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Kestrel of Fourmerk Highlanders. Photo by
John Fraser |
The Highland
Pony |
The Highland is the largest of the three Scottish
native breeds of pony, reaching a a maximum of 14.2hh (148cms) and a modern
adult pony can weigh as much as 55kg. Its original environment of the Scottish
Highlands and Islands, to which it is well adapted, has made it a hardy,
sure-footed animal. The island ponies, because of their harsher environment
tended to be smaller and lighter boned than their mainland relations. Its
winter coat is thick and insulating and enables it to live outside in all
weathers. It has a profuse, silky mane and tail and feathering on the legs. The
summer coat is smooth.Its
strength, sure-footedness and equable temperament made it an invaluable
workhorse for the crofters of Scotland who used the Highland as a multi-purpose
animal - for ploughing, forestry, riding and haulage. The sporting estates
found the Highland useful for bringing deer and game from the hill and many
modern day estates have reverted to the ponies as being more environmentally
friendly than 4x4 vehicles. In the First World War, the Lovat Scouts used
Highlands as army mounts and they were also used by the military in the Boer
War. With the advent of pony trekking in Scotland in 1955, the Highland came
into its own and the breed became more widely known. Nowadays, the Highland
makes an excellent family pony, as it is a good all-rounder and will turn a
hoof to riding, driving, dressage, jumping, cross country and long distance
riding as well as being extensively used for RDA (Riding for the Disabled)
work. Highlands are able to carry an adult of up to 15 stones in weight. In the
Mountain and Moorland Ridden Pony of the Year at Olympia, Highlands were
champion and reserve in 1999.
The Highland Pony is a non genetically modified
pony! It is descended from the primitive ponies of Scotland and there is no
subjective assessment of breeding stock. (There is however a Highland Pony
Society Premium Stallion Parade, where willing owners can subject their
stallions to the scrutiny of three inspectors in the hope of being awarded
premium).
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The Highland still
retains the eel stripe marking, shoulder stripes and zebra stripes on the legs,
which typify it as an ancient breed along with Prezwalsky horses, Koniks and
Fjord ponies. |
It comes in a range of colours
from the duns (mouse, yellow, cream and grey), brown, bay and black. The solid
colours remain through life, but the cream and grey dun ponies eventually turn
white. The Highland Ponies bred on Rhum exhibit unusual colours such as
chestnut with silver mane and tail.
Since the 1880s, Highlands have
been registered in a stud book. There is no "breeding scheme" as such
and this results in a diversity of types and bloodlines. White marks are
frowned upon by the breed society and only a small start os acceptable in the
show ring. A stallion with white marks, apart from a small star, cannot be
licensed.
Highland Ponies have been
exported from Scotland to many countries and there are studs in France,
Belgium, Holland, Poland, Germany, Australia, Canada and USA.
The Highland Pony
Society
Please contact the secretary at
the following address:
Mrs. Fiona Roebuck 22 York Place
Perth PH1 8EH Tel; 01738 451861
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