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Origins of the Welsh Pony

From The mountains and valleys of Wales to the shores of North America. From a life of hardship to one of relative ease…The lot of the Welsh pony has changed greatly in the past three-quarters of a century, but they have not. Welsh still retain the vigour, beauty and kindliness which is their hallmark. They are an old and singular breed existing on the downs and commons of Britain before the Roman invasion. Their life was not easy, grasses were sparse, and people not always friendly, yet they survived and flourished.

Led by proud stallions, bands of mares and their foals roamed in a semi-wild state, climbing mountains, leaping ravines, running over rough terrain. Even an edict by Henry VIII that all horses under 15 hands be destroyed did not eliminate the Welsh. Hiding in desolate areas where their persecutors were reluctant to go they continued to live and reproduce, the purity of their blood unquestioned. Adversity strengthens and so it was with the Welsh. Only the strongest, swiftest and most intelligent survived.

In the 19th century certain Arabians and thoroughbreds were turned out in the hills with some of the pony bands – thus the grey colour entered the breed and extra size was added, yet even with the admixture of some new blood the distinctiveness of the Welsh remained – a shining beacon to all pony lovers.

Welsh ponies have served their Welsh masters faithfully and beginning in the 1880's with the first importations to Canada and the United States they have served their new masters, being equally at home on ranches and in towns. The motto on the Welsh coat of arms applies not only to the people of Wales but to their treasured ponies. The words are ICH DIEN, "I serve". The Welsh pony will serve you also.

Welsh Mountain Ponies have beed bred in the hills of Wales, in the west of Great Britain, for hundreds of years. Their action and temperament have been influenced by the harsh climate and rough terrain of their native hills. They are extremely "good doers" with strong constitutions and this comes from the necessity of being able to keep well on the sparse, course grasses and mosses that made up their diet.

In 1902 the Welsh Pony and Cob Stud Book was established and the four fixed types were separated out. Prior to that time Welsh ponies were influenced by a variety of breeds. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Welsh ponies were crossed with Arabians, Thoroughbreds and Hackneys.

The Welsh Cob (Sections C and D) originates in Wales also, but the largest concentration were, and still are, bred in the central section of Wales, an area known as Dyfed.

Characteristics of the Welsh Pony
The Welsh Pony and Cob Stud Book is divided into four sections.

Section A - Ponies registered in Section A of the Stud Book are commonly known as Welsh Mountain Ponies. They are the smallest of the four types of Welsh Pony and should not exceed 12.2 h.h. in height, with delicate heads, elegant legs and a good depth of girth. They are excellent children's riding ponies and also go well in harness.

Section B - Ponies registered in Section B of the Stud Book are known as the Welsh Pony of Riding Type and should not exceed 13.2 h.h. in height. They are reknowned for their sloping shoulders, giving them excellent action.