Which Native?

[LokiSofi]

Hi, I am 17 years old and I weigh just 8 and a half stone and I am just under 5'3".
I have four horses (only one actually belongs to me but the others are my mum's) but only mine can be ridden, so I am looking to buy a youngster to bring on (I am a parelli student and I am also currently a working pupil studying to get my bhsi)
Anyway I am a bit stuck as to what breed, I need something hardy (needs to live out), colour isn't important, neither is the breeds temperament type (my horses are all rescues so Im used to misunderstood naughty ponies, I also owned two untouched nf colts who had come straight from the forest, for a while)
I am looking to buy a horse/pony who will stay with me forever who will carry me easily when I break it in at 4 years and whom I can show (my horse is a rescue and has a phobia of travelling and gets het up at shows plus he has poor conformation) the actual breed does not bother me but this time I want a native (my mum's 3 are natives and are all really hardy and good but mine (ted) is a bit of a wimp in all weather as he is anglo arab x welsh but is mainly anglo arab and I'm always running about putting rugs on him as he shivers in the cold, and he hates wind and rain) So I need a youngster who will be fine and hardy, colour is not important but what is inportant is the price (being a working pupil I have very little to spend) So please could people tell me of some native breeds which are strong enough to carry me but cheap. (I love new forests but I think maybe something different unlees there is a stunning one out there for the right money as no offence to new forest owners as they are stunning ponies but they are a bit fine looking)
Thankyou

[Wally]

There isn't a British Native that wouldn't be able to carry you!:) Shetland to Shire and everything in between.

Highlands can be picked up cheaply in Scotland. Shetlands can be picked up for pennies at the sales so can a lot of hill/moor ponies at the round up times.

Never judge a pony's weight carrying abilty on looks alone. It is their breeding and background which is important. Arabs have skinny legs but very dense bone, Icelandics are not tanks, they have VERY dense bone, a fine looking, 13.2hh Icelandic will carry a 14 stone man in a pace race and win.

There are some cheap Icelandics on the market at the moment, ever thought of one of those, give the Old BHS a headache when they see you tölting about the place.

[tubby]

Second that Wally,the world's your oyster Ted's mum, but those Icelandics are a bit special and so tempting .:)

[LokiSofi]

hi Thanks I did actually go and try some Icelandic ponies out and absolutely loved them but they seem to be VERY expensive or maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places, and Ive already got a shetland (well he's cross falabella and he's 10hh) but I'm a bit big for him (Id feel mean riding something smaller than a stocky 12.2hh)
Anymore suggestions? Or an idea of where I can buy these cheap icelandics haha

[Mehitabel]

well, you're my size, and my girl (http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0PgDTAiISdirPLt!n2lclH4f35mCmVVNyA7ekXksP1Gsm4C5pb3RkJA7Re3YqqaxnyU8GcmBbo838jpP2*6TeuRCbPDexLTPy/77.jpg?dc=4675408531630756829) is 13.3hh. she's a new forest - but there is a lot of variation in the breed as regards build and size. petal doesn't look it in pictures, but she is built like a brick outhouse (6 foot rug) and carries 14 stone with no problems.
if you don't want to spend a lot of money then a forester is probably the easiest breed to pick up cheap at the nf sales, if you aren't too fussed about showing.

otherwise, depending on your area, you will pick up cheap welshes in wales, and highlands will be cheaper in scotland. south of england then foresters are the most plentiful and cheap.

[LokiSofi]

I live in Dorset so I suppose my best bet would be a new forest but does anyone know how much exmoor ponies are as Ive been reading up a lot about them and what with them being rare I'd really like to think about buying one and showing it etc.

[Mehitabel]

ooh, where in dorset? the yard my beasts are at (i work in london and commute at weekends) is on the outskirts of wimborne.
i don't know of any exmoors locally, but have hundreds of forester contacts as we run a stud.

[LokiSofi]

well at the moment we're in swanage but in 3-4 weeks we're moving to a village 8 miles from Blandford.
Do you know of anyone locally who has any new forest foals for sale (preferably fillies as I have a mare and my mum would not be to pleased to find her in foal) and of a cheap price. I 'm quite happy with untouched unhandled foals etc. So even a moth eaten scruffy louse ridden pony (ok perhaps not but you get the idea) I'd be happy with as I love them all the same. I'm basically just looking for a native youngster whom is cheap to buy (and hopefully not too expensive to keep haha) whom I can break in in a few years and enjoy some showing with them etc. It would be a permanent home (I think my family has a phobia of selling horses haha)

[Mehitabel]

http://www.millersfordforestponies.co.uk/
the millersford stud always has a few - you've just missed (i think) the beaulieu road sales. they're forest bred ones, some handled, soem not, so a variety of type and quality. probably not many top class show ponies, but we have a few millersford on the riding school and they're nice ponies.

check www.newforestpony.com classifed section as well - there's a few on there.

http://www.oddsox10.freeserve.co.uk/ is the brockenhurst and shatterford stud - they also do forest bred ones as well as stud bred.

i don;t knwo anyone offhand who has any youngsters for sale, but might know someone with an older mare for loan/sale if you are interested.

