Learn More about the Wesh Pony Breed
 
The Welsh Pony designates a group of four related types: 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).

The Welsh Pony of Riding Type--is part of the Welsh Breeds (which also include Welsh mountain pony (Section A), Welsh pony of cob type (Section C), and Welsh Cob (Section D)). The Welsh Pony (Section B) is one of the most beautiful of all the British native ponies. 

Welsh Pony (Section A)

The Welsh mountain pony is a native breed of the United Kingdom, and is one of the most beautiful of the British native ponies. It is one of the four "sections" of Welsh Pony (which also includes Section B, Section C, and Section D). 

Breed characteristics
The ponies may not exceed 12 hands (122 cm/48 inches ) in height. They are tough and thrifty little animals, with a very steady, tractable, and calm nature. The Welsh Mountain Pony comes in all colours except piebald or skewbald, although grey is the most common colour.
The ponies have a dished face (from the Arabian influence) with small ears and large eyes. They are sure-footed with sound feet and dense bone, and are very hardy. The ponies should have a sloping shoulder, deep chest, short back, and round rib cage. Their legs should be fine with good hocks. 

Breed history
The Welsh Mountain Pony is thought to have evolved from the prehistoric Celtic pony. The sparse and inhospitable hills of Wales developed the small and extremely hardy animal.
When the Romans occupied Britain, they brought horses of their own, presumably Arabians, which bred with the native ponies, producing hardy offspring with substance, but very beautiful. It is believed that Julius Caesar founded a stud for the ponies on the shores of Lake Bala.
The characteristics of the breed are thought to have been established by the late fifteenth century, after Crusaders brought Arabian stallions from the Middle East.
In the 1500s, King Henry VIII thinking to improve the breeds of horses, ordered the destruction of all stallions under 15 hands, and all mares under 13 hands. Fortunately the ponies in the wild and inaccessible mountains of Wales escaped this jurisdiction.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, more Arabian blood was added by stallions who were turned out in the Welsh hills.
The Welsh breeds were used in mines, for pulling carts, as a means of transport.
In 1901, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society was formed, with the first Stud Book published the following year. It wasn't until 1949 when the sections of the stud book (A, B, C, and D) were introduced. One important stallion in the breed since the 1900s was Dyoll Starlight, credited to have been the foundation sire of the modern breed, and was a combination of Welsh and Arab.
Today, the Welsh Pony is known as a riding and driving pony. It is shown both in hand and under saddle, and makes an excellent children's pony. They also are used for cross-breeding, and have influenced the Pony of the Americas. Many are also bred with Thoroughbreds, American Quarter Horses, and Appaloosas. The breed has also had a profound effect on the Riding Pony. 



Welsh Pony (Section B)

Breed characteristics
Section B ponies are taller than the closely related Welsh mountain pony (Section A) with a maximum height of 13.2 hh (1.37 m) in the UK and 14.2 hh (1.47 m) in the U.S. Section B ponies also generally have a slightly lighter build, as a result of Thoroughbred and Hackney blood. Section B ponies should resemble the Sec. A pony, but they ought to be "riding type".
Section B ponies are tough and hardy little animals, with a very steady, tractable, and calm nature. They come in any colour except piebald and skewbald. They should not be light of bone; they should resemble their Mountain Pony ancestors for quality of bone. 

The ponies have a dished face (from the Arabian influence) with small ears, large eyes, and a fine muzzle. They are sure-footed with sound feet and dense bone and are very hardy. The ponies should have a sloping shoulder, with a free-flowing movement. They should have a muscular neck, arching from withers to poll, and have a deep, wide chest with a compact back. The tail is set, and carried, high. 

The sparse and inhospitable hills of Wales helped to develop the small and extremely hardy animal. The Section B pony is derived from the Welsh mountain pony (Section A).
When the Romans occupied Britain, they brought horses of their own, presumably Arabians, which bred with the native ponies, producing hardy, and very beautiful offspring, with substance. It is believed that Julius Caesar founded a stud for the ponies on the shores of Lake Bala.
The characteristics of the breed are thought to have been established by the late fifteenth century, after Crusaders brought Arabian stallions from the Middle East.
In the 1500s, King Henry VIII ordered that all smaller ponies be caught and destroyed; however, many of the ponies were safe in their homeland of the Welsh Mountains.
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, more Arabian blood was added by stallions who were turned out in the Welsh hills. Other breeds have also been added, including Hackney and Thoroughbred.
In 1901, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society was formed, with the first Stud Book published the following year. It wasn't until 1949 when the sections of the Stud Book (A, B, C, and D) were introduced. One important stallion in the Welsh breed since the 1900s was Dyoll Starlight, credited to have been the foundation sire of the modern breed, and was a combination of Welsh and Arab. 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. Other influential stallions of the Section B type were Criban Victor of Welsh descent, and Solway Master Bronze.
When coal mining was very popular in England, many of the Welsh breeds were used in mines, for pulling carts. However, today, the Welsh Pony is known better as a riding and driving pony. It is shown both in hand and under saddle, and makes an excellent children's pony. The breed is used for dressage, eventing, and jumping  

