Our Horses

Our Trail Horses

Most of our trail horses are actually ponies - but big ones!  The best equines to ride in this tough environment are tough native ponies – and Highland Ponies have been shaped by the nature of this land to cope with the toughest of the tough!  Most of ours are therefore, Highlands, or Highland crosses, but we also have some lovely Irish Cobs a couple of Appaloosas, a Fell cross, a Quarter horse cross, an Arab and a couple of assorted others!

Wherever possible, we go for the natural approach with our horses. We use gentle training methods and most of our horses go barefoot most of the time - however we do use Easyboots when they are being ridden on hard or stoney ground, as we find that wearing easyboots works better for them than wearing shoes - no risk of loosing a shoe and nail injury in the middle of nowhere and the boots protect the sole from bruising on stoney trails too.

Blue

Blue is Charys’ 14.2hh skewbald roan Irish Cob mare, who loves going ‘off-road’. 
A good sturdy native pony, she is ridden by guests now, and is in her element running through the heather.

 

 

 

 

 

Boston

Boston is a 16.2hh Irish Draft bay gelding. He is a nice gentle lad. We haven't had him long, so we are still getting to know him, but he's proving to be a lovely horse and a real pleasure to have around. Just a really nice guy!

 

 

 

Rae

Rae is a 14.1hh grey dun Highland mare.  She is a real sweetheart and is mum to our foal, Mhaia.  Rae is now back at work after her maternity leave and seems glad to be back! We call her our little sea horse, as she loves wading out into the waves.

 

Saffy

Saffy is a14.2hh fleabitten grey Polish Arab gelding.  Saffy always wants to know what is round the next corner, so trail riding is perfect for him.

 

 

Smokie
Smokie is a 14.2hh grey Highland mare.  She used to work as a stalkers pony bringing deer off the hill and has also been used for driving.

 

 

Zoe
Zoe is a 14hh Highland x Arab – she loves swimming, and is always up for a good gallop - we know her as the ‘pocket rocket’!  She is an unusual roany dun colour that changes with the seasons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connie

13.2hh Fell X pony - really sweet little girl, loves getting out and about and a lot of fun.

 

 

 

 

Rain
Rain is a 15.1hh Appaloosa mare.  We have owned her since she was a yearling.  She is a real softie, but to be honest, not the brightest horse we’ve ever met – a bit of a bimbo! Rain is on maternity leave at the moment as she is expecting a foal in June 2010.

 

 

 

Shamoo
The big girl! Shamoo has only just joined us in October 08. She is a lovely 16.3hh Shire X - a great big soft gentle lady.

 

Annie is a skewbald mare - we don't know her breeding. She is about 14.3hh, nice and forward going, up to weight and up to speed, but is also happy being a giant lead rein pony if necessary for adult beginners! Everyone who rides her, loves her!

 

 

Fern
Fern is on loan to us whilst her owner is away at University. A 14hh Grey Dun Highland she thinks she's a thoroughbred on the beach!

 

Magic

Alias Madge! 14.2hh few spot Appaloosa x mare. Nice forward going girl who likes to see what's round the next corner.

 

 

Major

Major is a 16.2hh heavyweight coloured cob. Very distinguished gentleman! He's a nice ride, happy to lead and a general good egg. Likes to get out and about and loves the beach

 

 

 

Buddy

16hh lightweight cob gelding. Nice looking chap and very nice to ride. Buddy sometimes paces, so we think he may have trotter in him somewhere.

 

 

 

Chloe
15.1hh Highland x Tb mare. Very sweet natured and kind, but to be honest, not too bright! Lovely to ride and have around, she's a real sweetheart. Does whatever is asked of her happily - also very fast on the beach!

 

 

 

 

Eli
Very striking 15hh piebald Irish Cob gelding. Eli has been a driving pony in a previous life and we plan to drive him again at some point, but in the meantime he is enjoying himself out on the trails. Very good natured boy, he'll try anything you ask him to. He is pictured here with his pet leprechaun, Graham....

 

 

 

 

Bonnie/Cindy
Bonnie's back! Bonnie was here a couple of years ago and now the blonde bombshell is back! A 14.2hh Palomino Quarterhorse x Arab, she is very beautiful and is proving to be quite handy too. Abbie thinks she looks like a Cindy, so she answers to two names at the moment!

 

 

 

Other Horses and Ponies

Molly
Molly is our 11.3hh Welsh X Exmoor childrens pony. She is very sweet and cuddly and loves children. Great on or off the lead rein as she follows like a dog..

Copper
Copper is our 11.2 shetland x welsh pony - he really hasn't got a mean bone in his body. Lovely little man, and again great on or off the lead.

 

Mhaia
Raes foal - now a two year old. Very confident, gentle girl and huge for her age! Went from being virtually unhandled to being caught, boxed, groomed, all feet lifted and bathed in one day, and never looked back! Very special little lady

 

Simba
Or 'Mr Mischief' as we call him! Lovely little chap (13.1hh) Highland x Welsh, but always up to no good! He undoes knots, undoes gates, undoes feed bins, empties
grooming boxes and throws all the brushes
around - a real character! ....we need eyes
in the back of our heads with him about,
but we love him!

 

 

 

 

Kelpie
Lovely little chap - takes the tiniest of tots. A little cremello mini shetland. Very tiny, very cute and with very blue eyes - well ... eye actually, just one, as he managed to get something sharp in his eye that penetrated his eye ball and he had to have it removed. Not that it seems to bother him in the least - he still puts the big horses in their place!

Burger

11.3hh welsh section A gelding. Quite green as yet, but a nice friendly little pony, and all the little girls favourite (and quite a few of the big girls too!)

 

 

 

The Twins! - Goose & Maverick

Meet Goose & Maverick - three year old twin (yes really!) highland ponies bred by Pat Gray & George Duncan. The boys caused quite a stir when they were born as for both twins to survive is quite rare. However these two were both a good size and obviously good tough highland stock and they have grown into big, strapping lads! They may not look alike, but they are very comical as they do everything together. We are really pleased with them and looking forward to working with them. All being well they should join us on the trail during 2011.