[LokiSofi]

I have contacted Millersford forest ponies on many occasions actually and I enquired about two colts which they have for sale, yesterday. I know I have missed Beauleu road sales this month (i think it was on the 6th) I meant to go but Ive been ill so couldn't get there.
I am looking every day on www.nfed.co.uk aswell but as yet I haven't found 'the' one.
I think your the mare you know of would not really be of any use to me as I am really after a youngster so that I can back and break it in myself etc but thanks anyway.
:)

[Mossy]

For sheer toughness and cheap to keep you would have ot go a long way to beat a Highland. However they can get a bit hot in these southerly climes! Mine is clipped and rugged as otherwise he sweats up to the point he is suffering! An up to height Highland will carry 14st and 6 ft 2 - and manage a buck whilst doing so!

[LokiSofi]

hi Mossy I love Highlands (great personalities) But aren't they very expensive to buy (even as foals)?
I've never considered one as although they are lovely looking and just the type I love (stocky and hairy) I always believed them to be expensive to buy.

[notpoodle]

an icelandic! go on ... you know you want to :p

julia
x

[Wally]

As you are in Dorset I bet you have been riding with Nic and Mic foot! they have super, trained competition and family horses which often have been imported from Iceland and will cost £1500 more than any Uk bred ones just to cover the shipping. They will then have been trained which adds more and then you pay the premium which, for some reason, Icelandics command.

If you go to Scotland and speak to a couple of breeders there they are both selling up and have about 80 horses between them. You can pick up an youngster, ready to start or a baby to work with for a year or two before you start ridden training for between £500-£800 or so depending on the horse.

It will cost about £300 to ship them down to you though. Highlands in Scotland are dirt cheap at the sales, papered ones at that. £300 to get them south again though.

If you want details PM me and I'll tell you all I know about the two selling up. Good horses, we've had 4 from one chap and 5 or 6 from another one. Very reliable temperaments and good, sensible, bidable horses.

[Showjumper]

Oh! Buy a New Forest - they aren't all fine little things. My mare is Forest Bred and is very stocky and hardy - I don't have any new photos of her to put up, but her photo album is http://groups.msn.com/NRphotos/showjumpersphotos.msnw?albumlist=2 if you are interested :)

[shandy84]

Hiya, I bought a filly a month ago from Millersford New Forest Ponies and she is a sweetie even though they warned me when we bought her that she was very sharp. Also she is only a yearling and has a thicker neck and body than my horse arab x hannovarian whi is very heavy for her breeding. Go with a NF she only cost me £150!!!!

[Showjumper]

Ooooohh! Was that the gorgeous little chestnut, Shandy? I saw her on the website and thought she looked gorgeous - really flashy! :D

[shandy84]

I just tried to load up a picture of Bramble and it failed, it wasn't the one you were thinking of but she does like to think a lot of herself and prances around my field....although she lets herself down as she always ends up standing on my muckheap looking very very cheeky!!!!

[Showjumper]

I hope you manage to load it up soon - I'm really curious! :D

[Kanuma]

how about a connemara!! gorgeouse ponies!!

[Gemma R]

Get a new Forest :D there FAB :D I have two a 17 yo mare and an 8 month old col from Es' yard

[Yorkshire_Lass]

i agree get a NewForest!!!
:D

[Cheko]

Exmoor vary in price. Unfortuantely, I've had to sell mine but I bought him from a stud in East Sussex for £300 eight years ago. They are cheaper bought off the moor but you often cant get near them. I'd look on the Exmoor Pony Society's website, they have a list of ponies for sale and the price the owners want.
Good luck if you get an Exmoor, they are lovely ponies, intelligent and willing to turn their hooves to anything but they are sharp and like to take the ****!!!!

