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Post by flee on Jun 24, 2015 17:00:29 GMT
If as breed they were not perfect for a variety of riders they would not have been almost exclusively used in trecking centers for the last 50 years, It is only when they became fashionable and were priced out of the trecking centers that anyone even thought of using anything else I guess one aspect is that Highlands , or similar, would've been the type of pony that a nervous/novice/inexperienced rider would go for , with the result that the Highlands many people would've seen were/are owned ,handled , 'trained' and ridden by those people . I don't mean that to be offensive - we all have to start somewhere and many people enjoy their ponies for their own sake without wanting to compete or even ride at any particular level .If you are looking for a laid back , reliable family type or adults first pony , a Highland would fit the bill . As long as they and their pony are happy what does it matter if it is , by some standards , unschooled ?For the ambitious and skilled rider then , if you were going to do dressage , jumping or whatever, with hopes of progression , you would probably not have considered a Highland .When I was younger ( and braver !) I loved XC and eventing and my horses were chosen with that in mind .Lack of time ( keeping a horse eventing fit is very time consuming ) saw a change of direction and I got into M&M's in a very roundabout way . I won't bore you with details but I had never had anything to do with our little hairy friends previously so they were all handled,broken and schooled in the same way that I would any other horse , be it TB,Warmblood or whatever - and , yes, that does include making allowances for mental and physical developement . I'm not claiming to be the best rider in the world but I can't bare stuffy, nappy, trippy,bargy kickalongs , they all have to have manners , go forward off a light aid, carry themselves and have brakes . That's not just in the show ring either but all the time in whatever they're doing . I have two Fells and two Highlands , all are schooled up to Elementary dressage level , the Fell mare has 70+ BD points and can do renvers,travers,half pass and canter pirouettes , and one of the Highlands is now hogged and does Working Cob classes . I also used to do dressage on a pure bred 18hh Shire , way back in the 90's when no one else rode them . Origionally bought as a 4yo as a hack for Mr F ,what started off as me doing a bit of schooling with him ended up with him doing dressage and being placed 5th in the Derby House Dressage Champs in the Elementary - it was quite a prestigious competition back then and you had to qualify through a number of heats .He caused quite a sensation at the time and could do half pass and flying changes and a whole load of tricks ! Sorry - I'm starting to sound a bit boasty (!) but my point is that the pony , up to a certain point , is what you make it . Obviously some will be more able , or show an aptitude , in certain areas , and if you want to do XC/SJ/dressage at top level you're going to choose a certain type of animal , but the better the schooling , the better the pony . A less skilled rider will produce a less well trained pony .I was always told that no pony can be considered 'schooled' until it can do an Elementary level dressage test ( meaning all the movements required of that test - not to win it !) and that ANY sound horse or pony with approximately 4 legs can be trained up to that level. Many people take the mick out of the showing fraternity ( and yes , that would include myself !) but we do owe them a great debt of thanks for showing us what a well schooled Highland is capable of .
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Post by sometime on Jun 25, 2015 20:48:57 GMT
I agree flee a pony is what is made of it but they have to have a trainable mind to start with
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Post by waspblue on Jun 25, 2015 21:50:27 GMT
Six and a half years of love, fun and success with gentleman highland Hector ... highlands are fantastic and versitile ponies but be patient with them, it takes a while for them to mature
Thank you Hector, love you so much, always will xxxxx This is the pony that started my love of highlands and that I very sadly missed out on buying, due to very unfortunate reasons. I loved him so much the day I tried him, he was a total pleasure and beautifully schooled and mannered, thanks to all of Sophies' hard work. I will never forget him and have always regretted keeping my word to the owners of the other pony I ended up buying, when I thought Hector had already been sold. I should have done what I really wanted to do, which was go back on the deal and buy the pony I really wanted, which was Hector. Instead I kept my word to people who didn't tell the truth about the pony they sold me, in any way whatsoever and I ended up badly injured. This was not fair on either him or me, I just hope they can live with their conscience - that is if indeed they have one...... I have now bought my new Highland, and before I went to try him, I thought back to what I'd loved so much about Hector that day, in order that I knew what I would be looking for and my new boy rode beautifully, politely and on each occasion was an absolute joy. So, BIG THANKYOU to Hector, if I had the chance to buy you again, nothing would stop me. I think about you always and hope you are happy, loved and appreciated wherever you are. bigmama, he was a total gentleman and a superstar, what a wonderful ambassador for his breed too, a very special boy.
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Post by bigmama on Jun 26, 2015 10:23:56 GMT
Oh Waspblue, reading that wonderful tribute has really given me the shivers!
