Taking a look to shop for a Highland pony to be your subsequent easiest pal? Should you’re in need of a journey for the display ring, or you might be merely in search of a bigger pony that’s hardy, flexible and amusing, this local breed is without a doubt worthy of your attention.
What’s a Highland pony?
The Highland Pony is without doubt one of the two local pony breeds of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, however there at the moment are studs positioned all through Scotland, England, Wales, Europe and throughout the remainder of the phrase. The Highland pony used to be at the beginning bred to paintings on small farms in Scotland, and whilst some ponies are nonetheless labored in portions of the nation-state, they’re now used for a number of driving actions.
The Highland Pony Society (HPS) is the dad or mum of the breed and gives the next description on what to search for in a just right instance:
“The Highland pony is a robust, well-balanced, compact pony with all its options being in share to its peak. It is without doubt one of the greatest of the British local breeds and must display substance and energy. The energy and sound temperament of Highland ponies lead them to just right paintings horses and they’re nonetheless utilized in spaces inaccessible to machines, reminiscent of in logging or to extract deer carcasses from the hill.”
Top: To not exceed 14.2hh (148cm).
Head: Neatly carried and alert with kindly eye. Wide muzzled with a deep jowl.
Neck and Shoulders: Affordable period of neck from wither with a just right sloping shoulder and effectively positioned forearm.
Frame: Neatly balanced and compact with numerous room for middle and lungs. Ribs effectively sprung.
Quarters and Hindlegs: Robust quarters with effectively advanced thigh, sturdy 2nd thigh and blank flat hocks.
Legs: Flat exhausting bone, wide knees, quick cannon bones, indirect pasterns and effectively formed wide darkish hoofs. Feather comfortable and silky. Ponies of Western Isles kind could have striped hoofs which develop out at adulthood.
Mane and Tail: Hair must be herbal, flowing and untrimmed with a complete tail.
Colors: A spread of duns, mouse, yellow, gray, cream. Additionally gray, brown, black, bay and now and again liver chestnut with silver mane and tail. Many ponies have a dorsal stripe and a few display zebra markings on legs and shoulder. Foal coat color frequently adjustments and plenty of ponies exchange color regularly as they get older, particularly the ones with gray hairs interspersed with the unique color. Others display a slight seasonal exchange in color between wintry weather and summer time coats. Damaged colors don’t seem to be allowed. A small famous person is appropriate however different white markings are discouraged. Stallions with white markings rather then a small famous person don’t seem to be eligible for licensing.
Motion: Immediately and unfastened transferring with out undue knee motion.
Functions: A journey, force and pack animal which is able to adapt to many equestrian disciplines.
The past due Queen Elizabeth II used to be recognized for her love of the breed. She used to be a patron of the society and she or he bred Highland ponies beneath the Balmoral prefix. Her ponies received many titles, together with the in-hand excellent at Royal Windsor.
The Highland Pony Lovers Membership says that the truth that Highlands carry out effectively in relatively gradual paintings reminiscent of trekking, forestry and deer-carrying suggests that they’ve a peaceful, stable temperament: “This makes them outstandingly appropriate for the fearful or aged, and they’ve additionally been used effectively as mounts for disabled riders, all of whom admire their confidence-giving attributes. Then again, it will have to now not be concept that, as a result of they’re sort and dependable, they’re additionally uninteresting. For lots of a Highland has proven itself to be a prepared, lively journey within the looking box and, as it should be schooled, so that you can compete with nice good fortune in Pony Membership and driving membership actions – making up through sure-footedness and handiness what it’s going to lack in outright pace. With the existing revival in harness paintings each for appearing and for excitement, the ponies are all over again proving their value on this box additionally.
“Secure, dependable, pleasant, a just right, at ease journey, constitutionally sturdy and hardy, sexy to have a look at, and with significantly extra versatility than is in most cases liked, the Highland pony has such a lot to supply.”
