Highland Pony

The Highland pony is the largest of Scotland's mountain and moorland breeds and one of the native ponies of the British Isles. It was shaped in the Scottish Highlands and the islands off the west coast, country that is wet, cold and wind-blasted for a good part of the year. Generations in that climate produced a solid, weatherproof pony that holds condition on poor pasture and keeps working steadily over rough ground.

Most stand somewhere between 13 and 14.2 hands, so they sit at the top end of pony height. The frame is deep and strong rather than fine, with plenty of bone, a wide chest and well-muscled hindquarters. A thick coat with a heavy mane and tail gives the breed its shaggy winter outline.

Historically this was a working pony. It carried shot deer off the hill during stalking, hauled timber and farm loads, and did whatever a crofting family needed done. These days it is ridden, driven, used for trail riding and put to light farm work, and its unflappable nature makes it a regular at riding schools and in family paddocks.

Who it suits

The Highland pony is a sensible pick for anyone after a strong, easy-care pony for general riding, trail work or driving rather than fast competition. Its level head and willing attitude forgive the mistakes of greener handlers, and it has the size and strength to carry an adult without fuss. It does well on hilly or rough grazing, and a family wanting one pony that several people can ride and drive will find the breed fits that job.

Hardy ponies have lived in the north and west of Scotland for many centuries, long before anyone kept written breed records. The upland climate and the demands of crofting life did the selecting. Local families needed one animal that could be ridden, driven, loaded with a pack and worked on the land, and the pony that resulted was tough, sensible and economical to keep.

Two broad types came to be recognised over time. A bigger, heavier mainland pony did draught and farm work, while a lighter island pony came from the Western Isles. Outside blood, Arab among it, was brought into some lines at different points, yet the core remained a robust working pony suited to Scottish conditions.

On Highland estates the ponies had a specific job in deer stalking: carrying shot deer down off the hill on a purpose-made deer saddle. That work called for a calm, surefooted animal that would stand quietly and then pick its way over steep, broken ground under a heavy load. The same qualities made the breed useful for general estate and farm work.

The Highland pony is now maintained as a recognised native breed, kept by people who ride, drive and trail ride it or use it for conservation grazing. Its long working past still shows in its build and its temperament.

Everything about the Highland pony's frame is built for power and staying power rather than pace. The head is broad between the eyes with a kind expression and sits on a strong, slightly arched neck. The body is deep through the girth with a broad back, well-sprung ribs and muscular hindquarters. The legs are short and strong with flat, hard bone and a moderate amount of silky feather at the heel. Taken together, the pony gives an impression of substance and balance.

Coat and colours

Dun is the signature colour and turns up in several shades: yellow dun, mouse dun, grey dun and cream dun, usually with a dark dorsal stripe down the back and sometimes faint zebra bars on the legs. Grey, brown, black and liver chestnut also occur. Plenty of ponies go silvery with age. The winter coat is thick and sheds water, which lets the pony live out through cold, wet weather; the summer coat lies flatter and shows the true colour more clearly. Small white markings are generally kept to a minimum, and large white patches are not typical of the breed.

An even, level-headed temperament is what the Highland pony is best known for. It stays calm under pressure, is slow to spook and gets on with the job, all of which trace back to centuries as a hill and farm pony that had to keep its head in rough conditions. Most are gentle and patient with people, children and beginners included, and they tend to settle into a quiet, trusting relationship with whoever handles them day to day.

Strangers rarely bother the breed. That makes it well suited to riding schools and trail-riding operations where a pony deals with a stream of different riders. In the paddock it is generally sociable and finds its place in a mob without drama, and the same easy manner carries over to cattle, sheep and dogs when introductions are handled with some sense.

It is also a clever pony, and clever ponies can be strong-willed. Consistent, fair handling matters. Left bored or under-worked, a Highland can turn pushy or stubborn, and its keen appetite means it will test the rules around feed. A clear routine and regular work keep it settled and cooperative.

The Highland pony is one of the easier equines to keep, but the dense coat, the feather and a real tendency to put on weight all call for a consistent routine.

