Disclaimer: this is my personal home page: any views expressed here are purely my own, not representative of the University of Dundee, the Highland Pony Society, or any other body.
I have seen various Orangefield ponies over the years, but never visited the stud itself and now there are only the four stallions retained, so it is unlikely that Orangefield foals will continue to be bred.
I had the privilege of seeing two of the four stallions in July 2001, Arran of Orangefield (see below, he's the yellow dun) and Farqhar of Orangefield (the grey).
Several of the Orangefield ponies are now at Achnacarry Stud including of course Tarka of Orangefield, their stud stallion (see photo taken May 2001), but also his dam and a half sister. I will aim to get photos of them too, but Arran is Tarka's sire.
Bratach, my colt, is by Kestrel of Fourmerk, who himself has Orangefield blood through Catriona of Orangefield. And I am hoping to get a foal from Tarka next year.
I have to say that I was particularly impressed that Arran and Farqhar live together, though both have previously served mares, and run on a large expanse of grazing in Perthshire ideal for them. Farqhar struck my eye particularly and I think he would be a superb show stallion as he has not only the bone and substance, conformation and superb temperament of all the Orangefield ponies, he also had that "look at me" quality that draws attention. Sadly there wasn't room to tuck him in the boot but if my foal turns out anything like that, I wouldn't complain!
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E-mail: a.douglas@dundee.ac.uk
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Copyright ©A Douglas 1997 |