HIGHLAND PONY BREED DESCRIPTION

The Breed is a strong well balanced compact pony with all its features being in proportion to its height. It is one of the largest of the British Native Breeds and should show substance and strength.

HEIGHT: The height is 13hh - 14.2 hh. (132cms - 148cms)

HEAD: Well carried and alert with kindly eye. Broad muzzled with a deep jowl.

NECK AND SHOULDERS: Reasonable length of neck from wither with a good sloping shoulder and well placed forearm.

BODY: Well balanced and compact with plenty of room for heart and lungs. Ribs well sprung.

QUARTERS AND HINDLEGS: Powerful quarters with well developed thigh, strong second thigh and clean flat hocks.

LEGS: Flat hard bone, broad knees, short cannon bones, oblique pasterns and well shaped broad dark hoofs. Feather soft and silky.

MANE AND TAIL: Hair should be natural, flowing and untrimmed with a full tail.

COLOURS: A range of duns, mouse, yellow, grey, cream. Also grey, brown, black, bay and occasionally liver chestnut with silver mane and tail. Many ponies have a dorsal stripe and some show zebra markings on legs and shoulder. A small star is acceptable but other white markings are discouraged. Foal coat often changes and many ponies change colour gradually as they grow older, especially those with grey hairs interspersed with the original colour. Others show a slight seasonal change in colour between winter and summer coats. Broken colours are not allowed.

N.B. STALLIONS with white markings other than a small star are NOT eligible for licensing.

ACTION: Straight and free moving without undue knee action.

CAPABILITIES: A ride, drive and pack animal and can adapt to many equestrian disciplines.

 

 

SHOWING RECOMMENDATIONS

Show Preparations for In-hand and Ridden Classes

Pony: There should be no pulling, plaiting or trimming of mane and tail, nor the feather on the legs. Eye or other cosmetic make-up must not be applied under any circumstances. The pony should be shampooed, or thoroughly groomed to look and feel absolutely clean with mane and tail brushed out well with a soft brush. Excessive hair under chin etc can be discreetly laid with a damp brush before going into the ring. Hoofs should only be oiled.

For the pony's welfare, ridden ponies for winter competitions or hunting may be clipped out, always giving due regard to the above preparation recommendations. Legs should not be clipped in these cases. No trimming is permitted otherwise. It should also be accepted that these clipped ponies may be placed somewhat lower if shown in-hand in early spring show classes, depending on the in-hand judge's views.

Please note: No white markings of any description, or white legs or hoofs, with the exception of a small star, are acceptable in the show ring.

The Highland Pony Society actively discourages white markings of any description other than a small white star.

RECOMMENDED TURNOUT FOR HANDLER AND PONY- IN-HAND CLASSES

HANDLER

FEMALE: Well-cut skirt (tartan or otherwise) or trousers. Showing cane.

MALE: Trousers or kilt with jacket, shirt and tie. Showing cane.

Riding clothes with hard hat also smart, particularly on children.

PONY

STALLION: Strong stallion bridle with white lead rope, chain or leather coupling under chin. Straight bar or snaffle bit or other suitable control bit. Roller with one side rein, usually on off-side correctly fitted.

MARES AND STOCK OVER THREE YEARS: Show bridle with brass buckles or good quality brass-mounted headcollar with snaffle bit attached by bit straps. White cotton lead rope and rope halters may also be used.

YOUNGSTOCK: Show bridle with light straight bar bit (nylon or vulcanite mouth piece) or white cotton or webbing halter.

FOALS: Leather foal slip with white webbing lead rope or cotton rope halter with extra long lead rope.

 

RIDDEN CLASSES

RIDER: Breeches and boots or jodhpurs and jodhpur boots. Tweed jackets with shirt and tie. Tweed jackets are preferable to black/navy. Current standard hats to be worn when mounted. Gloves and cane/whip. (N.B. Certain ridden classes have rules on canes and whips)

PONY: Immaculate tack. Double bridle, pelham or suitable snaffle on open ponies or suitable snaffle on novice ponies. Well-fitting saddle.