Highland pony - Breed Characteristics, History of the Highland Pony

A Scottish breed of horse; two types: Western Isles (two divisions: height 12·2–13·2 hands/1·2–1·3 m/4 ft–4 ft 4 in, and height 13·2–14·2 hands/1·3–1·4 m/4 ft 4 in–4 ft 8 in), and the more powerful garron or Mainland (height, 14·2 hands/1·5 m/4 ft 10 in); formerly used for stalking deer. The garron has Arab blood, and is the largest of British pony breeds.

The Highland Pony is a native British pony, and is the largest of Britain’s 9 native breeds.

Breed Characteristics

The Highland Pony is one of the two native breeds of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. 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.

Head should be well-carried and alert with a kindly eye, broad muzzle and deep jowl.

Mane and tail should be natural, flowing and untrimmed.

A range of duns - mouse, yellow, grey, cream. Many ponies have a dorsal stripe and some show zebra markings on legs. Foal coat often changes and many ponies change colour gradually as they grow older, especially those with grey hairs interspersed with the original colour.

Stallions with white markings other than a small star are not eligible for licensing by the Highland Pony Society. The Highland Pony Society actively discourages white markings of any description other than a small white star.

History of the Highland Pony

Some say that the ancestors of the Highland lived in Scotland before the Ice Age. In the past, there were two types: the small and light pony of the Western Isles, and the larger and heavier mainland-bred Garron.

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.