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The Welsh pony has adapted himself to the whims and needs of humans
as easily as to his environment. He loves people. He responds well to proper treatment and discipline.
He can be trusted. He is an ideal pony for a growing child, and he has the spirit and endurance
to challenge an adult. Because of his heritage, the Welsh pony is not bothered by the somewhat
extreme variations of climate and terrain encountered in the United States and Canada.
That the Welsh pony carries a trace of Arabian blood seems beyond
doubt. However, he has maintained his own dominant physical characteristics over the years. It
has been demonstrated that the Welsh crosses well with many other breeds, and this is, to some
breeders, an important aspect of his unusual versatility. One of the most noted Welsh breeders
wrote: "The blood of the Welsh Mountain pony of perfect type can improve any other blood with
which it is mixed. This is a very strong statement to make, but I have had ample opportunity to
prove it."
The purebred Welsh pony of today is an animal of great beauty and
refinement. He has a proud. aristocratic bearing. Yet he has the substance, the stamina, and the
soundness of body and wind which are characteristic of animals that long have lived close to nature.
The purebred Welsh of today has a friendly personality and an even temper, intelligent and constantly
alert. He has spirit, but this spirit is combined with gentleness and a willingness to obey. He
does not resent discipline and shows respect for the master. young or old. who shows respect for
him.
For those unacquainted with the Welsh, the first sight of a small
herd, perhaps grazing in a hollow near a stream, is something to be remembered... "They are startled
at your approach. For one second they stand with heads erect, nostrils distended, ears pricked
and tails held high. Then they are off, flying over the rocks and rough ground, sure-footed and
beautiful, their manes and tails tossed in the wind. In selecting the one we want, we shall look
for the great bold eye, the tiny head, short back, strong quarters, high set of tail, fine hair,
hocks that do not turn in, the laid-back shoulder, the straight foreleg, and the short, so very
short, cannon bone." One of the outstanding breeders of Welsh has said: "The bigger the eye, the
better; the deeper through the heart, the stronger the prouder the lift of the head, the more
courageous; the swifter the action, the more fearless."
The pure Welsh pony may be any color: black, gray, bay, roan, cream,
or chestnut. He can never be piebald or skewbald. Although essential points of conformation can
be listed and should be considered, it is the combination of desirable physical characteristics,
plus a pony's highly individual personality, plus one's own preference for color, which makes
a pony exactly the right pony for any one person. One of the great thrills of breeding Welsh ponies
is the chance or calculated mating of two animals, so compatible and complementary, that they
produce a near-perfect specimen. This is the challenge. And the goal, with carefully chosen Welsh
stock, is not unattainable.
Welsh ponies were imported by American breeders as early as the 1889s.
George E. Brown of Aurora, Illinois, appears to have been one of the first real Welsh enthusiasts,
importing a large number of animals between 1884 and 1910. Principally through his efforts and
those of John Alexander, The Welsh Pony & Cob (the word "Cob" was dropped in 1946) Society of
America was formed and certification for the establishment of a breed registry was issued by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture on July 30, 1907. By 1913 a total of 574 Welsh had been registered,
and the owner-breeder list showed applications coming from Vermont, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia,
Texas, Oregon, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York City, and Canada. The popularity of the Welsh was
spreading, and his great versatility was already becoming apparent, not only because he was adapting
himself well to any geographical area, but because he was being put to many uses, both by children
and adults.
It was the concern of early importers and breeders that a "purity
of the breed" be maintained, and this subject was regularly discussed with Welsh and English breeders
who had established their own registry in 1901. Mr. Brown summarized his views in this way in
a report to members of the American Society: "With a correct standard fixed and uniformly adhered
to, nothing can block the advancement of Welsh to front rank in their classes." He called the
Welsh "the grandest little horse yet produced". Today's Welsh pony is a quality animal of unusual
versatility and wide use. To see him is to admire him and love him. To own him and enjoy his companionship
is a privilege that certainly will be enjoyed by more and more people over the years ahead. The
Welsh Pony (Cob type) and Welsh Cob No wonder in these days of rising costs and enforced economy
the Welsh Cob (and his smaller counterpart, the Welsh Pony of Cob type) becomes more and more
popular as he gets better known. He is an "all-rounder" - equally suitable for riding or driving.
