by Angie Pollock

Created on: July 05, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Sally was a stocky but beautiful Welsh Pony with a stunning disposition. She could ride comfortably for hours and was a nurturing mother to her foals. Sally had a golden mane and tail but was not highly popular because of her Appaloosa coloring. Sally was the first horse I owned over 25 years ago.

Originating from Wales, the Welsh Pony has a long and historical past. The Welsh breed includes three types: the Welsh Cob, the Welsh Mountain Pony and the Welsh Pony. These ponies are excellent riding and driving horses and are superb jumpers.

The oldest of the breed, the Welsh Mountain Pony dates back to Wales long before the Romans reached the area. Showing a strong resemblance to the Arabian, The Welsh Mountain Pony is believed to be a descendant of the ancient Celtic ponies.

To learn about the Welsh pony we know of today, we will have to travel back in time to the 1500's and to the reign of King Henry VIII. Concerned with the popularity of smaller horses, King Henry VIII ruled that any horses under 15 hands were to be destroyed. His goal was to keep producing larger horses for his knights and this was his way of forcing breeders into staying away from smaller breeds.

Determined breeders and farmers refused to allow their small ponies to be killed and released them into the Welsh hills to roam free and continue on with their lineage. The area of release was known to be some of the roughest and remote hills but the breeders felt they had to do this in order to save their beloved ponies. This hardy pony adapted to the environment until they were recaptured when the law of killing the small horses was rescinded. This Welsh Mountain Pony is soundly built, sure-footed and highly intelligent.

The Welsh ponies are smaller than the Welsh Cob but are larger than the mountain pony which is contributed to the Hackney bloodline. The Welsh Ponies started being imported into the United States during the 1880's. The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America was established in 1906 for preservation of the breed. The Welsh ponies and Cobs are broken into four sections:

Section A: Welsh Mountain Pony, under 12.2 hands

Section B: Welsh Pony, under 14.2 hands

Section C: Welsh Pony (cob type) under 13.2 hands

Section D: Welsh Cobs, exceeds 13.2 hands with no upper limit

The Welsh pony also has a registry for part-bred which has over 6500 registered animals.

You can find the Welsh competing in competitions ranging from driving, jumping, hunting and heavy harness. This beautiful yet strong breed has filled many jobs through the centuries from being loyal pets to those of nobility to working fields with their loyal farm owners. Large and strong enough for an adult, the Welsh Pony is also well known for being an excellent riding horse for children because of its calm and kind temperament.

Sources:
http://www.welshpony.org/Onebreed.html
STOREY'S ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO 96 HORSE BREEDS OF NORTH AMERICA by Judith Dutson, copyright 2005
INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORSE BREEDS by Bonnie Hendricks, copyright 2007

Learn more about this author, Angie Pollock.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.