Seascape Welsh

BREED HISTORY

Welsh Ponies at Llanarth Stud Photo by Ann Bigley

FOUNDATION OF THE WELSH PONY AND COB SOCIETY

AND

ORGANIZATION OF THE WELSH STUD BOOK

The WELSH PONY AND COB SOCIETY was founded in April, 1901, at a Preliminary Meeting of landowners, farmers, and interested persons in Wales.

Volume I of the WELSH STUD BOOK was published in 1902 and, in its Preface, describes the manner in which the WELSH STUD BOOK shall be organized: “It is not a jumble of all sorts and conditions of Cobs and Ponies into one Stud book but, as it were, a distinct Stud Book for each, comprised in one volume. Each variety is so dependent on, and is so closely connected in its origin with the other, that breeders will doubtless from time to time take a dip into blood to be found in one or other of the sections as may suit their purpose.”

In its current arrangement, the WELSH STUD BOOK is comprised of four Sections:

♦ The Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A), in height not exceeding 12.0 hh (121.9 cm.);

♦ The Welsh Pony (Section B), in height not exceeding 13.2 hh (137.2 cm.), with no lower height limit;

♦ The Welsh Pony of Cob Type (Section C), in height not exceeding 13.2 hh (137.2 cm.);

♦ The Welsh Cob (Section D), in height exceeding 13.2 hh, with no upper height limit.

There is also the Welsh Part Bred Register for animals with not less than 12.5% pure Registered Welsh blood.

PLEASE NOTE: The standards described above are those set out by the founding Welsh Pony and Cob Society, now headquartered in Aberystwyth, Wales. The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America, Inc. sets forth different breed standards for the Welsh Mountain Pony, the Welsh Pony, and the Welsh Part Bred, which are:

♦ The Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A), in height not exceeding 12.2 hh;

♦ The Welsh Pony (Section B), in height not exceeding 14.2 hh, with no lower height limit;

♦ The Half-Welsh Register for animals with not less than 50% pure Registered Welsh blood. To date, there is no Part Bred

registry.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

WELSH PONIES--SECTION B

WELSH PONIES (Section B) share the general description of the Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A), but with greater emphasis placed on their qualities as a riding pony. Welsh Ponies (Section B) may be the same SIZE as the Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A), since there is no lower height limit for Welsh Ponies (Section B), and do share the same size requirements as the Welsh Pony of Cob Type (Section C). Importantly, however, they differ in their TYPE from both Section A and Section C ponies. As a pony of riding type, Welsh Ponies (Section B) should have greater length of rein than either the Mountain Pony or the Pony of Cob Type, and a more sloping shoulder. The Welsh Pony’s action should be from the shoulder, free, long, and low, without much bend in the knees, as is desirable for any riding pony. In conformation, they should be lighter and more elegant than either the Mountain Pony or the Pony of Cob Type, while yet retaining the “adequate bone and substance, hardiness and constitution and pony character” of the Mountain Pony, which is the progenitor of all of the Sections. Welsh Ponies are naturally hardy, agile, and balanced, with exceptional athletic and jumping ability. Their lovely gentle temperaments, substance, intelligence and versatility make them ideally suited for children and for smaller adults.

Twyford Signal Photo by Anthony Reynolds, LBIPP, LMPA

Llanarth British Lion Photo by David Miller/Marie Claire/IPC Syndication

WELSH COBS--SECTION D

As a TYPE, a cob, regardless of breed, is stocky and big-bodied, with short, sturdy, powerful legs. A cob should possess great depth of girth, well-formed and powerful hindquarters, strength of loin, and an abundance of substantial flat bone. A cob’s structure is intended more to carry weight than to produce speed, and his temperament should also be steady and sensible.

WELSH COBS (Section D) exemplify all of these characteristics. In addition, they are noteworthy for their superb natural athleticism and stamina, eye-catching presence and fire, and their free and forceful action. Recognized worldwide for their exceptional gentleness, intelligence, heart, soundness and sanity, Welsh Cobs are well suited for many types of riders and disciplines. Welsh Cobs and Welsh Cob-Thoroughbred crosses are highly successful in the U.K., in continental Europe, and throughout the world, in eventing, dressage, show jumping, and competitive driving, as well as for the pleasure rider.

WELSH PART BREDS

Welsh Ponies and Cobs cross well with other breeds, most notably with Thoroughbreds, Arabians, and Anglo-Arabians, but also with many other breeds, among them, Morgans and certain warmbloods. Small WELSH PART BREDS have long been valued as hunter ponies and show ponies, and as dressage and show jumping ponies for young riders. Welsh ancestors figure prominently in the pedigrees of the finest European, Australian and American performance ponies, whose breeders value the natural athleticism, soundness, presence and stable temperament of the Welsh. The better European warmblood ponies--the German Riding Pony, for example,--are, at their foundation, small WELSH PART BREDS. Large WELSH PART BREDS are widely sought after as sport horses and compete very successfully internationally in many disciplines against all other breeds. The best WELSH PART BREDS retain the fundamental Welsh characteristics of superior intelligence, even temperament, structural soundness, and natural athletic ability, enhanced by the unrivalled beauty of movement and conformation to be found in the best of Welsh.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

SEASCAPE WELSH PONIES, WELSH COBS & WELSH PART BREDS

ARE DESCENDANTS OF CHAMPIONS,

MANY ARE CHAMPIONS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT,

AND THEIR PROGENY ARE CHAMPION QUALITY.

________________________________________________________________________________________________