Highland Pony Society

16/01/2025

We are deeply saddened to share the news that Willie Simpson of Chapelhill Highland Ponies passed away suddenly but peacefully on Saturday 11th January. Willie was a long standing member of the Society and established the Chapelhill Stud back in the 1970's. Willie who was also a very talented musician was a highly respected and popular breeder who will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Willie's wife Jean, his girls Jill, Jennifer and Alison and all of his family and friends.

09/01/2025

Date for your diary! Promises to be a very informative evening. All welcome. Register with NPS - full details below.

Places Still Available ‼

On Thursday 23rd January 2025 at 7pm our Breeders Webinar will be taking place.
With some amazing guest speakers including:
🔷 Jerome Harforth (Stanley Grange Stud)
🔷 Richard Miller & Meirion Davies (Heniarth Stud)
🔷 Stallion AI Services

This is a perfect opportunity for new breeders and those interested in our fabulous pony breeds to hear from some of our experts.

To register your interest, please email: [email protected]

07/01/2025

***DEADLINE - 10th JANUARY***

The deadline for returning you Performance Awards / In Hand Awards Cards is looming. If you have not already sent off you card please do so now! Cards should be returned to the scheme co-ordinators whose addresses are shown on the last page of the booklet.

Late cards cannot be accepted.

(If you are concerned about getting your card in on time please get in touch with the scheme co-ordinator to register your entry before the deadline.)

🏆Performance Awards 🏆
It's that time of year! The deadline for returning your Performance Cards is 10th January - no late cards will be accepted.

If you have completed your season it would be really helpful if you could return your cards now so that our scheme co-ordinators can make a start on the scoring. If you return your card but still have an event to attend the extra event may be emailed to the organiser to be included. Thank you 🙏🏻

20/12/2024

We would like to wish all of our members and friends a very Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year. Thank you for all the support and enthusiasm for our special breed throughout the year! We look forward to catching up with you all and your ponies in 2025!

The office closes today Friday 20th December at 3pm and will re-open on Monday 6th January at 10am.

17/12/2024

Wishing the very best of luck to the 3 Highland Stallions representing the breed at the London International Horse Show. Dunedin Iolare, Zephyr of Forglen and Ashleyvale Glen Duror have qualified for the prestigious Le Mieux BSPS Heritage Championship to take place on Sunday 22nd in the London Arena. 🤞🍀 🎅🏻 🎄

13/12/2024

We are very excited to see our fabulous book "The Highland Pony" feature in the Scottish Farmer this week! Many thanks to Tom Best for this very welcome and favourable review!

It's not to late to order your copy in time for Christmas! The book may be ordered via the link below:

https://www.highlandponysociety.com/item/the-highland-pony/

29/11/2024

🎄🎉**BLACK FRIDAY OFFER**🎉🎄

"The Highland Pony" by Caroline Brett

This weekend only we are offering FREE postage with every copy of this fabulous book purchased.

A colourful and informative book on the history of the Highland Pony charting the development of the breed over the last 100 years. A beautiful coffee table book with information and wonderful pictures. A must have book for all horse enthusiasts.

If you haven't purchased one yet or would like to treat a friend or family member for Christmas then now is the time to buy! As the book is packed full of photos and detail it is sizeable and costs £6.79 to post so take advantage of this super deal!

The Highland Pony may be purchased via the link below.

https://www.highlandponysociety.com/item/the-highland-pony/

Offer ends on Monday 2nd December at midnight so don't delay.
Offer includes UK postage only.

28/11/2024

🏆Performance Awards 🏆
It's that time of year! The deadline for returning your Performance Cards is 10th January - no late cards will be accepted.

If you have completed your season it would be really helpful if you could return your cards now so that our scheme co-ordinators can make a start on the scoring. If you return your card but still have an event to attend the extra event may be emailed to the organiser to be included. Thank you 🙏🏻

22/11/2024

18/11/2024

The Society were saddened to hear of the passing of Russell Brown, wife of the late Ian Brown who was Secretary of the Highland Pony Society for 19 years. Many of you will remember Russell who attended shows with Ian. Our thoughts are with Russell's family and friends. The funeral arrangements are detailed below.

Russell Brown
( nee Dick )
Aged 90 years
Park Pl, Elie

Passed away peacefully at home,
Surrounded by her family
On Wednesday 6th November 2024
Cherished wife of the late Ian Brown
Loving mother of Euan, David, Victoria and the late James Brown
Wonderful sister to Alan & the late Betty & Ian
A devoted Grandmother and much-loved Aunt

Funeral Service
At Brewsterwells Crematorium
On Wednesday 20th November 2024
At 1.00pm
To which all friends are respectfully invited

Family flowers only please
Donations in memory may be given for The Neurological Alliance

08/11/2024

Wishing lots of luck to HPS junior member Shana who is competing this weekend in the MyQuest Dressage Finals at Arena UK in the U21's section. Shana rides Lorna Boyd's Holmedown Princess Kaiulani and they qualified at the semi-finals in Scotland on 21st September. They are also part of the Hi-Ho Highland Pony Team.

Another combination competing at this prestigious final is Shirley Clarke riding her own Kershope Breagh.

