8 SEP 2026 · Ruaridh Ormiston speaks to The Fly Fifer. This week on The Fly Fifer Podcast, we head into the heart of the Highlands for a proper chat with Ruaridh Ormiston. Ruaridh comes from a Highland family with generations of history around farming, Highland cattle, Highland ponies, horses and working on the hill. The Ormiston family have been connected with Highland pony and cattle breeding in Badenoch since the 1800s, with a remarkable story that includes the early days of pony trekking in Newtonmore, working ponies, deer stalking and the changing face of Highland rural life. Ruaridh has spent much of his life around horses and ponies. His family connection to pony trekking stretches back to his grandfather Ewan Ormiston, who helped establish pony trekking in Newtonmore in 1952. Ruaridh later took over his own operation before moving to the Newtonmore Riding Centre at Biallid Farm. But there's much more to the story than horses. We get into Highland cattle, farming, deer, ponies, horses, the realities of working the land and what it means to keep traditional Highland skills alive in a modern world. We also talk about the Strathmashie Fold and Ruaridh's long involvement with Highland cattle, as well as some of the newer technology being used in modern cattle management. It's a conversation about family, tradition, farming, animals, the Highlands and the people who keep rural Scotland moving. No script. No corporate chat. Just real Scottish chat, your chat your way. If you enjoy conversations about the Highlands, Scottish farming, Highland cattle, horses, rural life, local characters and the stories behind the people who live and work here, subscribe to The Fly Fifer Podcast and join us on the journey. 👍 Like 💬 Comment 🔔 Subscribe ↗️ Share the episode The Fly Fifer Podcast Highland stories. Scottish voices. Digital content. Talk is cheap, so let's talk. Jamesy https://www.facebook.com/TheFlyFifers/