of how much exercise it gets

 

[AengusOg]

Some ponies get laminitis, some don't. Some people can manage ponies, some can't.

 

[putasocinit]

None of hers were rugged ever, they were in a field with barely any grass, no hard feed, but left out 24/7 with no exercise, winter time brought in at night only. Haylage when in the stable and in the field in winter as there was no grass just mud. Maybe she was just unlucky. The crest on her neck fell to the side it was so big.

 

[putasocinit]

Dry rot, i would like to hear your theories, as i own a coband watching his weight all the time. You can start another thread if you feel we are hijacking this on.

 

[Dry Rot]

Dry rot, i would like to hear your theories, as i own a coband watching his weight all the time. You can start another thread if you feel we are hijacking this on.

No problem.

Since the subject came up on this thread, I thought I'd better take a quick look around my lot as Murphy's Law being what it is, I'd as likely find half a dozen down with Laminitis! But all is well.

The stallion, one barren mare, and two mares with foals at foot have about three acres of permanent pasture and the grass certainly isn't short. I'd say probably 50 - 75mm long. Having filled their bellies, the ponies were all resting down wind of a small wood and looking in good condition without being fat.

I have two yearlings and a two year old gelding on a four acre hay field. Then a two year old filly and a 4 year old mare on about two acres which is nearly eaten down. Yet none is obese.

So, my theory is this. Given a strain not predisposed to laminitis, I think grazing needs to be managed but not unduly restricted. I suspect a lot of people get into trouble by strictly limiting grazing. The pony gets hungry, then gets access to good grazing and "pigs out". It stuffs itself with food in anticipation of the next spell of starvation. The owner panics and immediately restricts grazing again. And so the see-saw continues. If there is no second rate grass for them to fill up on, I have in the past provided add lib clean barley straw. But that needs to be introduced gradually or they will colic.

 

[Harkins2000]

Thanks Dry Rot,

The highland pony in question is 9 years, mainly been used for hacking & schooling from novice kids on lead to competent adults. She's not keen on tractors or wagons & can be lazy when out hacking & turn for grass! So I'm a little put off about her bad habits & unsure if she's gonna be safe enough? If I can figure out how to load a picture I will for you.