Highland ponies are well-liked within the display ring and they’ve shape at primary presentations. An instance is stallion Benbreac Of Crolia who used to be the 2018 Royal World excellent pony, changing into the primary local to land the name, whilst stallion Stirlingdene used to be excellent at HOYS in 2012.
What must I search for in a Highland?
Gillian McMurray is a number one pass judgement on and she or he additionally breeds Highlands beneath the Trailtrow Prefix. Ponies from the Trailtrow Stud have featured at Horse of the 12 months Display (HOYS) and London Olympia a number of occasions, profitable easiest of breed titles on many events. Gillian used to be excellent at Olympia in 1987 driving her basis mare, Dunrowan Dolphin.
“I might suggest that almost all potential patrons attend some giant presentations – reminiscent of Blair, the Royal Highland or the HPS breed display – to have a look at categories of ponies and spot how a lot variation in kind there may be inside the breed,” says Gillian.
“The kind you can need for a most sensible ridden pony would range in comparison to the horse you’d want for hacking or deer paintings. If in search of a pony for the ridden process, I would wish one thing with a just right period of rein and a just right shoulder, not anything too immediately. Then, we wish a fantastic spherical hind-end with a brief 2nd thigh; that is the engine of the horse that pushes it forwards. There are a couple of ponies available in the market which can be too immediately within the hind-leg and it does display all the way through their ridden paintings.
“Like with any pony, we wish great immediately limbs that don’t deviate from the knee down, in addition to just right sturdy ft.
“Motion smart, the stroll is a actually essential tempo. Historically, the Highland would spend the vast majority of its time strolling. Canter isn’t their herbal tempo; many can to find it exhausting to come back up off their forehand within the canter. Then again, for those who to find one thing with a just right hind leg they’ll to find it more uncomplicated.”
The place must I purchase a Highland from?
There are on-line sale websites reminiscent of Whickr that experience Highland ponies marketed all through the 12 months.
“Attending presentations to look what form of pony you might be in search of is the most productive position to begin,” says Gillian. “Then, it could be a case of coming near breeders. Some breeders produce for driving greater than others, so it totally relies on what process you need your pony to do. Maximum breeders can have youngstock on the market, so for those who’re in search of a pony this is up and operating, you must take a look at breed fanatic teams, or the HPS has a gross sales record on their website online.
“Be sure to ask round to look if someone has noticed the horse out and about, particularly if it’s performed some appearing,” Gillian provides. “This would mean you can gage if the horse is appropriate for you and your set-up.”
How a lot must I be expecting to pay?
Costs range a great deal relying at the age and revel in of the horse.
“I might be cautious of one thing this is very reasonable because of the overall value of Highlands nowadays,” Gillian says. “There are handiest roughly 250 foals born each and every 12 months, so costs have long gone up. At minimal, you’ll be expecting to pay anything else from £2,000 for a foal at weaning, and you’ll be expecting an inexpensive quantity to be added on each and every 12 months. A pony in a position for breaking may just achieve anything else from £5,000 and over. Successful ponies with revel in have not too long ago been marketed for across the £15,000 mark.”
I’ve purchased a pony, now what?
It’s time to organise a pre-purchase vetting, one thing this is strongly beneficial. If the horse is for a kid, possibly requesting an ordeal duration could be good, however now not all dealers will conform to this.
It’s essential to let the vet know previous to the vetting what you plan to make use of the horse for therefore they are able to assess it accordingly. Should you inform the vet that you need the horse for the display ring, they must expectantly tell you of any blemishes or conformational faults which might have an effect on its long run profession, despite the fact that they don’t have an effect on its soundness or efficiency.
“A vetting is smart, even though a five-stage would now not be suitable for an adolescent,” Gillian says. “Should you’re going to view younger ponies, do take somebody skilled with you. If you’re purchasing one thing up and operating a vetting could be prompt.”
For more info, you’ll learn H&H’s final information to shopping for a horse.
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