Welsh Pony (Section C) 

Breed standards
The Welsh pony of Cob Type (Section C) is part of the Welsh Breeds, which also include Welsh mountain pony (Section A), Welsh pony (Section B), and Welsh Cob (Section D). 
They are one of the most beautiful of all the British native ponies. 

Breed Characteristics
The Welsh Pony of Cob Type should be no taller than 13.2 hands (137 cm). However, unlike the Welsh pony (Section B), it is heavier and more coblike and compact, reflecting the infusion of cob blood.
The ponies have a straight profile with large, expressive eyes.They have clean limbs with silky feathering, and have sound feet. Their movement is extravagant and high-stepping.
The Welsh Pony of Cob Type is generally more spirited and independent than the Welsh mountain pony (Section A) or Welsh pony (Section B). They are easy keepers, with stamina and endurance.
The ponies come in all colours except piebald and skewbald. 

Breed History
The Welsh Mountain Pony is thought to have evolved from the prehistoric Celtic pony. The sparse and inhospitable hills of Wales developed the small and extremely hardy animal. The Section B pony came out of the Welsh mountain pony (Section A).
When the Romans occupied Britain, they brought horses of their own, presumably Arabians, which bred with the native ponies, producing hardy offspring with substance, but very beautiful. It is believed that Julius Caesar founded a stud for the ponies on the shores of Lake Bala.
The characteristics of the breed are thought to have been established by the late fifteenth century, after Crusaders brought Arabian stallions from the Middle East.
In the 1500s, King Henry VIII ordered that all smaller ponies be caught and destroyed. Luckily, many of the ponies were safe in their homeland of the Welsh Mountains.
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, more Arabian blood was added by stallions who were turned out in the Welsh hills. Other breeds have also been added, including Hackney and Thoroughbred.
The Welsh Pony of Cob Type first resulted from a crossbreeding between the Welsh mountain pony (Section A) and the Welsh Cob (Section D). There were also crosses with Spanish horses, which led to the development of the Powys horse, which was also a foundation for this type. Other breeds also influenced the type, including the Norfolk Roadster, the Hackney and Yorkshire Coach Horse.
Influential stallions include:
· Trotting Comet: foaled in 1840 from a long line of trotting horses
· True Briton: foaled in 1930, by a trotting sire and out of an Arabian mare
· Cymro Llwyd: foaled in 1850, by an Arabian stallion and out of a trotting mare
· Alonzo the Brave: foaled in 1866, tracing his ancestry through the Hackney breed to the Darley Arabian
These four sires show the great influence of both trotters and Arabians on the type.
The Welsh breeds were used in mines, for pulling carts and as a means of transport. They were also used as draft animals for farm work.
In 1901, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society was formed, with the stud book published the following year. It wasn't until 1949 when the sections of the stud book (A, B, C, and D) were introduced.
Today, the type is used mainly in harness for competitive driving.
Section D

A Welsh Pony (Section D)
The Welsh Cob (Section D) is the largest of the Welsh horse breeds, not less than 13.2 hands high (137 cm), with no upper limit in the breed rules. They are part of the Welsh Breeds (which also includes Welsh mountain pony (Section A), Welsh pony (Section B), and Welsh pony of cob type (Section C)). They are one of the most beautiful of all the British native ponies. 

Breed Characteristics
The Welsh Cob should be no shorter than 13.2 hands. The ponies have a straight profile with large, expressive eyes, long flowing mane and fine hair.They have clean limbs with silky feathering, and have sound feet. Their movement is extravagant and high-stepping. They have a round barrel, compact back, muscular legs and crested necks.
The Welsh Cob is generally more spirited and independent than the Welsh mountain pony (Section A) or Welsh pony (Section B). They are easy keepers, with stamina and endurance.
The ponies come in all colors except piebald and skewbald.