Cavallo o Highland Garron, garran, collina scozzese pony. Caccia ai cervi pony, pascolare nel campo su terreni agricoli Mar Lodge Estate, Aberdeenshire, Regno Unito
5046 x 3364 px | 42,7 x 28,5 cm | 16,8 x 11,2 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
2005
Ubicazione:
Braemar, Scotland, United Kingdom
Altre informazioni:
The Highland Pony is the native horse of the mountain areas of Scotland. It is not certain if wild horses spread into Scotland after the retreat of the last glaciers around 10, 000 years ago, or if the first ones were brought with prehistoric settlers. In any case, horses were present in Scotland by at least the 8th century BC. The horses/ponies used in Pictish times (about 550-800AD) in East and Northern Scotland, and shown on their carved stones, presumably passed on genetic input to today's Highland pony. The ponies then were smaller due to the harsh conditions under which they lived. Most present-day Highland pony bloodlines are traceable back to the 1830s. Although referred to as a 'breed', and since at least the 1880s bred through a studbook, Highland ponies were never created by controlled breeding in the way of other commercial breeds of livestock. They are descendants of the crofters' ponies used in the Scottish Highlands. Additions of course, happened with horses brought by invading armies, some crossing with other breeds, which applies to all native horses/ponies in the United Kingdom. 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. Before the coming of good roads 200 years ago, their use was as pack animals for transport and working the land. They were also used to pull carts and other wheeled vehicles. For the last 170 years Highland ponies have been the main means of transporting deer and other game off the hill, using special pack saddles, as well as many other jobs on the Scottish sporting estates. Pony trekking was begun in Scotland in 1955 using Highland ponies because of their quiet nature and ability to carry weight. Today the Highland still is used for its' traditional job on the hill, plus all kinds of riding and driving.