[*Glitter storm*]

Every may( i think!) and october there is a cob sale (lasting 3 days) for section D and D welsh ponies (around 13.2- 15hh) and some occasional part breds at The royal wlesh show ground in builth wells, wales. young ponies can go quite cheaply there but then you do occasionly get the very expnsive ones with all the good breeding etc. any way, there is usually over 700 being sold each time (could be more than that but i cant remember!) so you are sure to find something you like. The auctioneers are 'Brightwells' their site is www.brightwells.com you could request a catalogue. With natives ponies you can build up their various muscles according to how much weight u want them to carry! p.s., dont be fooled by the slightly 'weedy' appearance of some of the youngsters there- just look at the bone of the animal you can build up the muscles with the right work and as it matures. I bought my mare there (as a 3 yr old) and she had literally no muscle, many people told me it was a mistake that i bought her but now i have worked her she has been competing at county standard over the past two yrs and coming in the top three. ( she is now 7)

[*Glitter storm*]

sorry correction sections C and D!! good luck with what you decide on!

[katie86]

go with the exmoors !!!

i have recently started riding some and they are fabby!

here a website all about the ones i ride:

http://www.joekiora.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

and if u want i can send u a few piccies of me riding them aswell, there is a link on the website above to a chairty called moorland mousie who are the ppl to get in conact with if ** seriously interested!!

[G.Gracious]

Have you considered an Eriskay Pony?? They're a rare breed from the Hebrides Islands off the coast of Scotland. My friend has 2 Eriskays, Charli and Gillie, they're both amazing all-rounders and can do anything from speed driving to 3ft 3 eventing!! Here is a pic that i found on the net:

http://www.rare-breeds.com/images/photos/equine/eriskay_pony.jpg

I think they're wonderful and i'm always begging my friend to let me ride Charlie and Gillie!!

This is a list of sales from the Eriskay Pony Society - http://freespace.virgin.net/buckie.burn/eriskay/sales/

And this is the Eriskay Pony Society homepage - http://www.eriskaypony.com/

[G.Gracious]

Here are some pics of my friend and her Eriskays! -

http://freespace.virgin.net/buckie.burn/eriskay/gallery/epsshow2002.jpg

(The grey at the end)

http://freespace.virgin.net/buckie.burn/eriskay/gallery/rhschampionship.jpg

(Again, the grey)

http://freespace.virgin.net/buckie.burn/eriskay/gallery/charlieparade.jpg

(The grey leading)

I think they're all Gillie, don't know though, Gillie and Charlie are identical!!

[notpoodle]

katie 86 - wow that's a wonderful site - and sooo many lovely pictures :)

julia
x

[shandy84]

Hiya Showjumper

I've finally got some photos loaded up of Bramble and Shandy they're not as good as I'd like as they were taken in the pouring rain they're at the following link http://community.webshots.com/user/snowpatrol84 let me know your honest opinion of her I don't mind people icking faults. She jumped into her stable the other day it's 4 1/2 ft poor thing got her legs stuck on the top and had to wiggle them over, the problem was she jumped into the stable with my other horse in it she hardley knew what happened! Cheeky New Forests

[Drummers mum]

Hi iv just bought a dartmoor hill pony. (Hes not here yet and its the first pony iv ever owned and im so excited i cant sleep!) Basically the lady I bought him from is secretary to the dartmoor hill pony society and they are trying to raise awareness of the ponies and how fab they are. they are very hairy and solid sturdy little chaps (mine is only 13hh and im 10st) you can pick up a foal for £50. Log on there web site it gives breeders and all sorts of stuff. I think its dartmoorhillponies.com. Hope you find one.

[notpoodle]

drummers mum, so are dartmoor hill ponies the same as dartmoor ponies?! i looked on the website but couldnt quite work that one out :rolleyes: and what, uhm, height range do they come in and are they up to carrying adults?

julia
x

[Mossy]

Hi
Dartmoor Ponies are a breed, with a breed standard and stud book. The Dartmoor Hill pony is a type, solid dependable and tough as old boots but no regnonisable breed or definite colour. There is all sorts in them depending which bit of the moor the mares have wandered on to and what covered them. I know a very fertile wild coloured stallion so a lot of the ponies on Roborough Down are coloured, not allowed in the breed book at all. Some are more Shetland than Dartie due to Shetlands being turned loose on the moor. We have wonderful little Thelwell foals running real teddy bear jobs. However The hill pony is strong, easy to keep, a brilliant pony for a child or small adult. They will carry me but I cannot keep my feet off the floor either side! I am 5' 5" and I backed my friend's 12.2hh Hill Pony.
Hope thet helps

[LokiSofi]

Wow thanks everyone, where I was working i used to ride a very sharp 12.2hh exmoor mare called bubbles she was amazing and so strong, I'd never considered an Eriskay pony so will now check out that site I will also look at these dartmoor hill ponies (though I've also thought of Dartmoors as being too small and not strong enough to carry me is this right?):eek: