Breeds – H

Hackney Pony

 
  • Origins: A smaller edition of the Hackney Horse, it is generally accepted that the appearance of the breed was through a 14-hand Hackney Pony stallion foaled in 1866 and sired by a horse of the purest Yorkshire blood, though nothing is known of the history of the dam.
  • Height:  under 14 hands high (140cms)
  • Colour:  Colours are mostly bay, brown and black, with chestnut rarely seen.
  • Features:  Renowned for their extravagant action and high spirits.

Hackney Horse

 
  • Origins: Eastern Britain.  The immediate ancestor of the Hackney Horse was the Norfolk Trotter, later known as the Norfolk Roadster. Other influences: the Darley Arabian line of Thoroughbreds and Norfolk Cobs 
  • Height:  14 - 15.3 hh (140 – 158cms)
  • Colour:  Bay, dark Brown, Chestnut or Black.
  • Features:  A small elegant driving horse with a brilliant and extravagant action, very popular at shows. 

 

Hanoverian

 

  • Origins:  Originating from the German Great Horse of the Middle Ages, the breed today owes much to introduction of Thoroughbred, Holstein, Cleveland Bay and Andalusian bloodlines.
  • Height:  15.3 - 17 hh (158 – 170cms)
  • Colour:  Bay, Brown, Black, 
  • Features:  There are two groups, the lighter of which is for riding, the heavier for harness.  Both must be "strong in bone but of good quality".  Very popular in the disciplines of showjumping and dressage.

 

Highland Pony 

  • Origins: Highlands of Scotland and adjacent islands.  The largest and strongest of the 8 mountain and moorland breeds of British ponies, and a breed of great antiquity.  It is said that after the Ice Age, when Scotland was still joined to Europe, a movement of ponies took place, the larger remaining in Scotland and the smaller going further south.  Among Highland Ponies, there are three types, the smallest found on Barra and the outer islands, the intermediate - the well-known riding pony, and the Mainland pony, the largest.  All have infusions of foreign blood, mainly Arabian.
  • Height:  12.2 - 14.2 hh (125 – 145cms)
  • Colour:  Dun, grey, brown and black are the most common, liver chestnut occasionally.  Most have a dorsal 'eel' stripe.
  • Features:  Very hardy, having a 'double' coat, the inner of which is soft and dense.  One of Britain's most versatile native breeds, intelligent, strong and sure-footed.  Generally a good ride at the walk and trot but often slightly heavy on the forehand.

Holstein

 
  • Origins:  Dates back to the 13th century.  German monks along the River Elbe in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein are known to have been breeding them as early as 1225 AD.  Said to be of Andalusian origin, the breed owes little to Thoroughbred influences.
  • Height:  16 - 17 hh (160 – 170cms)
  • Colour:  Bay, Brown, Black
  • Features:  A fine, strong horse, with good legs, free action and endurance, suitable for riding or driving.

 

Breeds – I

 

Icelandic Pony

 

  • Origins:  Iceland, although the breed is not indigenous, but was brought to Iceland by migrants in disagreement with Norway's reigning King in the 9th Century.  These were joined later by settlers from the Western Isles of Scotland who brought with them native ponies of Celtic stock (Highland ponies). 
  • Height:  12 - 14 hh (120 – 140cms)
  • Colour:  Most colours are found but the most common are shades of Dun and Chestnut
  • Features:  Extremely hardy, they are greatly valued by the Icelandic people as an excellent general-purpose horse.

Iomud.

 

  • Origins: Turkmenistan 
  • Height:  14.3 - 15.1 hh (148 – 153cms)
  • Colour:  Grey, Bay or Chestnut
  • Features:  Very similar to the Akhal Teke, with whom it shares the Turkoman Horse ancestry, although it has greater stamina, possibly because of earlier Arab influences.  Commonly used to race over 2 miles.

 

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