Well done to you both out flying the Highland Flag in the Dressage Arena.🍀⭐ 🤩 (Image courtesy of Sinclair Photography)

03/11/2024

2 weeks to go until we were in the Augusta Suite at
Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa for
The Highland Pony Society Annual Dinner Dance!!
Today we visited to finalise plans for the big night!!
Beautiful day to enjoy the stunning views from the hotel which is looking gorgeous after its recent refurbishment!!

26/10/2024

3 WEEKS TO GO till we Ceilidh in Carnoustie!!!

We are looking forward to a fun-filled night with friends, a delicious dinner and dancing to toe-tapping tunes!! The perfect start to the party season!!

Have you got your tickets bought and your outfit sorted??

You still have time...but not long....Click the link to book your tickets!!
https://highlandps.lite.events

19/10/2024

Get your hotel room booked before Monday to benefit from the preferential rates!!
Still time to book your Dance tickets too - https://highlandps.lite.events!!
Be quick before they sell out!!

⏳️The countdown is on to the Highland Pony Society Dinner Dance !! ⏳️

Beautiful venue, delicious menu, lively ceilidh band & a great opportunity to catch up with friends!!

For hotel room booking information and to book your Dinner Dance tickets go to https://highlandps.lite.events

18/10/2024

🎉Celebrating Highland Ponies at HOYS🎉

As the dust settles on HOYS for another year many congratulations to all of the combinations who qualified and took part flying the flag for the wonderful Highland.

The ridden Highland Pony of the Year was Valerock Monroe the 10 year old stallion owned by Ruth Roberts and ridden by Clare Fitch. Qualifying at New Forest and Hampshire County Show with stand-in jockey Aimee Devane, this stallion really shone in the arena pulling off a foot perfect performance to earn the top honours.

The competition was fierce, with Rachel Singleton and her stallion Glenbanchor Benbecular taking a commendable second place, and Katie Common aboard Dunedin Mascot securing third.

Also flying the Highland Flag proudly at HOYS was Cairns Fergus owned and ridden by Tori Oakes. This 19 year old gelding jumped a beautiful round in the 143cm M&M WHP Final with just an unlucky pole putting them out of the placings on this occasion. Tori was delighted to see this remarkable pony feature on the HOYS Wall of Fame having qualified for this final for over a decade!

Otto of Craignetherty behaved impeccably in the Large Breeds Junior Ridden Final. The 7 year old gelding owned by Chloe Carter was ably ridden by Lilly Walker just missing out on a placing on his first visit to HOYS.

Last but by no means least Perburn Annabella proudly represented the Highlands in the very prestigious Price Family Supreme In Hand Final. The mare owned and bred by Catherine & Mike Taylor truly floated around the arena impressing the crowd with her beauty and flawless performance.

Images courtesy of 1st Class Images and individual contributors.

17/10/2024

Pop along to the Scottish Smallholder Festival on Saturday to see Highland Ponies featuring and visit the HPS Promotional Stand.

**** News Release - Please Share ****
An event celebrating rural Scotland is returning to Edinburgh this weekend.

Organisers are putting the finishing touches to the Scottish Smallholder Festival, a national smallholding show offering everyone interested in a sustainable way of life the opportunity to visit, learn, buy and be inspired.

The event, which takes place on Saturday, has a packed programme and includes a craft fair ad cookery theatre with well-known chef and author Wendy Barrie.

The one-day show, which runs from 9am until 4pm, is also an opportunity for the public to get up close to a range of livestock including alpacas.

The event aims to provide a showcase for smallholders and small-scale producers, allowing end-users to see what can be achieved in a small-scale farming environment and keen gardeners will also pick up a few tips, as well as some real bargains in the plant sale.

It also aims to create an opportunity for those who are interested in rural life and farming to get a close-up view of smallholding, introducing them to skills and livestock they would not normally encounter.

The event also features a range of demonstrations with experts showcasing rural skills and crafts, including beekeeping, basket weaving and hedge laying.

Rare and traditional breeds will take centre stage, including native horses and ponies, goats, sheep and pigs.

The event is now in its thirteenth year and the second time it will be held at the ‘home of Scottish agriculture’, the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston.
A spokesperson for the event Alan Jamieson said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for residents of the Lothians and beyond to come along and see firsthand, perhaps for the first time, some of the crafts and skills that smallholders across Scotland are keeping alive for future generations.

“People are becomingly increasingly interested in how their food is produced, welfare standards and food miles. This one-day event means the public can meet producers, ask them questions about how they farm and learn more about the things they consume and where it comes from.

“Sustainability is key to what we do and there is something for everyone – including the chance to get some early Christmas shopping in - at what is a real family-friendly and accessible event.”

Tickets are available online at a discounted rate of £12 until midnight on Friday and under 14s go free if accompanied by a ticket holder.

Students are also offered further discounts at the website: www.festival.scot.

07/10/2024

The wait is all but over! HOYS week is here!🎉 🎉
Good luck to all the Highland Pony combinations competing in the Arena of Dreams! Enjoy every minute!🍀🍀

(Photo courtesy of 1st class images.)

02/10/2024

⏳️The countdown is on to the Highland Pony Society Dinner Dance !! ⏳️

Beautiful venue, delicious menu, lively ceilidh band & a great opportunity to catch up with friends!!

For hotel room booking information and to book your Dinner Dance tickets go to https://highlandps.lite.events