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Strathspey Highland Ponies |
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History of Highland Ponies |
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WHISKY SMUGGLING Droving ponies had other uses - their sure-footedness and natural affiliation for the hills made them the perfect carriers of illicit fares. Whisky smugglers in remote Highland glens made good use of their ponies' strength and agility over rough ground when escaping government forces and excise men. To the smugglers, the secluded situation of this area and the variety of hill crossings available to their sturdy garrons were a great advantage. The ancient paths over the Cromdales into Strathavon and on to the Whisky Road to the Lecht, the Ladder Pass and the Steplar were only the more obvious routes from the hills to the low country where they disposed of their wares. THE CLEARANCES The mid 19th to 20th centuries saw a massive depopulation of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland following the Clearances. With the removal of many crofting families, most of the traditional pony population was driven south by dealers and sold. DEER STALKING As crofting communities declined, so did the need for a large number of working ponies. However, as shooting became fashionable among the landowning fraternity during the 19th century, a new use was found and Highland ponies were used to carry the (not very fit) sportsmen up into the hills and the shot deer or grouse back. A full sized red deer is a heavy cargo, (around 18-20 stones, 550- 600kg), and combined with the difficult terrain, makes for demanding work - labour for which no other breed is so well suited. Today, ponies are still used for stalking, as they are able to retrieve deer from places that even modern vehicles would struggle to get to, and they cause less damage to the environment. Relatively few ponies were employed in this way and although this type of use helped to ensure that Highland ponies retained their draught work capabilities, it was mainly through the efforts of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland that this essential characteristic was maintained. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR SCOTLAND - KNOCKNAGAEL STUD. As depopulation of the Western Highlands and Islands occurred during the latter part of the 19th century, the quality and availability of stallions declined, resulting in a serious decline in breeding standards. To help provide a stock of well bred ponies suitable for croft work, which could be supplied throughout the Western Highlands and Islands, in 1898 the Department of Agriculture set up a Highland pony stud in Glenbrittle on the Isle of Skye. This was subsequently moved to Beechwood Farm, Inverness in 1913, where operating under the breeding name of Knocknagael, it became one of the principal and most successful studs of the time, producing stock which was used all over Scotland. Knocknagael breeding had a deep influence on the Highland pony. The stud provided high quality stallions which travelled throughout the Highlands and Islands with their grooms, for use by the crofters on their own mares. As a consequence the special qualities of the breed were maintained and improved. This is illustrated by the fact that Knocknagael blood is present in almost all of today's breeding lines. During the 1950's, mechanization led to a further decline in the demand for working horses, and the continued requirement for the stud was brought into question. For several decades stallions continued to be kept for incoming mares, however in 1978 the Knocknagael stud was finally dispersed - the end of an era. |
