A Garron or Garran (from Scottish Gaelic gearran) is a type of a small sturdy horse or pony. The term occurs in Scotland and in Ireland,[1] and generally refers to an undersized beast.
In Scotland, a Garron is one of the types of Highland pony.[2] It is the larger, heavier type, bred on the mainland. The Isles' type of pony is generally smaller and slightly finer, but still within the standard of the Highland pony breed. There is less difference today than there once was between these two types.[citation needed]
The word Garron has also been used to describe a Highland cross of a Clydesdale horse with ponies. Such Garrons were used in farming, especially in the Highlands and Islands where a full-sized Clydesdale would not have been as economical. These horses were valued for their hardiness and ability to work on slopes.[3] Highland deer-stalking estates kept Garrons to bring the stags off the hill, as some still do, for tradition or where ATV access is not practicable.[4]
- ^ Garron, Dictionary,com
- ^ Ewart, J Cossar (1904). "The Multiple Origin of Horses and Ponies". Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. XVI (1799): 266–267. Bibcode:1904Natur..69..590.. doi:10.1038/069590a0. S2CID 4005141.
- ^ Topham, John. A Highland Garron horse ploughing at Coubal, Shetland Archived 2011-09-08 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 2014-10-15)
- ^ "Highland Tradition | Sports Afield". Retrieved 2023-11-29.