Highland Pony
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| Highland Pony | ||
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 Highland Pony Champion at the Royal Highland Show 2005 |
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| Country of origin: | Scotland, Great Britain | |
| Breed standards | ||
The Highland Pony is a native British pony, and is the largest of Britain’s 9 native breeds. Its pedigree dates back to the 1880s. It was once a workhorse in the Scottish mainland and islands, but today is used for trekking and general riding.
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[edit] Breed Characteristics
The Highland Pony is one of the two native breeds of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. As a result, it has, over many centuries adapted to the variable and often severe climatic and environmental conditions of Scotland. The winter coat consists of a layer of strong badger-like hair over a soft dense undercoat, which enables this breed of pony to live out in all weathers. This coat is shed in the spring to reveal a smooth summer coat. This essential hardiness is combined with a kindly nature and even temperament.
The height is 13hh to 14.2hh.
Head should be well-carried and alert with a kindly eye, broad muzzle and deep jowl. Reasonable length of neck going from wither with a good sloping shoulder and well-placed forearm.
Well-balanced and compact body with deep chest. Ribs well sprung. Powerful quarters with well-developed thigh, strong second thigh and clean flat hocks. Flat hard bone, broad knees, short cannon bones, oblique pasterns and well-shaped broad dark hoofs. Feather hair at back of legs soft and silky.
Mane and tail should be natural, flowing and untrimmed.
A range of duns - mouse, yellow, grey, cream. Also grey, brown, black and occasionally bay and liver chestnut with silver mane and tail. Many ponies have a dorsal stripe and some show zebra markings on legs. Shoulder stripe often present. A small star is acceptable but other white markings are discouraged. Foal coat often changes and many ponies change colour gradually as they grow older, especially those with grey hairs interspersed with the original colour. Others show a slight seasonal change in colour between winter and summer coats. Broken colours are not allowed.
Stallions with white markings other than a small star are not eligible for licensing by the Highland Pony Society. No white markings (other than a small star) nor white legs or white hoofs are acceptable in the showring. The Highland Pony Society actively discourages white markings of any description other than a small white star.
[edit] History of the Highland Pony
Some say that the ancestors of the Highland lived in Scotland before the Ice Age. The breed was influenced by the horses from invading armies, and by various out-crossings. In the past, there were two types: the small and light pony of the Western Isles, and the larger and heavier mainland-bred Garron. Both types have integrated now, and there is less distinction.
In the 16th century, French and Spanish horses, including the Percheron, were taken to the Scottish highlands. In the 19th century, a Hackney type and the Fell Pony and Dales Pony were added.
The breed was originally bred to work on the small farms of Scotland, hauling timber and game as well as ploughing. They are still used for such work, but are usually enjoyed as all-round ponies, good for jumping and trekking, due to their quietness, stamina, and ability to carry weight.
There are an estimated 5500 Highlands in the world today, with most in Europe. Although some are still bred for their substance and stamina, the trend is to breed for a pony more suited for riding and driving. The breed is also commonly crossed with thoroughbreds to produce good event horses.
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