Moreover he is healthy, hardy and strong, living out all the year round.
For the average horse-loving family he answers the longing for something
easy to manage and keep. He meets the needs of young and old alike. He has the warm-blooded lovable
pony nature - active, kind, intelligent and willing. He has no pampered background. Throughout
the ages he has flourished and worked on the small Welsh farm sharing in the often poverty-stricken
conditions that prevailed. This was the sort of life that has made him what he is. Evidence of
the existence of the Welsh Cob in the middle ages and even earlier can be found in mediaeval Welsh
literature. According to description he had to be "fleet of foot, a good jumper, a good swimmer
and able to carry a substantial weight on his back". He had also to be capable of drawing loads
of timber from the forests and doing the general work on the upland farms long before the introduction
of heavier animals. Both in times of peace and war he has played his part. No doubt in 1485 the
British throne was gained by Henry Tudor with the help of the Welsh Militia on their cobs which
he gathered round him on his arrival from France at Milford Haven as he traveled up the west coast
of Wales. And indeed much later the Morgan Horse almost certainly owed his origin to the Welsh
cobs left behind by the British Army after the American War of Independence at the end of the
18th century.
So valuable was he to the Army for the mounted infantry and for pulling
heavy guns and equipment over rough and often mountainous terrain that premiums were paid to the
best stallions by the War Office up to 30 years ago and not as at present by the Horserace Betting
Levy Board. The founders of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society in 1901, in their wisdom, decided to
register and record this ancient breed together with the Welsh Mountain Ponies and the larger
Welsh Ponies in the Welsh Stud Book, dividing them into four sections according to height and
type. Essentially the description for each section is similar - the typical short Welsh pony head
with small ears, the large prominent eyes and open nostrils, the well-laid shoulder, short back
and powerful muscular quarters With gay tall carriage - standing on good clean legs with dense
bone on sound feet. The characteristic fast trotting action of the Welsh Cob and Pony of Cob Type
like that of the Mountain Pony should be true, bold and free, covering the ground with forceful
impulsion from the hocks.
Before the advent of the motor car the Welsh Cob was the speediest
mode of transport for the doctor or tradesman and others eager to get from here to there in the
shortest time. Business men in South Wales were, known to select a cob by trotting him all the
way from Cardiff to Dowlais - some 35 miles uphill all the way. The best would do this in under
three hours never slackening or changing pace from start to finish. Before licensing was introduced
in 1918 stallions and breeding stock were selected by this kind of test and by means of the old
trotting matches which took place with a stopwatch over a measured distance on many roads in Wales.
Such names as the many Comets, Flyers and Expresses which abound in the early volumes of the Stud
Book testify to their speed and prowess. Nowadays the Welsh Cob has come back into his own after
a long period of disregard and neglect. He has proved himself as the ideal trekking animal - safe,
sure-footed and responsive - and for private driving he is unrivaled. A natural jumper, he is
also, owing to his tractable and gentle disposition, perfect for the disabled rider.
At shows Welsh Cob classes always draw the crowds who love to see
these magnificent creatures shown in hand by experts, displaying their presence and courageous
action. In harness, too, the Welsh Cob is spectacular and has recently proved in combined training
events under F.E.I. rules that he can compete against all and beat, them. His innate suitability
for high school and dressage in the "Lippizaner" manner is being now realized and demonstrated
in Austria. He crosses especially well with the Thoroughbred to produce hunters, jumpers and event
horses or with the Arab to get a riding pony with more bone and substance. At one time cob mares
were in great demand as the foundation for Polo Ponies to obtain the agility and nimbleness necessary.
Any color is allowed - except piebald or skewbald. Chestnut, bay, brown and black are most usual.
Greys are rare, but there are a number of duns, palominos and creams.
The Welsh Cob is beyond doubt the most versatile of animals in existence
and long ago established a reputation as the best ride and drive animal in the world.
*Information from http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/welsh/
The Welsh Pony and Cob Society
History of the Welsh Breed
Welsh Pony and Cob Society of Canada
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