Trying to purchase a Highland pony to be your subsequent greatest good friend? If you happen to’re wanting a trip for the present ring, or you might be merely searching for a bigger pony that’s hardy, versatile and enjoyable, this native breed is certainly worthy of your consideration.
What’s a Highland pony?
The Highland Pony is among the two native 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 was initially bred to work on small farms in Scotland, and whereas some ponies are nonetheless labored in elements of the countryside, they’re now used for a wide range of driving actions.
The Highland Pony Society (HPS) is the guardian of the breed and affords the next description on what to search for in a superb instance:
“The Highland pony is a robust, well-balanced, compact pony with all its options being in proportion to its peak. It is among the largest of the British native breeds and will present substance and power. The power and sound temperament of Highland ponies make them good work horses and they’re nonetheless utilized in areas inaccessible to machines, comparable to in logging or to extract deer carcasses from the hill.”
Top: To not exceed 14.2hh (148cm).
Head: Properly carried and alert with kindly eye. Broad muzzled with a deep jowl.
Neck and Shoulders: Cheap size of neck from wither with a superb sloping shoulder and properly positioned forearm.
Physique: Properly balanced and compact with loads of room for coronary heart and lungs. Ribs properly sprung.
Quarters and Hindlegs: Highly effective quarters with properly developed thigh, robust second thigh and clear flat hocks.
Legs: Flat arduous bone, broad knees, quick cannon bones, indirect pasterns and properly formed broad darkish hoofs. Feather delicate and silky. Ponies of Western Isles sort might have striped hoofs which develop out at maturity.
Mane and Tail: Hair must be pure, flowing and untrimmed with a full tail.
Colors: A spread of duns, mouse, yellow, gray, cream. Additionally gray, brown, black, bay and infrequently liver chestnut with silver mane and tail. Many ponies have a dorsal stripe and a few present zebra markings on legs and shoulder. Foal coat color usually modifications and plenty of ponies change color progressively as they get older, particularly these with gray hairs interspersed with the unique color. Others present a slight seasonal change in color between winter and summer season coats. Damaged colors are usually not allowed. A small star is appropriate however different white markings are discouraged. Stallions with white markings aside from a small star are usually not eligible for licensing.
Motion: Straight and free transferring with out undue knee motion.
Capabilities: A trip, drive and pack animal which might adapt to many equestrian disciplines.
The late Queen Elizabeth II was recognized for her love of the breed. She was a patron of the society and he or she bred Highland ponies underneath the Balmoral prefix. Her ponies gained many titles, together with the in-hand supreme at Royal Windsor.
The Highland Pony Fans Membership says that the truth that Highlands carry out properly in comparatively gradual work comparable to trekking, forestry and deer-carrying means that they’ve a peaceful, regular temperament: “This makes them outstandingly appropriate for the nervous or aged, they usually have additionally been used efficiently as mounts for disabled riders, all of whom admire their confidence-giving attributes. Nonetheless, it should not be thought that, as a result of they’re form and dependable, they’re additionally uninteresting. For a lot of a Highland has proven itself to be a eager, energetic trip within the looking subject and, accurately schooled, to have the ability to compete with nice success in Pony Membership and driving membership actions – making up by sure-footedness and handiness what it could lack in outright pace. With the current revival in harness work each for displaying and for pleasure, the ponies are as soon as extra proving their price on this subject additionally.
“Protected, dependable, pleasant, a superb, comfy trip, constitutionally robust and hardy, engaging to take a look at, and with significantly extra versatility than is usually appreciated, the Highland pony has a lot to supply.”
Highland ponies are well-liked within the present ring they usually have kind at main exhibits. An instance is stallion Benbreac Of Crolia who was the 2018 Royal Worldwide supreme pony, turning into the primary native to land the title, whereas stallion Stirlingdene was supreme at HOYS in 2012.
What ought to I search for in a Highland?
Gillian McMurray is a number one decide and he or she additionally breeds Highlands underneath the Trailtrow Prefix. Ponies from the Trailtrow Stud have featured at Horse of the Yr Present (HOYS) and London Olympia a number of instances, successful better of breed titles on many events. Gillian was supreme at Olympia in 1987 driving her basis mare, Dunrowan Dolphin.
“I might advocate that almost all potential patrons attend some huge exhibits – comparable to Blair, the Royal Highland or the HPS breed present – to take a look at courses of ponies and see how a lot variation in sort there’s inside the breed,” says Gillian.
“The sort you’d need for a prime ridden pony would differ in comparison with the horse you’d want for hacking or deer work. If searching for a pony for the ridden job, I might need one thing with a superb size of rein and a superb shoulder, nothing too straight. Then, we wish a stunning spherical hind-end with a brief second thigh; that is the engine of the horse that pushes it forwards. There are a number of ponies on the market which are too straight within the hind-leg and it does present throughout their ridden work.
“Like with any pony, we wish good straight limbs that don’t deviate from the knee down, in addition to good robust ft.
“Motion smart, the stroll is a extremely essential tempo. Historically, the Highland would spend nearly all of its time strolling. Canter isn’t their pure tempo; many can discover it arduous to return up off their forehand within the canter. Nonetheless, when you discover one thing with a superb hind leg they are going to discover it simpler.”
The place ought to I purchase a Highland from?
There are on-line sale websites comparable to Whickr which have Highland ponies marketed all year long.
“Attending exhibits to see what sort of pony you might be searching for is the very best place to start out,” says Gillian. “Then, it might be a case of approaching breeders. Some breeders produce for driving greater than others, so it fully depends upon what job you need your pony to do. Most breeders can have youngstock on the market, so when you’re searching for a pony that’s up and operating, you must try breed fanatic teams, or the HPS has a gross sales record on their web site.
“Be sure you ask round to see if anybody has seen the horse out and about, particularly if it’s executed some displaying,” Gillian provides. “This might assist you gage if the horse is appropriate for you and your set-up.”
How a lot ought to I anticipate to pay?
Costs range enormously relying on the age and expertise of the horse.
“I might be cautious of one thing that may be very low cost as a result of common value of Highlands lately,” Gillian says. “There are solely roughly 250 foals born annually, so costs have gone up. At minimal, you possibly can anticipate to pay something from £2,000 for a foal at weaning, and you’ll anticipate an affordable quantity to be added on annually. A pony prepared for breaking may attain something from £5,000 and over. Profitable ponies with expertise have just lately 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 that’s strongly beneficial. If the horse is for a kid, maybe asking for a trial interval could be smart, however not all sellers will comply with this.
It’s essential to let the vet know previous to the vetting what you propose to make use of the horse for to allow them to assess it accordingly. If you happen to inform the vet that you really want the horse for the present ring, they need to hopefully inform you of any blemishes or conformational faults which may affect its future profession, even when they don’t affect its soundness or efficiency.
“A vetting is smart, although a five-stage wouldn’t be acceptable for a teenager,” Gillian says. “If you happen to’re going to view younger ponies, do take somebody skilled with you. In case you are shopping for one thing up and operating a vetting could be suggested.”
For extra data, you possibly can learn H&H’s final information to purchasing a horse.
You may additionally have an interest to learn…
Credit score: Steve Dawe Credit score: Peter Nixon Credit score: Peter Nixon Credit score: Trevor Meeks Images.co.uk Credit score: Future 
Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is filled with all the newest information and stories, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can take pleasure in the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and stories in addition to different advantages.
