PONY TREKKING in Scotland celebrates its 60th anniversary next month and it is thanks to the Ormiston family from Newtonmore, Invernessshire for their idea of using Highland ponies for the tourists to explore the hills from a different angle.

It was first formed in 1952 by Ewan Ormiston who ran it as an experiment with the Scottish Council for Physical Recreation. He owned many Highland ponies, and the strain from the Ormiston family can be traced back to the 1860s. His great grandfather worked at Gaick Estate, which was 18 miles from Kingussie railway station and Highland ponies were an important mode of transport for the estate.

Ewan's son, Cameron, was involved at the beginning of the pony trekking and ran the trekking business until 1992 when his son, Ruaridh, took over.

Ewan owned the Balavil Arms Hotel, in Newtonmore, and the pony trekking was originally a way to attract new business at the start of the year. A lot of money was already coming to the hotel through people visiting sporting estates in the area, so by introducing pony trekking it was almost a natural progession.

The first time, pony trekking was introduced, the sports council helped with advertising and around 40 people booked up.

"They were mostly from the medical and teaching profession and paid 12gns a week," remembers Cameron.

"They arrived on Saturday and started on Sunday with a church service in the morning. The riders were split into four groups – from beginners to more experienced and were allocated a horse for the week.

They were taught the basics like catching and basic grooming and each day would ride to a point where the ponies were left overnight.

"A day trek would be 15-16 miles up to a height of 3-400ft, we'd take a packed lunch for the riders and the ponies would have a feed as well at lunch time."

There would be two guides per trek and the ponies would wear a universal fitting saddle previously used by the British army.

"There was demand for fast riding treks but we weren't prepared to do that, it was too risky for horse and rider," points out Cameron.

Today though with the introduction of the overseas package holiday the number of people coming specifically for pony trekking holidays has fallen, and together with the additional cost of hotels makes it very expensive.

"Now it would work out to be around £160/day to take in hotel costs and pony hire costs," explains Ruaridh.

"However we can offer a working holiday, with accomodation in a local bed and breakfast, a minimum of two hours riding and help in the stables if there is inteterst. Most popular is the one-day treks. Not much has changed except now we have to wear hard hats,!" adds Ruaridh.

Recently, Ruaridh and Cameron were involved in a television programme on BBC1 with Griff Rhys Jones which looked at lost drovers routes in Britain. Together, with some Highland cows and Highland ponies, they retraced an ancient route from the Isle of Skye to Falkirk market covering a distance of 250 miles.

In the 1990s the centre mostly did pony trekking, but this has dropped back to take in more profitable buisiness. "We had a Shetland pony that did pony rides at the stables and it was making more money than the Highlands. Today pony trekking will account for around 30% of our work," explains Ruaridh.

From this 50% of their client base comes through the tourist industry via the internet as well as leaflets at locals hotels in the area.

As can be imagined, July and August is their busiest time of year. "We'll do as much then as the rest of the year. There's so much red tape and health and safety today," added Ruaridh. The stables alo offers lessons, pony and saddle clubb, rides and also carriage driving.

Highland ponies form much of the nucleus of the ponies, their quiet temperament, steady and easy going nature as well as good weight carrying abilities and careful sure footed-ness makes them an ideal mount for the pony trekkers.

"The main celebration will be held in Newtonmore at the Balavil Hotel over a long weekend with some exciting 'retro rides' planned for the week, starting on Monday, September 17. Everybody with an interest in pony trekking or recreational riding is welcome to come to ride or to just be part of the celebrations," said Ruaridh.

"It is hoped my father, Cameron at 83 years old will lead a parade through the village along the Main Street like he did in 1973 for the 21st Anniversary. All other treking centres are welcome to come too and we would especially like to hear from old pony trekking instructors and instructresses.

"On Monday we'll do two half-day treks then from Tuesday to Friday 18-21 there will be a four-day post trek (trail ride) around Badenoch stopping at different locations each night – just like it used to be," added Ruaridh.