Welsh pony

In the horse world, Welsh ponies are definitely allrounders! They are not only sturdy animals, they are also capable of sophisticated performances.

Profile: Welsh pony

Breed:

Welsh pony

Group:

sections A, B and C: ponies / section D: small horses

Height at the withers:

section A: up to 122 cm, section A: up to 122 cm, section D: 137 - 155 cm

Appearance:

slightly different depending on the section; common features: elegant head, well-positioned neck, strong and muscular, arched back, solid hooves, strong foundation

Colour of coat:

all colours, except for dappled horses

Character:

oriented towards people, friendly, fiery but well-balanced temperament

Gait:

flexible, expansive movements

Origin:

Great Britain, Wales

Prevalence:

worldwide

Suited for:

recreational and dressage riding, carriage driving


Facts about horses

Did you know? In addition to sections A, B, C and D, there are also Welsh partbreds. This category includes all ponies with a percentage of Welsh blood of at least 12.5%. Many successful sports ponies in Germany are Welsh partbreds.


Small but powerful: Welsh ponies are true allrounders.

Suitable for people of all ages

In addition to Shetland ponies, Welsh ponies are among the most popular riding ponies in Germany. The dwarfs from Wales in Great Britain are popular riding horses for children and young people due to their friendly nature. They are very oriented towards people and able to form deep bonds with their riders. Once you have gained their trust, these good-natured animals will be your friends for life. Although they are known to have a fiery temperament, Welsh ponies are lacking the wilfulness typical for ponies. The ponies from Wales have a well-balanced and very friendly nature. The intelligent animals are also highly motivated and outstanding performers when it comes to dressage and tournaments. But not all Welsh ponies have the same character and appearance. 

Since the founding of the English breeding association in 1901, Welsh ponies have been subdivided into different sections. The smallest Welsh ponies belong to section Welsh-A. They measure a maximum of 1.22 m, which makes them one of the smallest pony breeds in the world. The Welsh-A is the original breed from which all other sections have developed. The dwarfs also known as Welsh Mountain Ponies were once used as pit ponies in the Welsh mountains. For this they had to be very sturdy – a feature that has been preserved even today. These motivated horses are sure-footed and enduring. Their attentive nature makes them perfect riding ponies for small children. Thanks to their talent for carriage driving, Welsh-A ponies are also impressive carriage ponies. Their finely shaped head, their large and friendly eyes and their silky long hair make them look more elegant than other ponies. Their medium-long neck ends in a strong and curved back. They have a wide chest and powerful legs. Other features include a well-developed curvature of the ribs and a good belt position.

Welsh ponies are reliable allrounders and especially popular among children and teenagers.

Cute allrounders

Section B ponies are slightly larger with a height of up to 1.37 m at the withers. This type developed from crossbreeding Welsh Mountain Ponies with Arabian horses and English thoroughbreds. Their high proportion of oriental blood makes their basic gates well defined by nature. They also have a talent for jumping, which makes them popular for tournaments. The cute allrounders are versatile and especially suitable for children and teenagers. It should however be pointed out that there are two types within the Welsh-B section: While one type has a well-balanced nature and a compact physique, the other type is slightly more elegant but also more spirited. 

Welsh Pony Cobs are part of section C. They have a very muscular physique and also measure up to 1.37 m at the withers. However, unlike Welsh-B ponies, Welsh-C ponies are significantly more compact and heavier. In addition to Arabian horses, they also descend from cold-blooded horses, as breeding medium-sized horses suited for farm work and as riding horses for adults was desirable in the early 20th century. Just like the other Welsh types, Welsh Pony Cobs come in white, brown, chestnut-coloured and black. Dun-coloured and Palomino ponies are also possible, only dappled ponies are undesired. Their bodies are far sturdier, and they have stronger joints than Welsh-A ponies, which makes them suitable for adults, too. Other characteristic features include their melon-shaped croup and full quarters. Some can also have slight feathering.

Last but not least, due to their height of 1.37 to 1.55 m at the withers, Welsh Cobs are already considered small horses. Thanks to their size, section-D ponies are more similar to horses than ponies. The combination of well-developed muscles and a powerful foundation gives Welsh Cobs their particularly impressive look. Their name suits them perfectly, because “Cob” is a Welsh expression for “chunk”. This powerful and elegant horse was developed by crossbreeding cold-blooded horses, Spanish horses and carriage horses of different breeds. Nevertheless, Welsh-D ponies have kept some of the typical pony features such as the expressive head with a wide forehead, wide nostrils and large eyes. The good-natured animals are perfect recreational horses for the entire family. Just like the ponies of the other sections, they are versatile and perfectly suited for equitation and dressage.

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