What do we think of Highlands?

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HenrytheCat

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I am going to try the young Highland tomorrow (I have made a previous post on it - it's only 5 and recently broken). Has anyone got any views on the breed? I hate trying new horses because I always ride like an idiot in front of the owner :(
 
I ride a 3/4 highland 1/4tb and she is awesome !!! Looks like a highland but thinks she is a tb :) Moves like a dream and is just generally so much fun to ride!!
 
The only Highlands I have known have been obese and arthritic but they all had a lovely nature and a nice attitude.
 
Highland x TB seems quite a popular mix :) Sounds like a nice horse that you have there.

I've only seen photos of this mare but she looks on the chunky side. Hopefully not arthritic though :( Owner says she has a very nice nature.
 
I love them. I think like many chunkier breeds if they're not taught correctly as youngsters they can throw their weight around a bit but the two I've known had beautiful manners on the ground. They were lovely to ride too - although one liked to have the odd buck in canter! :D

Unfortunately most of the nice ones I see seem to be quite pricey :(

Good luck with your viewing!
 
I have a young highland, he's lovely! He has a very positive attitude to life, he likes to be out and doing things, definitely not a plod. He needs firm handling, he is in no way nasty but he does need his manners reinforcing from time to time :) he is an extremely good doer and needs his weight managing very carefully. I'm not sure he is typical of all highlands but I know a fair few relatives of his and all are similar, full of life and ready for anything!

Good luck with the trip tomorrow!
 
I used to always ride a Highland at my old stables! Love em! Full of character, very sweet, reliable, cheeky, affectionate.. usually genuinely nice horses! They're the sort that you can do lots of things with. The one I used to ride I used to happily hack out when I was only around 9 or 10, yet could gallop him around a field of jumps and won a mini dressage test on him! :) xx
 
Fabulous breed (but I might be a bit biased!)

Strong good doers who will carry children or adults and really are nature's quad bike. They can turn their hooves to anything at the lower levels.

Yes you need to keep on top of their manners when they are younger as a bolshie Highland really would be a force to be reckoned with, and watch their weight. Some Highland owners (in the same way as some Arab owners) might try to tell you that they are quite different to other breeds and need some kind of special handling - not true, just treat them the same as any others but don't let them get away with too much.
 
We've had our young Highland mare for a year now and she's a lovely pony to have around. She was bought for my mother and is our first native pony. She's not at all how i imagined she would be and is far hotter in temperament than my 2 trakehner mares who are reknowned for being a sharp breed. She has endless energy and is always keen to do anything you want. I'm not sure whether she is typical of the breed but if she is then i wouldn't advise a Highland as a first pony nor one for a child. Ours is basically a very well built horse on pony legs. She's done very well showing since we've had her though and if you get one you'll find that there is so much you can do with them, they seem a very versatile little breed. We love our little mare and could never part with her, she's just a proper fun little character to have around. The worst thing about her is trying to control her waistline, here are a few pics of her in action:

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Benjis_girl said:
We've had our young Highland mare for a year now and she's a lovely pony to have around. She was bought for my mother and is our first native pony. She's not at all how i imagined she would be and is far hotter in temperament than my 2 trakehner mares who are reknowned for being a sharp breed. She has endless energy and is always keen to do anything you want. I'm not sure whether she is typical of the breed but if she is then i wouldn't advise a Highland as a first pony nor one for a child. Ours is basically a very well built horse on pony legs. She's done very well showing since we've had her though and if you get one you'll find that there is so much you can do with them, they seem a very versatile little breed. We love our little mare and could never part with her, she's just a proper fun little character to have around. The worst thing about her is trying to control her waistline, here are a few pics of her in action:

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She's absolutely stunning! :) Exactly how I think of a highland :D xx
 
It's funny how people become so taken with Highlands. We (as a family) own a lovely cob, a conn x tb, 2 warmbloods and a PB Arab (all very handsome and pretty in their own right) and yet whenever we have anyone come and visit whether they be horsey or non horsey, they nearly always make a beeline to her. I think HIghland ponys are just so striking with all that hair!! I use to love everything all trimmed up, pulled and whiskers off etc, but over the last 12 months i learnt to really adore Islay and the 'native' look!!
 
I used to own a fantastic highland. It used to win everything! The most honest pony in the world - he was extremely straight forward and would jump absolutely anything and turn on a sixpence. He competed and won regularily to 3'3 but struggled beyond that as they're not exactly built to jump big. I used to keep him very slim though which helps a lot. I think if you get a good one, they are wonderful. Some can be nappy buggers though.
 
HenrytheCat said:
Ooh! Islay is really beautiful. How old is she and was she easy to train?
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Thanks, those photos were taken of her last year as a 6 year old. She has not done a huge amount of schooling but i hope to do a lot more with her this year. With her previous owners she had just done a bit of hunting and fun rides following her having a foal at 4. To ride and school i would say shes exceptionally willing and eager to please. She's very light off your leg aids and not at all strong to ride and always has bundles of energy. She's an absolute little doll to have around though and is a proper family friend, loves cuddles and fuss and is a sweetheart to handle and do. I'd definitely recommend one and if i didn't have so many of my own and was looking for another horse i'd certainly consider another Highland or other Native breed, as they are so versatile and easy to keep and look after.
 
They are one of my favourite breeds. I have ridden quite a lot of Highlands and they have all been very different to ride- some complete plods and some complete nutters that wanted to go everywhere at top speed. But they are like moving sofas, so comfortable.
 
They are a great breed i own one highland mare and just about to buy a highland filly who is just 2. You can do anything with a highland they really try hard in whatever area you want to do. However they do get very fat very quickly so you have to be very careful.
 
I think they are lovely. My friend has a Highland x (welshx arab) mare who is awesome, she's got a great temperament, and paces to die for. Another friend has a highland x connie who is a brilliant hunter. Both horses are out of highland mares, and are truly versatile.
 
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