Lindsaayy asked:
I heard that you can make a lot of money off of really well bred and talented welsh ponies. personally i don’t care about the money, i just want to raise ponies, but i can’t help but think that when selling, the little boost would be nice. so tell me….
What are their average personalities like?
How tall do they usually get?
What can they do (jumping, dressage, and even western events like barrell racing or pole bending)?
Are they really all that valuable or is it just a rumor?
Personally I would rather breed shetlands. I really like the breed and little kids as well so they would be good for lessons and my kids and stuff like that.
I’m not planning on starting a business for many years (i’m only 14) but i want to start planning now so that as soon is i have a chance to start something i can. thanks yall!
I think that will come in handy.
Good luck :]
The Welsh Pony designates a group of four related types of pony and horse native to Wales: the Welsh mountain pony (Section A), the Welsh pony (Section B), the Welsh pony of cob type (Section C), and the Welsh Cob (Section D).
Welsh ponies and cobs are suitable mounts for both children and adults. The modern Welsh Pony is known as a riding and driving pony. It is shown both in hand and under saddle, including hunter/jumper and dressage competition, and is a popular children’s pony. They have a reputaton for intelligence, friendly personalities and even temperaments, allowing them to be easily trained. The breed is used for many forms of equestrianism, including pleasure riding, as well as horse show competition. The Welsh also crosses well with many other breeds and has influenced the Pony of the Americas and the British Riding Pony. Many are also crossbred with Thoroughbreds, and other horse breeds. The Welara, a cross between the Welsh pony and the Arabian horse, has its own registry.
The original Welsh Mountain Pony is thought to have evolved from the prehistoric Celtic pony. Welsh ponies were primarily developed in Wales and existed in the British Isles prior to the arrival of the Roman Empire.[1] They were adapted to the difficult climate of severe winters and sparse vegetation. Shelter most often was an isolated valley or a clump of bare trees. Bands of ponies roamed in a semi-feral state climbing mountains, leaping ravines, running over rough moorland terrain. Therefore the Welsh pony developed intelligence, speed and soundness, and is known for heart and endurance. They are tough and thrifty, with a steady, tractable, and calm nature,
When the Romans occupied Ancient Britain, they brought horses of their own, which bred with the native ponies, producing hardy offspring with substance and attractive appearance. It is believed that Julius Caesar founded a stud for the ponies on the shores of Lake Bala.[dubious – discuss]
The characteristics of the breed as it is known today are thought to have been established by the late 15th century, after the Crusaders returned to England with Arabian stallions obtained from the Middle East.
In the 1500s, King Henry VIII, thinking to improve the breeds of horses, particularly war horses, ordered the destruction of all stallions under 15 hands and all mares under 13 hands. Fortunately the ponies in the wild, remote, and inaccessible mountains of Wales escaped this order.
On the upland farms of Wales, Welsh ponies and cobs would often have to do everything from ploughing a field to carrying a farmer to market or driving a family to services on Sunday. When coal mining became important to the economy of England, many Welsh ponies were harnessed for use in mines, above and below ground. In the 18th century and 19th century, more Arabian blood was added by stallions who were turned out in the Welsh hills. Other breeds have also been added, including the Hackney, Thoroughbred, Norfolk Roadster, and the Yorkshire Coach Horse.
In 1901, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society was formed in the United Kingdom, with the first Stud Book published the following year. In 1949, the sections of the Stud Book (A, B, C, and D) were introduced. The United States registry, also named the Welsh Pony and Cob Society, was incorporated in 1906.[1]
One important stallion in the Welsh breed since the 1900s was Dyoll Starlight, credited with being the foundation sire of the modern breed, and who was a combination of Welsh and Arab breeding. From his line came an influential stallion of the Section B type: Tan-y-Bwlch Berwyn. This stallion was sired by a Barb and out of a mare from the Dyoll Starlight line.
