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Seeking to purchase a Highland pony to be your subsequent greatest buddy? Should you’re wanting a experience for the present ring, or you might be merely in search of 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 without doubt one of the two native pony breeds of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, however there are actually 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 using actions.
The Highland Pony Society (HPS) is the guardian of the breed and presents the next description on what to search for in instance:
“The Highland pony is a powerful, well-balanced, compact pony with all its options being in proportion to its peak. It is without doubt one of 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: Nicely carried and alert with kindly eye. Broad muzzled with a deep jowl.
Neck and Shoulders: Affordable size of neck from wither with sloping shoulder and properly positioned forearm.
Physique: Nicely 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, brief cannon bones, indirect pasterns and properly formed broad darkish hoofs. Feather tender and silky. Ponies of Western Isles sort could have striped hoofs which develop out at maturity.
Mane and Tail: Hair ought to be pure, flowing and untrimmed with a full tail.
Colors: A variety 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 typically adjustments and plenty of ponies change color step by step 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 should not allowed. A small star is appropriate however different white markings are discouraged. Stallions with white markings aside from a small star should not eligible for licensing.
Motion: Straight and free transferring with out undue knee motion.
Capabilities: A experience, drive and pack animal which may adapt to many equestrian disciplines.
The late Queen Elizabeth II was identified for her love of the breed. She was a patron of the society and she or he bred Highland ponies below the Balmoral prefix. Her ponies gained many titles, together with the in-hand supreme at Royal Windsor.
The HPS states that: “Through the season, 16 ponies work over the assorted beats carrying stags and hinds and panniers for the grouse days. Working Highland ponies additionally take guests to get pleasure from trekking on the property. The Balmoral Stud goes from power to power and has just lately been utilizing Ulleam of Croila with their broad-based line of mares.”
The Highland Pony Lovers 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, and so they have additionally been used efficiently as mounts for disabled riders, all of whom recognize their confidence-giving attributes. Nevertheless, it should not be thought that, as a result of they’re form and dependable, they’re additionally boring. For a lot of a Highland has proven itself to be a eager, energetic experience within the looking discipline and, accurately schooled, to have the ability to compete with nice success in Pony Membership and using membership actions – making up by sure-footedness and handiness what it might 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 value on this discipline additionally.
“Secure, dependable, pleasant, , comfy experience, constitutionally robust and hardy, engaging to take a look at, and with significantly extra versatility than is mostly appreciated, the Highland pony has a lot to supply.”
Highland ponies are fashionable within the present ring and so they have type at main exhibits. An instance is stallion Benbreac Of Crolia who was the 2018 Royal Worldwide supreme pony, changing 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 choose and she or he additionally breeds Highlands below the Trailtrow Prefix. Ponies from the Trailtrow Stud have featured at Horse of the 12 months Present (HOYS) and London Olympia a number of instances, profitable better of breed titles on many events. Gillian was supreme at Olympia in 1987 using her basis mare, Dunrowan Dolphin.
“I’d 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 throughout 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 in search of a pony for the ridden job, I’d need one thing with size of rein and shoulder, nothing too straight. Then, we wish a beautiful spherical hind-end with a brief second thigh; that is the engine of the horse that pushes it forwards. There are a couple of ponies on the market which can be 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 very necessary tempo. Historically, the Highland would spend the vast majority of its time strolling. Canter isn’t their pure tempo; many can discover it arduous to come back up off their forehand within the canter. Nevertheless, for those who discover one thing with hind leg they may 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 in search of is the perfect place to start out,” says Gillian. “Then, it will be a case of approaching breeders. Some breeders produce for using greater than others, so it fully is dependent upon what job you need your pony to do. Most breeders may have youngstock on the market, so for those who’re in search of a pony that’s up and operating, you must take a look at breed fanatic teams, or the HPS has a gross sales listing on their web site.
“Be sure to ask round to see if anybody has seen the horse out and about, particularly if it’s carried out some displaying,” Gillian provides. “This might assist you to gage if the horse is appropriate for you and your set-up.”
How a lot ought to I count on to pay?
Costs fluctuate significantly relying on the age and expertise of the horse.
“I’d be cautious of one thing that could be very low cost as a result of normal worth of Highlands as of late,” Gillian says. “There are solely roughly 250 foals born annually, so costs have gone up. At minimal, you’ll be able to count on to pay something from £2,000 for a foal at weaning, and you may count on an affordable quantity to be added on annually. A pony prepared for breaking may attain something from £5,000 and over. Successful 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 conform to this.
It’s necessary 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. Should you 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 impression its future profession, even when they don’t impression its soundness or efficiency.
“A vetting is wise, although a five-stage wouldn’t be applicable for a teen,” Gillian says. “Should you’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 info, you’ll be able to learn H&H’s final information to purchasing a horse.
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