Highland Horses

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Try riding on the Highland Pony which is a native British pony. It is one of the British Isles’ largest mountain and moorland pony breeds.

It was believed that the ancestors of the Highland Pony may have lived in Scotland even before the Ice Age. The Highland Ponies were influenced by the horses owned by armies and outcrossings. Before, there were two types of horses, the small and light ponies of the Western Isles and the Garron’s larger and heavier breeds. Both these breeds have now combines with each other and they have lesser distinction. French and Spanish horses were brought to the Scottish Highland during the 16th century. Then the Hackney type, Fell Pony, and Dales Pony were added in the 19th century.

In the beginning, these breeds worked on the small farms of Scotland and were doing tasks like hauling timber and ploughing. As of now, an estimated 5,500 highlands still exists today and most of them are in Europe. They are also crossed with Thoroughbreds so breeders could produce good eventing horses. However, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust has still classified the Highland ponies as Category 4, meaning they are at risk from extinction. In 1923, the Highland Pony Society was established.

The colors of Highland Ponies are dun, grey, black, brown, bay and some rare colors are liver chestnut with a silver mane and tail. Most of them have dorsal stripes and may even have zebra markings on their legs. They stand 13 to 14.2 hands high. They carry their heads well while their eyes are alert but kindly. They have flat hard bones, broad knees, slanting shoulders, and fine forearm. They are known to be obedient, quick and insightful.

They may have been greatly used for forest work in the past and even until today. During the First World War, the Lovat Scouts used them as army mounts and were also used by the military in the Boer War. But they don’t remain to be used that way.

Today, they are effectively utilized as good children and family ponies that can be used in various activities such as trekking, driving, riding, jumping. Cross country and long distance riding. They have also disabled individuals through an organization, Riding for the Disabled (RDA). They won as champions and reserve in 1999 at the Mountain and Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year at Olympia.