A life-sized statue of a Welsh cob stallion was erected in the town of Aberaeron in 2005 donated to the town by the Aberaeron Festival of Welsh Ponies and Cobs to denote the area as Welsh Cob country. It was created by sculptor David Mayer.
A small feral population of about 180 animals roams the Carneddau mountains in Snowdonia[2].
[edit] Characteristics
All sections of Welsh ponies and Welsh cobs are sure-footed with sound feet, dense bone, and are very hardy. The ponies should have a well-laid back shoulder, deep chest, short back, well-sprung rib cage and strong hindquarters. Their legs should be clean with good bone, short cannons and correct hocks. They exhibit the substance, stamina and soundness of their ancestral bloodstock.
Welsh ponies may be any coat colour except the spotted patterns such as pinto or Appaloosa
The Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A) may not exceed 12.2 hands (50 inches (127 cm)) (127 cm or 50 inches) in the US[3] or 12 hh or 121.9 cm in the United Kingdom.[4]
The Section A Welsh Pony is also known as the Welsh Mountain pony. Both the Section A and Section B ponies are more refined than those in Section C and D. They are characterized from the cob types by a large eye, small head (often with a dished face from the Arabian influence
The Welsh pony is much more versatile than the Shetland, though what is bred in the USA would not be of the breed standard of the Shetland in the UK.
Someone has already copied a comprehensive article on the different breeds and standards.
Personalities are variable, like most ponies they will take advantage of a small rider off a lead but, they are generally a very good first pony and do well in hunter/jumper classes.
On a scale of 1 – 10 (Highest) in suitability for children I would place the Shetland at 3 and the Welsh at 9. I would only rate the Dartmoor as being better than a Welsh but that is my preference.
I know that with the welsh pony there are four sections:
A ~ Welsh mountain pony
B ~ Welsh pony of the riding type
C ~ The welsh pony of cob type
D ~ The Welsh Cob
They are divided based on height and other characteristics.
Those are all very informative sites. Hope I helped!
I don’t know who told you that, but welsh ponies are not high in price.
Well bred welsh ponies are very common, they don’t seem to be that crossed compared to other breeds – and you can get hold of a decent one for £500 as far as the economy is at the moment.
Personality wise they can be pretty cheeky, most are pretty good for kids lead reins – but once they come off the lead they generally take the mick and act up, especially as far as eating grass is concerned. They also tend to be horses that can be quite nippy and bargy if allowed to get away with it.
Welsh ponies go in sections. Section A, B, C and D. The Section A is the Welsh Mountain Pony and Section B is the Welsh Pony, section C is the cobbier welsh ponies, they have a height restriction of 13.2hh, welsh section D is 13.2hh + though most do not exceed around 15.2hh if they are pure welsh.
Most welshes are pretty good alrounders, of course their height is going to determine how high they can jump etc, but they generally are pretty good alrounders.
If you want ponies for lessons, go with welsh ponies. Shetlands are often absolutely awful as kids ponies.
You’ve got all the information about where the Welsh pony came from, etc….from personal experience, I think they are wonderful…there are 4 at the barn where I lease, and 2 are stallions and they are as calm as the geldings while being handled, they are gentle and don’t bite, kick, etc…the other two are geldings and have the same nice dispositions-they are very flashy and make good show ponies, and are extremely versatile-they can even be driven with a cart–some are very expensive (usually the stallions with great bloodlines)–you can also think about crossing them with quarter horses-the welsh/qh cross makes a great sport pony that’s about 14 hands or so in height and has the flashiness of the Welsh and the common sense and athleticism of the quarter horse-there are 2 at the barn also and they are just gorgeous-and smart–1 just went for her first training under saddle last week and is already being ridden and doing great!
Also, the Welsh Pony has wonderful hooves and legs;very rarely do they go lame-when they trot, they look like they’re floating above the ground, they are so graceful. They are curious and most seem to just love people. Good luck with whatever pony you decide to go for!