Highland Pony (Equus ferus caballus)

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Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Subclass: Theria

Infraclass: Eutheria

Order: Perissodactyla

Family: Equidae

Genus: Equus

Species: E. ferus

Subspecies: E. f. caballus

 

Description 

The height of a Highland pony is between 13 hands to 14.2 hands. The head is well-carried and alert with a kindly eye, broad muzzle and deep jowl. Reasonable length of neck going from the withers with a good sloping shoulder and well-placed forearm is desired. Ponies are to have a well-balanced and compact body with deep chest, well-sprung ribs, powerful quarters with a well-developed thigh, strong gaskin and clean flat hocks. Desired traits also include: flat hard bone, broad knees, short cannon bones, oblique pasterns and well-shaped broad dark hooves.

Range and Habitat

The Highland Pony is one of the three native breeds of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, the others are the Shetland pony and the Eriskay pony. Over many centuries the breed has adapted to the variable and often severe climatic and environmental conditions of Scotland.

Behavior

The Highland is sensitive and intelligent. The Highland pony or garron - a Gaelic word - was traditionally a crofter's (small farmer's) horse which could do all the work on the crofts in the highlands of Scotland.

Diet

They are herbivores, and feed predominantly on tough, fibrous food, such as grasses and sedges. When in need, they will also eat other vegetable matter, such as leaves, fruits, or bark, but are normally grazers, not browsers. Unlike ruminants, with their complex stomachs, equines break down cellulose in the "hindgut" or caecum, a part of the colon.

Conservation Status

Not included in the IUCN Red List.

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