The Eriskay Pony Society
Protecting and Promoting Scotland's Ancient Hebridean Ponies
Breed Description
The Eriskay Pony stands 124-138cm (12.0-13.2 hands) high.
In winter a dense waterproof coat enables them to live out in the harshest conditions
The predominant colour is grey with the occasional black or bay - no other colours normally occur but other whole colours are acceptable.
Their legs are fine, with only a small tuft of hair at the fetlock.
Their enjoyment of human company makes them ideal back door ponies, as they were on crofts.
Foals are born black or bay and usually turn grey as they mature, a few individuals reamin black or bay into adulthood.
Eriskay Ponies are immensely strong for their size and are able to carry a light adult with ease.
Summary Breed Standard
| Characteristic | Standard | Additional Judges Guidance Notes |
| Temperament | Eriskay Ponies should be placid and amenable with no signs of viciousness or aggression | |
| Withers Height | 12.0-13.2 hands high | |
| Body | Generous in all dimensions, relative to the height of the legs | There should be a long rib cage and very short loin ensure strength to the back. Croup to buttocks gently sloping to tail |
| Chest | Very large, deep, well sprung: ideally having a gentle but pronounced slope from the spine downwards towards the full width of the ribcage | The chest should not be too broad |
| Head | Large, wide and deep | There should be good bold eyes set well apart. Wide forehead with well set ears in proportion. There should be a deep jaw and tapering muzzle |
| Teeth | Teeth should meet evenly | |
| Neck | Long and well muscled | Neck set in high and carried proudly, showing a good length of rein |
| Dock | Low, but not excessively so; gentle curve from the croup to the pin bone with the dock situated in the middle third of this curve; the tail should be well set in | Fine low set dock and tail well carried. |
| Legs | Fine, with only a tuft of feather behind the fetlock | Legs strong but not thick, having plenty of clean flat bone and just a little fine feather. |
| Shoulders | Well muscled and strong. | Good strong shoulder with the neck set in high and carried proudly, showing a good length of rein |
| Pasterns | Relatively short and sloping | |
| Feet | Small and neat with hard horn; somewhat upright with rather flat soles | Hooves should be hard and sound, well rounded and a natural extension of a well proportioned leg |
| Hair | Forelock, mane and tail well developed and generous in quantity. Caudal fringe should always be discernible | Mane and tail not coarse and heavy. Fine silky coat in summer. Dense but not unduly heavy coat in winter. |
| Colour | The dominant colour pattern is that foals are born black and turn grey as they age. Some do not turn grey and other colours occur. In dark coloured animals there should be a light coloured muzzle and a light coloured ring round the eye; there should not be a pronounced eel stripe. All whole colours are acceptable. | |
| Action | Legs are not lifted high and steps are short | Smooth and free without exaggeration. Good rhythm and cadence. Walk and trot straight and true with good flexion of the hocks and freedom of the shoulders |
Character
Active, honest and workmanlike with good temperament. Sensible and intelligent with a pronounced level of confidence and affinity with humans.
Eriskay Ponies at Work and Play
Today, Eriskay Ponies can be seen competing in all spheres of equestrianism. Members of the Eriskay Pony Society regularly take part in activities such as hunting, dressage, show jumping, show hunter, cross country, pony club eventing, team games, western riding and driving. Although they stand between 12.0 and 13.2hh they are strong for their size, have terrific stamina and can carry a light adult with ease. They also make excellent driving ponies, Lesley Cox from Cheshire has had tremendous success with her tandem driving ponies, competing at FEI level and winning regularly.
Other Eriskays make excellent family ponies, with their human friendly characteristics coming to the fore playing football in the garden with the kids, or working with special needs children as RDA ponies.
