Tell me about your Highlands!

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Walrus

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Hello, calling all highland owners and riders!

I'm a big native fan especially Fell ponies however where I currently ride I pass a herd of highland ponies - they are gorgeous (even in their winter woolies and covered in mud!). I've been reading that their upper heigth limit is 14.2hh which gives them a couple of inches on the fells and they also seem a tad broader (not that fells are narrow!) and since I'm 5'8" any help taking up the leg on ponies is welcome! Hoever, I have to admit that I've always thought highlands a little stuffy and not massivly athletic compared to say the super turbo charged fell pony!! (sorry!).

Sooo, tell me about your higlands, what do you do with them (bar showing) do you riding club, hunt, showjump, hack, school? I know Laura Fry did some dressage on what I'm sure was a higland or highland cross?? In general as a breed are they placid, bolshy etc. (I know you can't generalise too much but heck, everyone does with things like a Welsh D!)?

At the moment I bounce around on nutty tbs but after falling off twice in the space of 30 minutes yesterday I've remembered that my first love is native ponies!

Oh, and pictures of your lovely highlands are most welcome
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Cheers!
 
Highland ponies rock! Lots of friends of ours have Highlands. They hunt, show, do dressage, hunter trials, TREC, endurance, fun rides, everything really. Very versatile breed and they do ride a lot bigger than they look as well.

As a rule they are pretty laid back but like any breed there are exceptions to the rule. And of course a lot depends on the handler and rider. We have a youngster who will be 2 this year. He's more sensible than most of the rest of our older horses put together!
 
we have a highland x tb cross dapple grey mare.shes 15hh and gorgous.she does have attitude though and doesnt like bad weather but loves jumping and has a talent for dressage.shes my 15 yr old daughters and they do pony club and local events although her confirmation is good enough to show.we remind her that having highland should make her quite hardy but she pretends not to be.will try and post photos
 
This all sounds great! I've never ridden a highland. I do worry about looking a little tall on fells and highlands though - not worried about the weight or pony squashing but more that I'll just look a bit ridiculous with my legs dangling about!

I was thinking ex-racer thoughts but have come to the conclusion that they really would probably be beyond my capabilities (esp after being told yesterday that I wasn't really qualified to take the point to pointer up the gallops, despite having qualified it hunting and that is was so wound up it dumped me when we were just trying to walk towards the gallops so before we did any galloping!)
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*sigh* oh to be able to afford one of my own to do with as I please!!

Keep the highland info coming in, especially any piccies!!
 
Mine's Fab 14hh of power pack. I'm 5'8 and don't look big on her, she rides big as well plenty of pony in front of you. She's not done much yet but will do do a bit of everything.
Laura Fry got to medium dressage on a highland.
Only problem is they tend ot come in Grey/ stroke mud colour
 
Mud colour is good as they can be ridden with loads of mud on them and it doesn't show.

My boy is a dun. He is actually a Highland x TB. luckily he has his dam's looks.

My next pony is definitetly going to be a Highland, I love 'em.

I'm 5' 5" and he is 14.2 hh and He takes up a lot of leg, more, probably if he was pure Highland.

Never refused a jump, and I am c*ap. Good dressage and a wonderful hack, good in traffic but no slug.

Great breed, not that I am biased in any way!

Jane
 
They can shift when they want to, if carefully handled from young are the gentlest and most obliging ponies you could hope to meet. If allowed to get away with stuff they give a whole new meaning to obstinate

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Oh dear, I think I`ve got a pony that, when younger, must have been allowed to get away with stuff! Obstinate is his middle name! He can plod like the worst plodder but he can shift like a little rocket when he wants. He has a fantastic jump in him though sadly I`m too chicken to test that out!

There is nothing boring about a Highland pony. They really are the versatile breed - nature`s 4 x 4!

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