Native Breed Show

On Thursday 21 August, Scone Palace International Horse Trials will hold showing classes for two of Scotland’s native breeds - the Highland Pony and the Clydesdale. 

There will be in-hand and ridden classes for Highland Ponies, including a HOYS qualifier for ridden ponies, and two ridden classes for Clydesdales - the Scone Palace Ridden Clydesdale Final, for which qualifiers are being held throughout Scotland and Ireland - and a HOYS Ridden Heavy Horse qualifier. 

The Highland Pony is one of the two native pony breeds of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. It has adapted over many centuries to the variable and often severe climatic and environmental conditions of Scotland. The ponies’ winter coats consist of a layer of strong, “badger-like” hair over a soft, dense undercoat, enabling them to live out in all weathers.

The magnificent Clydesdale is among the tallest of horse breeds, standing16-18hh on average, weighing around 1,600lbs with enormous hooves. The Clydesdale was developed in Scotland during the late 18th and early 19th centuries in what is now known as the Lanarkshire district, through which the River Clyde flows. Used as working horses in agriculture and industry, the breed came near to extinction as machinery began to replace the use of heavy horses. Today they are used for both riding and driving, and frequently serve as drum horses in parades.