Thank you so, so much
Sophie and I were very disappointed when you didn't buy Hector as we felt you were a perfect match ... you are the kind of person we wanted for our special boy
I am so pleased that Hector set the bar for your future ponies and delighted to hear that you have found your new special boy
Wishing you loads of fun, love and success with your highland pony xx
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Post by sageandonionagain on Jun 27, 2015 8:22:50 GMT
I don't know too much about the breed but as with any breed am sure there are certain lines more prone to piggyness than others. I do think perhaps they are bought by people not prepared to school and train them because they can appear to be quiet, hardy etc. I haven't ridden one either but I have seen one ridden beautifully and a lot ridden badly. From the point of view of conformation, I imagine it is quite hard work to school them to be a mannered and pleasant ride in the ring or arena. They were not bred for that. So, like any other breed, if you wish them to do a completely different job and live in a totally different environment to that which God intended, you have to put the effort in to get the return.
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justliloldme
Full Member
Christmas Ribbon Orders Rosettes/ sashes and hangers personalised
Posts: 406
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Post by justliloldme on Jun 27, 2015 9:04:52 GMT
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Post by waspblue on Jun 27, 2015 10:00:28 GMT
This looks like a very happy pony to me
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Post by danichapel on Jun 27, 2015 11:44:21 GMT
Highland ponies are like Marmite, you either love them or hate them.......I love both I am an elderly rider, my mare really looks after me, I never thought at 60 I would be going on fun rides or jumping small courses, yes, she can be stubborn at times, does not like schooling (lots of tail swishing), but I just ignore these little traits, I am firm but fair and we rub along just fine, my riding is not what it was, again she puts up with it all, we go to some shows, she always looks lovely and behaves impeccably, I let her down sometimes, but I don't really care what others think, we just enjoy ourselves, ok, we may not be all that stylish, but I feel safe and at my age that is really all that matters. There are bad Highland ponies out there, I had one many years ago, but with the correct handling they are simply 'the best'
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Post by CarolineNelson on Jun 28, 2015 11:34:49 GMT
.......... the title of this thread is, as is often the case, misleading.
An interesting observation here: at Lincolnshire County from an enormous catalogued (and very quality) entry of 134 LARGE Breeds and 104 Small Breeds, my co-judge and I had as our Champion AND Reserve, not just one but two Highlands.
It would be fair to say that, whilst we are both Breed Society and Mixed M&M panel judges - plus we are highly experienced M&M breeders/competitors right from childhood, the Highland would not be our 'first' Breed.
So to 'generalise' that "everyone" is down on the Highland Pony is perhaps a tad unfair on the Breed!
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Post by viking on Jun 28, 2015 12:27:48 GMT
Caroline Nelson commented - So to 'generalise' that "everyone" is down on the Highland Pony is perhaps a tad unfair on the Breed!
I agree Caroline, but after 30 years of having Highlands in the family, I am hopeful that some may think twice and do their homework before purchase, and that might save some Highlands falling into ultimately disappointed hands.
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Post by CarolineNelson on Jun 28, 2015 12:41:41 GMT
Caroline Nelson commented - So to 'generalise' that "everyone" is down on the Highland Pony is perhaps a tad unfair on the Breed! I agree Caroline, but after 30 years of having Highlands in the family, I am hopeful that some may think twice and do their homework before purchase, and that might save some Highlands falling into ultimately disappointed hands. Well said Viking - that very sensible statement could - and should, apply to anyone who rashly purchases an (any) equine with only the minimum of prior homework, general experience - and a sound tuition/support network!
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Jul 4, 2015 9:52:09 GMT
I have no experience of the "hairy" breeds of natives, but I do so agree with flee's post above - any horse or pony will be what you expect of it and make of it. Of course if it comes to you with bad manners and attitude you have far more work to do - one reason I came to prefer my home breds, any of their faults are of my own making and often if you know the trigger for some form of fear or bad behaviour it is easier to work out how to resolve it.
I can't claim flee's dressage achievements, but I always used dressage trainers and aimed to school the Ds I rode myself up to elementary level. Sometimes physical problems can make things difficult for them - for example I had one big boy who had the op for slipping stifles, but by then he had a degree of arthritis in them on both sides so asking him to really bring his hocks underneath him he found very difficult. On the other hand, many Ds find cantering difficult but they can learn to do a proper job of it with time, care and suitable schooling exercises. The point of schooling/dressage through the lower dressage levels is to produce an animal that is a pleasant, safe ride under any circumstances - we may all have had to do an emergency stop, deal with an animal that is frightened or open and shut a gate while hacking out even if we aspire no higher.
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