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The Highland Pony

Height
From approximately 13hh to 14.2hh.

Colour
A wide variety of duns which include mouse, yellow, grey, fox, oatmeal and cream.
Also grey, brown and black, with occasional bay and liver chestnut, with silver mane and tail.

Markings
Many ponies have an eel stripe that runs along the spine. They may also have zebra stripes on their legs and shoulder; they can have a stripe along the belly. White markings are strongly discouraged, except a small star. Stallions with white markings are not eligible for licensing.

Build
Body should be compact; deep throughout the chest with well sprung ribs. The shoulder should be well sloped, and neck should be of medium length. Quarters should be powerful, with well developed thigh and second thigh. Legs should be short in the cannons broad across the knee; plenty of dense flat bone and a good amount of feather should run from along the back of the cannon bone to the fetlock. Head should be deep with a kind eye and broad muzzle.

Movement
Straight and free, without undue knee action.

Trimming rules for showing
Mane and tail should be long and flowing. No trimming, pulling, plaiting or thinning of the mane or tail is permitted. Whiskers and jawline must not be trimmed. Working ponies may be body clipped for winter competitions.

History
Highland ponies are native to the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Their prehistorical markings, as described above, indicate that they are one of the oldest Native breeds of Britain; they are also the largest. In times long ago, their strength and size would have made them a suitable mount as a war horse, as far back as the days of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. It is said that Robert the Bruce faced the attack of the army of King Edward II, sat astride a Highland pony.

Their domestic roles would have been as pack ponies, transporting goods in large wicker panniers attached to a wooden pack saddle. They were commonly seen on farms, where the Crofters set a variety of duties including ploughing, forestry, and haulage. In later years, Country Estates found the Highland pony useful for bringing game and deer down from the hills.

Records of Highland ponies go back as far as the early 1800s, most present day bloodlines can be traced back to those early records. Highlands could be found over eleven of the Western Isles, in addition to the Scottish mainland; the breed developed into several different types.
The Island bred ponies were smaller and lighter than their bigger heavier mainland neighbours, due to the harsher environment in which they lived. Ponies on Eriskay and Barra were most notably smaller and lighter; in time this separated these ponies as a completely different type from the Highland breed. Ponies of Tiree, crossed with Clydesdales, gradually died out; as did the Barra ponies.

Until recently, the Highland pony breed was divided into two types; Island and mainland bred. Nowadays, no official distinction is made between the two types, but the terminology is still used amongst breeders, owners and judges, when discussing Highland characteristics.

After WW2, the increasing demand for recreational activities saw Pony trekking is Scotland become desireable. Highland ponies world wide popularity has now increased such that they can be found in France, Germany, Australia and Belguim. It is said that during the 1950s, a Highland stallion was exported to Texas with the intention of improving the Quarter horse breed.

Highlands are reknowned for their calm, steady temperament; combined with their size and build they are a popular choice as a family pony. They are sure footed and strong, able to carry a heavy load or person over rough or very steep terrain. Since the invention of modern farm machinery, Highlands are no longer needed for most of their traditional tasks. A few Highland ponies are still used for forestry, carrying bundles of young trees to locations where 4x4s cannot reach.
The Highland is a versatile pony, it can be seen competing in many spheres such as driving, cross country & endurance riding. The Highland pony has also enjoyed much success in the show ring.
In 1999, Highland ponies Dunedin Harris, and Mosside Campsie Glen, won both Champion and Reserve Champion titles at the NPS ridden final at Olympia. The Highland Ponies popularity has seen them exported to many countries, there are studs in France, Belgium, Holland, Poland, Germany, Australia, Canada and USA.

Breed Society
http://www.highlandponysociety.com

Did you know?
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust currently recognises the Highland as 'Vulnerable'.

Highlands are the heaviest pony breed, weighing up to 550kg for a mature adult.

Highland Ponies bred on Rhum often exhibit unusual coat colours; chestnut with silver mane and tail, known as 'mulattos'.

Highland stallion, Glenfiddich, was imported to the King Ranch, Texas, in the 1950s to give a heavier back end to the quarter horses. Sadly, his records cannot now be traced, or any of his stock.

Highland ponies were also known as 'Garrons', a gaelic word meaning gelding.

HM The Queen is patron of the Highland pony Society, maintaining one of the largest Highland pony studs, at Balmoral Castle.

Queen Victoria wrote of Highland ponies in "Life in the Highlands", where she describes a ride from Blair Castle up into the hills with Prince Albert, and the duke of Atholl.

Time Line
1923 - Highland Pony Society founded
1974 - The Highland Pony Enthusiasts Club founded
1983 - North East of Scotland Highland Pony Enthusiast Society (NESHPES) founded.

Hamlet's House - The Native Pony Community

The Native Pony Enthusiasts Community - Hamlet's House™