Grooming

• Brush the body several times a week to shift mud and loose hair and to check the skin underneath
• Keep the heel feather clean and dry to cut the risk of greasy heel and other skin trouble
• Pick out the hooves daily and book the farrier every six to eight weeks
• Comb the heavy mane and tail regularly so they do not knot up
• Expect a heavy shed in spring as the thick winter coat comes out

Exercise

• Give the pony regular moderate work: riding, driving or trail riding
• Use hills and varied terrain, which the breed handles well and which helps keep weight down
• Aim for daily turnout and steady movement rather than the odd hard session, and in hot weather work the pony early in the morning or in the evening
• Avoid long stretches of inactivity, which lead to weight gain and boredom

Environment

The Highland pony was built to live out. It shrugs off cold, wet and windy weather as long as it has somewhere to get out of the worst of it, and in most Australian districts it needs little or no rugging. Over-rugging or rich pasture does it more harm than a cold night. Summer is the other side of the coin: the thick coat means the pony must have shade, plenty of clean water and somewhere to stand out of the sun through the heat of the day. Rough or restricted grazing generally suits it better than lush improved pasture.

The Highland pony is a classic good doer that gets most of what it needs from grass and hay. Build the diet on forage and add concentrates only when workload, age or condition genuinely calls for them. Plenty of ponies in light to moderate work stay well on forage plus a balancer that covers vitamins and minerals without piling on calories. Clean water at all times and a salt lick are essentials, and both matter even more through a hot summer.

Treats and supplements

Go easy on treats given how readily the breed gains weight; a bit of carrot or a low-sugar pony treat is enough. Most ponies on decent forage need only a vitamin and mineral balancer, not a shelf of supplements. Bring in any change of feed gradually over one to two weeks so the gut has time to adjust.

The Highland pony is a sound, hardy breed that regularly lives 25 to 30 years with decent care. Most of its health problems come down to management rather than inherited disease, and the biggest of them is carrying too much weight. The breed evolved to survive on sparse hill grazing, so Australian improved pasture and generous feeding can tip it into obesity and everything that follows.

Preventive care

• Keep the pony at a healthy body condition and weigh or condition-score it regularly
• Keep up routine vaccinations and base the worming program on faecal egg counts
• Book a dental check at least once a year
• Keep farrier visits to every six to eight weeks
• Check legs, hooves and skin often, particularly in wet conditions

The Highland pony is clever, level-headed and usually keen to cooperate, which makes it a satisfying breed to train. Its calm nature means new tasks are accepted without much fuss, and it copes with traffic, machinery and unfamiliar situations once they are introduced with some sense. The flip side of that intelligence is that bad habits are learned just as fast as good ones, so handling has to be fair and consistent. A pony allowed to push boundaries, especially around feed, can turn stubborn or pushy.

Basics

1. Start with quiet groundwork: leading, standing still and accepting handling all over the body
2. Teach clear, consistent voice cues and rein or rope cues
3. Introduce gear, harness or saddle gradually and reward calm acceptance
4. Build ridden or driven work in short, regular sessions
5. Expose the pony gradually to traffic, water crossings and varied terrain
6. Keep sessions purposeful so a clever pony stays switched on

Highland ponies mature slowly, and mares and stallions are normally bred only once they are fully grown, sound and of good type. Mares cycle seasonally through the warmer months, and matings are timed so foals arrive in spring when grass and weather suit a young foal. Gestation runs roughly eleven months and almost always produces one foal; twins are rare and generally unwanted.

Foals are typically robust and quick to stand and drink, a legacy of the breed's hardy origins. Mares are generally good, attentive mothers. Youngstock do best raised out in the paddock in company, where they can move freely and develop strong limbs and good manners with other horses. Weaning usually happens at around six months, after which young ponies are grown on slowly so developing joints are not asked to carry too much weight.

Responsible breeding selects for correct conformation, sound temperament and the traditional type, and breeding stock should be assessed for health and suitability before being used.