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History and
Origin of the Breed:
The original
home of the Welsh Mountain Pony was in the hills and valleys of Wales. It
was there before the Romans. Its lot was not an easy one, winters were
severe, vegetation sparse and shelter most often was an isolated valley or a
clump of bare trees. Yet the Welsh Pony managed not only to survive but
also to flourish in that environment
Led by proud
stallions, bands of mares and their foals roamed in a semi-wild state, climbing
mountains, leaping ravines and running over rough terrain. This sort of
existence insured perpetuation of the breed through only the most hardy of
stock. Therefore the development of a pony with a remarkable soundness of
body, a tremendous endurance and a high degree of native intelligence.
Even an edict
of Henry VII (1509-1547) that all horses under 15 hands be destroyed did not
eliminate the Welsh. Hiding in desolate areas where his persecutors were
reluctant or unable to go, it continued to live and reproduce, preserving for
mankind a distinctive strain of pony that today had generated enthusiasm among
breeder and pony lovers all over the world.
The Welsh Pony
and Cob Society was founded in Wales in 1901 and their first studbook was
published in 1902. The original classification for Welsh ponies was
Section A, the Welsh Mountain Pony. With a great need for children's
riding ponies Section B, the Welsh Pony was added in 1931. With Section A
ponies as its foundation, the breed standard for Section B is the same as for
Section A but more particularly the Section B pony shall be described as a
riding pony, with quality, riding action, adequate bone and substance, hardiness
and constitution and with pony character
American
breeders imported Welsh Ponies as early as the 1880's. George E Brown of
Aurora, Illinois appears to have been one of the first real Welsh enthusiasts,
importing a large number of horses between 1884 and 1910. Principally
through his efforts and those of John Alexander, The Welsh Pony and Cob Society
of America was formed and certification for the establishment of a breed
registry was issued by the US Department of Agriculture in 1907.
Interest in
Welsh Ponies took a drop during the depression years, but through the combined
efforts of breeders, particularly those in the East, participation in shows and
fairs continued. Beginning in the mid-1950's "many new members joined the
Society, more ponies were imported, and interest spread enormously".
By the close of
1957, a total of 2,881 Welsh had been registered, and the surging growth of the
breed began to require annual publication of the StudBook.
Over the next
few decades, the Welsh became the fastest growing breed of pony in America.
Registered Welsh spread throughout the 50 states and Canada with over 500 new
owners recorded annually.
Today over
34,000 Welsh ponies have been registered in America. Each of these are
descended directly and entirely from horses registered with the Welsh Pony and
Cob Society of Wales. Although the numbers of the Welsh Pony of Cob type
and Welsh Cob are relatively small in the United States compared to their
cousins the Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A) and the Welsh Pony (Section B),
their numbers are increasing yearly with new foals born and importation for the
UK
Types of
Welsh Ponies/Characteristics
WELSH MOUNTAIN
PONY (SECTION A) Height NOT exceeding 12 Hands:
The centuries
of harsh conditions the Welsh Mountain Pony has endured has ensured the sound
constitution, iron hared limbs and great intelligence which, combined with the
legendary Welsh temperament, makes the ideal children's pony of today.
They can be seen ridden and driven all over the world - equally at home in the
cold of Canada and Sweden or the heart of Africa and Australia.
The head of the
Mountain Pony should be small, with neat pointed ears, big bold eyes and a wide
forehead. The jaw should be clean cut, tapering to a small muzzle; the
silhouette may be concave or "dished" but never convex or too straight.
The neck should be of a good length and well carried with shoulders sloping back
to a clearly defined wither. The limbs must be set square with good flat
bone and round dense hooves. The tail set high and gaily carried.
Action must be straight both in front and behind, quick and free with hocks well
flexed.
WELSH PONY
(SECTION B) Height NOT exceeding 13.2 Hands
The general
description of the Welsh Mountain Pony can be applied to the Welsh Pony, with
greater emphasis being placed on riding pony qualities while still retaining the
true Welsh quality with substance.
For generations
these ponies were the hill farmers' main means of transport, herding sheep and
wild ponies over rough and mountainous country. They had to be hardy, balanced
and fast to survive, which ensured the only the best were bred from. These
qualities, combined with a natural jumping ability, and the temperament of their
Welsh Mountain Pony forebears make the Welsh Pony second to none in whatever
field his young rider may choose. Today they hold their own among top
class riding ponies both in performance competition and in the show ring.
THE WELSH
PART-BRED
Although the
horses entered in all four sections of the StudBook vary in size and substance,
all show evidence of their common ancestor, the Welsh Mountain Pony. The
best inherit the strong constitution, good bone, courage, activity and equable
temperament that has led to their worldwide renown.
It is therefore
not surprising that they are in such demand for crossing with other breeds, and
there is a Welsh Part-Bred Register for horses, cobs and ponies whose breeding
shows not less than 20% of Registered Welsh blood. The large Welsh
Part-bred has proven an enormous value in most equine disciplines - show
jumping, eventing, dressage and driving.
Additional
Information
THE WELSH PONY AND COB SOCIETY
(WALES)
Cymdeithas Y Merlod A'R Cobiau
Cymreig
6, Chalybeate
Street, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion/ SY23 1HS
Tel: 01970-617501
Email:
Thewelshponycobsociety@ukbusiness.com
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THE WELSH PONY AND COB SOCIETY
OF AMERICA
PO Box 2977/ Winchester, VA
22604-2977
Tel: (540) 667-6195
Web Site:
www.welshpony.org
Information Supplied by:
-The International Museum of the Horse, 1997, 2001
-The Welsh Pony and Cob
Society of Wales
-The Welsh Pony and Cob Society
of America
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Welsh Pony Information
