The Eriskay Pony

[eriskaypony]

Hi all,

I thought I'd post about my rare breed ponies - the Eriskay. I'd seen a couple of posts on here of people that have owned or met Eriskays. I've just started a forum for Eriskay owners, enthusiasts, or those wanting to know more (see sig for link) and would love it if you would post your experiences there!

I have 3 Eriskays - Rannoch my 5yr old ridden gelding, Minnie a 4yr old brood mare and Fergal her 6 month old colt. They are such people friendly ponies and I love them to bits! I broke Rannoch in last year and he restored my confidence in riding. We've been showing, done some dressage tests and hunted 4 times this season - I've never had so much fun!

There are only 12 registered stallions and approximately 300 breeding mares, which puts the Eriskay on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust critical list (http://www.rbst.org.uk/). We're hoping to keep Fergal entire and build a small herd of breeding mares for him, but that's a couple of years away yet!

If you'd like to have more info on the breed please reply, or post on the forum!

Victoria

[~*sugarlump*~]

sorry, but i dont think you're allowed to post links to other forums, you can put them in your signiture though

only 12 registered stallions!!!!!!

[TheHoglet]

wow they look realy small! whats there average hight? and where do they originate from?

[eriskaypony]

Thanks for letting me know, I've removed my link.

Mine are at the larger end - 13.2hh, but the breed generally range from 12hh to 13.2hh. They originate from Eriskay, which is an island in the outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. Originally there were ponies of 'western isle type' on all the outer hebridian islands, but they were crossbred with other ponies to produce larger work ponies. However, this crossbreeding did not reach the southern island of Eriskay, thereby maintaining a pure breed.

Unfortunately the breed dwindled to near extinction and it was thought that the last pure bred stallion had died. A few specially bred Highlands were introduced to try and keep the breed going. During the 1970's a pure bred stallion by the name of Eric was found on a neighbouring island and he kick started the 'breeding up' program. This means that all 100% Eriskay stallions are related at some point to Eric - a small gene pool!

There has been some controversy over whether the Eriskay is in fact a breed outright, but recent DNA research by the University of Leicester has shown that they are indeed a distinct, primitive breed with ancient origins.

[lindz]

Hi.

I run a native pony forum. Feel free to advertise your site and forum in the websites section.

See link in my signature. :)

[cvb]

http://groups.msn.com/NRphotos/cvbfifi.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=5834

Rosie - or to give her full name, Lochoir Fionabhein :D

she's 100% :D

[eriskaypony]

Aah, she's gorgeous!! What is her breeding? She is very much like Minnie, but has a whiter face. I showed all my family and the first thing they said was 'doesn't she look like Minnie?' :D

Is she from Coll then? Lochoir is Mrs McKinnon's prefix isn't it? What do you do with her, is she ridden? Would you be able to post on my message board please and put a link to her photo? I'd very much appreciate it! the link is in my sig. I'm hoping that it will get busier when the link gets put in the EPS newsletter.

Sorry for the million questions!

Victoria

[SarahJay]

Your ponies are all gorgeous!:)

[Miriam]

Gill on here has an Eriskay

[eriskaypony]

Hi Miriam, thanks for letting me know. However, just to confuse things, I think Gill's pony is a Highland called Eriskay :D !

[cvb]

Aah, she's gorgeous!! What is her breeding? She is very much like Minnie, but has a whiter face. I showed all my family and the first thing they said was 'doesn't she look like Minnie?' :D

Is she from Coll then? Lochoir is Mrs McKinnon's prefix isn't it? What do you do with her, is she ridden? Would you be able to post on my message board please and put a link to her photo? I'd very much appreciate it! the link is in my sig. I'm hoping that it will get busier when the link gets put in the EPS newsletter.

Sorry for the million questions!

Victoria

Victoria

Yes she's from Coll, and her father is Kestrel. I can't remember her dam :rolleyes: She's 4, just backed by Shuna Shaw, so this year will probably be in-hand stuff and lead rein if we can borrow a small child from someone ;)

She's my mother's rather than mine - I'm just the fan club :D