Highland Pony

The Highland pony is a native pony breed of the British Isles and the largest of Scotland's mountain and moorland ponies. Its home ground is the Scottish Highlands and the islands off the west coast, a wet, cold and windswept region for the better part of the year. Generations of ponies raised on such land became sturdy, weatherproof animals that hold condition on poor grazing and keep working steadily over rough ground.

Height is usually in the range of 13 to 14.2 hands, so this is a pony at the upper end of pony size. The build is deep and powerful rather than fine, with good bone, a broad chest and well-muscled hindquarters. A dense coat with a heavy mane and tail gives the breed its shaggy winter outline.

For most of its history this has been a working pony. It has brought deer down from the hill during stalking, hauled timber and farm loads, and done general duties on small crofts. These days it is also ridden, driven and used for trekking and light farm work, and its quiet manner has made it a regular in riding schools and family yards. Numbers in India are very small, and the few keepers who have one generally value it for the same steadiness.

Who it suits

This pony suits a keeper who wants a strong, undemanding animal for hacking, trekking or driving rather than fast competitive work. The calm head and willing attitude forgive the mistakes of a less experienced rider, and the size and power carry an adult comfortably. It does well where grazing is rough or hilly, and it can work for a family that wants one pony for several members to ride and drive.

The Highland pony is an old native type that has lived in the north and west of Scotland for many centuries. Hardy ponies were in the region long before anyone kept written breed records, shaped by the harsh upland climate and the demands of crofting life. Local people depended on them as all-purpose animals: ridden, driven, loaded as pack ponies and put to work on the land.

In due course two broad lines came to be recognised. One was a larger, heavier mainland pony used for draught and farm work; the other a lighter island pony from the Western Isles. Outside blood, Arab among other influences, went into some lines at various times, yet the core type stayed a robust working pony suited to Scottish conditions.

On Highland estates the ponies had a specific job in deer stalking, bringing shot deer down from the hill on a deer saddle. The work called for a calm, surefooted animal that would stand quietly and then travel over steep, broken ground under a heavy load. Those same qualities made the breed useful for general estate and farm work.

Today the breed is maintained as a recognised native pony, and its population is kept up by owners who use it for riding, driving, trekking and conservation grazing. Its long working history still decides its build and temperament.

The Highland pony has a strong, well-proportioned frame made for power and stamina, not speed. 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 as a whole, the animal gives an impression of substance and balance.

Coat and colours

Dun is the signature colour of the breed and comes in several shades: yellow dun, mouse dun, grey dun and cream dun, generally with a dark dorsal stripe down the back and at times faint zebra marks on the legs. Grey, brown, black and liver chestnut also occur. Many ponies go silvery in the coat as they age. The winter coat is thick and sheds water, which is what lets the pony live out in cold, wet weather; the summer coat lies flatter and shows the colour more clearly. Small white markings are generally limited, and large white patches are not typical of the breed.

The Highland pony is known for an even, level-headed temperament. It stays calm under pressure, is slow to spook and is willing to work, all of which comes from a long history as a hill and farm pony that had to remain steady in hard conditions. Most ponies are gentle and patient with people, children and beginners included, and they tend to form a quiet, trusting relationship with whoever handles them daily, whether owner or syce.

With strangers the breed is usually friendly and unbothered, which suits riding schools and trekking outfits where a pony meets many different people. Among other horses and ponies it is generally sociable and settles into a herd without fuss. The same easy nature extends to most farm animals and dogs, provided introductions are done sensibly.

The breed is intelligent and can be strong-willed, so it needs consistent, fair handling. A bored or under-worked Highland pony may turn pushy or stubborn, and its hearty appetite means it will test limits around food. A clear routine and regular work keep it content and cooperative.

The Highland pony is among the easier equines to keep, but the dense coat, the feather and the tendency to put on weight all call for a steady routine, and in India the heat adds its own demands.

Grooming

• Brush the body a few times a week to clear mud and loose hair and to check the skin
• Keep the heel feather clean and dry, particularly in the monsoon, to cut the risk of skin trouble
• Pick out the feet daily and have the farrier in every six to eight weeks
• Comb the heavy mane and tail regularly so they do not knot
• Expect heavy shedding in spring as the thick winter coat comes out

Exercise

• Give regular moderate work: riding, driving or trekking
• Use hill work and varied ground, which the breed manages well and which helps keep weight down
• Aim for daily turnout and movement rather than an occasional hard session
• Do not leave the pony standing idle for long spells; that leads to weight gain and boredom

Environment

The Highland pony is made to live out and copes well with cold, wet and windy weather so long as it has shelter from the worst of it. Rugging is hardly ever needed, and heavy rugs or rich pasture do it harm. In Indian conditions the picture reverses: the dense coat means the pony feels the summer heat, so a shaded, airy stable or shelter, fans where possible, and constant access to water matter far more than any protection from cold. Rough or restricted grazing suits it better than lush fields, and that holds whether the field is in Scotland or in Punjab.

The Highland pony is a good doer and gets most of what it needs from grazing and hay. Build the ration around forage, and add concentrates only when workload, age or condition genuinely calls for them. Many ponies in light to moderate work stay well on forage plus a balancer that supplies vitamins and minerals without adding calories. Clean water at all times and a salt source are essential, more so in the Indian summer when a pony loses a great deal through sweat.

Treats and supplements

Go easy on treats given how readily this breed gains weight; a small piece of carrot or a low-sugar pony treat is enough. Most ponies on good forage need nothing beyond a vitamin and mineral balancer. Bring in any change of feed gradually over one to two weeks so the gut has time to adjust.

The Highland pony is, as a rule, a healthy and hardy breed that lives 25 to 30 years with good care. Most health problems trace back to management rather than inherited disease, and the biggest risk is excess weight. A breed that evolved to survive on sparse grazing does not cope well with modern pasture and generous feeding; the kilos go on quickly and trouble follows.

Preventive care

• Keep the pony at a healthy body condition and weigh or condition-score it regularly
• Follow a routine vaccination schedule and a deworming plan based on faecal egg counts
• Book a dental check at least once a year
• Keep up farrier visits every six to eight weeks
• Check legs, feet and skin often, above all in wet weather

The Highland pony is clever, level-headed and generally 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 well with traffic, machinery and unfamiliar situations once these are introduced sensibly. That same intelligence means it picks up bad habits as fast as good ones, so handling has to be fair and consistent. A pony that is allowed to push boundaries, especially around food, can turn stubborn or pushy.

Basics

1. Begin with quiet groundwork: leading, standing still and accepting handling all over the body
2. Teach clear, consistent voice cues along with rein or rope cues
3. Introduce tack, harness or saddle step by step and reward calm acceptance
4. Build up ridden or driven work in short, regular sessions
5. Expose the pony gradually to traffic, water and varied ground
6. Keep each session purposeful; an intelligent pony switches off when bored

Highland ponies mature slowly and are normally bred only once the mare and stallion are mature, sound and of good type. Mares cycle seasonally through the warmer months, and coverings are timed so that foals arrive in spring, when grass and weather favour the young foal. Gestation is roughly eleven months and almost always gives a single foal; twins are rare and generally unwanted.

Foals of this breed are usually robust and quick to stand and suckle, in keeping with the breed's hardy origins. Mares are, by and large, good and attentive mothers. Youngstock do best raised out at grass in company, where they can move freely and develop strong limbs and good manners with other ponies. Weaning is usually done at around six months, after which young ponies are brought on slowly so that developing joints are not loaded with too much weight.

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