Welsh Pony

The Welsh Pony is a small equine breed that came into being amidst the hills of Wales, its stature falling within pony height while its constitution unites a sturdy frame with free, athletic movement of considerable elegance. Centuries of existence upon rugged upland terrain gave rise to an animal distinguished by soundness, economy of upkeep, and the capacity to labour or be ridden across the most varied of ground.

The breed has long been esteemed for its good nature and intelligence. It grasps instruction with commendable rapidity and cultivates an enduring working relationship with handlers across a wide range of ages. Owing to these estimable qualities, together with its modest size, it is very frequently chosen as a child's first riding pony, though it is by no means uncommon for adults to drive and compete upon it as well.

The Welsh Pony finds employment in riding, driving, showing, and general work of every description. The very same animal that conducts a small child through a lead-rein class with quiet dignity may equally acquit itself in jumping, in dressage at the lower levels, and in harness classes. Hardiness and an admirably long working life remain the very foundation of the breed's distinguished reputation.

Who it suits

The Welsh Pony is eminently suited to families desirous of a dependable mount for their children, as well as to riders in search of a small yet capable pony for showing or harness work. It requires daily handling, regular exercise, and appropriate access to grazing. Those owners in a position to provide turnout together with a consistent routine shall derive the fullest benefit from the breed. It must be noted that owners ought to exercise particular vigilance regarding rich pasture, as the breed is inclined to gain weight with considerable ease.

Ponies have inhabited the land of Wales since time immemorial, grazing upon the hills and mountains of that region. The unforgiving climate and meagre forage of the Welsh uplands shaped an animal of small stature yet remarkable hardiness, one well able to endure with minimal shelter and to procure sustenance from the poorest of ground. Such conditions favoured, above all else, soundness, thrift, and sound judgement.

For countless generations these ponies rendered invaluable service to rural communities. They bore people and goods upon their backs, laboured upon small farms, and were engaged in work underground within the mines as well as upon the hills. Selection was ever practical rather than ornamental in character, and it was therefore usefulness and constitution that were preserved and handed down.

The Welsh Pony and Cob Society was duly established in Wales and opened its stud book in the year 1901, thereby conferring upon the breed a formal register and recorded pedigrees of considerable value. The society organises Welsh ponies and cobs into distinct sections according to height and type, the smaller riding pony constituting one such section.

From its native Wales the breed has since been carried to other countries, where it continues to be bred with great care for riding, showing, and driving. Outside influence has, in certain lines, refined the animal for the show ring, yet the foundation of hardiness so carefully laid down upon the Welsh hills remains, above all, the defining feature of the breed.

The Welsh Pony presents a most balanced and quality outline. The head is small and clean in form, with a slightly concave or straight profile, large expressive eyes, and small, alert ears. The neck is well set upon sloping shoulders, and the back is short and strong. The legs are clean and dense, terminating in hard, well-shaped hooves admirably suited to rough ground. Its movement is free and straight, the action being carried with distinction from the shoulder.

Coat and colours

The Welsh Pony may be observed in the great majority of solid colours, including bay, chestnut, grey, black, brown, dun, cream, palomino, and roan. Grey is a particularly common colour, and it is often the case that grey ponies lighten considerably with advancing age. White markings upon the face and legs are by no means unusual. Piebald and skewbald patterns, however, are not accepted within the breed. The coat remains short throughout the summer months and develops a considerably denser layer during winter, a fitting reflection of the breed's origin in a cold and wet climate.

The Welsh Pony possesses a calm and amiable disposition, united most admirably with a quick and discerning mind. It remains alert and forward in its bearing without ever descending into unmanageability, and it generally extends considerable tolerance towards the errors of the inexperienced rider. This estimable balance of spirit and steadiness constitutes one of the principal reasons the breed is so widely favoured for children.

Among family members the pony proves affectionate and willing once an established routine has taken hold. It is, as a rule, tolerant of strangers when introduced with due calm, though, as with any horse, it responds most favourably to handling that remains consistent throughout. In the company of other ponies and horses it proves sociable by nature, settling agreeably into a herd or paddock group.

Intelligence, it must be observed, is not without its complications. A Welsh Pony left bored or insufficiently worked may in time acquire evasions, test the boundaries set for it, or prove considerably difficult to catch. Regular work, clearly established expectations, and adequate turnout are together sufficient to keep the breed content and cooperative.

Grooming

• Brush regularly, so as to remove dirt and to properly assess the condition of skin and coat
• Pick out the hooves on a daily basis, and before as well as after exercise
• Arrange farrier visits at intervals of 6 to 8 weeks
• Increase the frequency of grooming during the spring and autumn coat changes
• Remain vigilant for rain scald and mud fever during periods of wet weather

Exercise

• Provide daily turnout so as to permit free and unrestricted movement
• Ride or drive the pony several times weekly, thereby maintaining fitness and occupation
• Vary the nature of the work undertaken, so as to engage the breed's considerable intelligence and forestall boredom
• Increase fitness in a gradual manner prior to harder work or competition

Environment

The Welsh Pony is admirably suited to outdoor living and copes most satisfactorily with cold and wet weather, provided it is afforded adequate shelter from wind and rain. It requires safe and secure fencing, ready access to clean water, and grazing that is judiciously managed. As the breed thrives, by its very nature, upon poor upland forage, rich pasture must accordingly be restricted so as to prevent excessive weight gain and laminitis.

The Welsh Pony is what may properly be termed an easy keeper, one that maintains its condition admirably upon quite modest rations. The diet ought to be based principally upon grass and hay, with concentrates introduced only in circumstances where workload, age, or condition genuinely require them. A great many adult ponies engaged in light work require little or, indeed, no hard feed whatsoever. Constant access to clean water, together with a suitable salt or mineral source, is of considerable assistance to digestion and hydration alike.

Treats and supplements

Treats such as carrots or apples may be offered in small quantities and only by way of occasional reward. A balancer, or a vitamin and mineral supplement, may prove of considerable use in addressing any deficiency where forage alone does not suffice, particularly in the case of growing or hard-working ponies. Any supplement ought to be introduced in a gradual manner, and a veterinarian or nutritionist consulted prior to its addition to the diet.

The Welsh Pony is a most robust breed, distinguished by a notably long working life, commonly attaining 25 to 35 years of age when afforded proper care. Its inherent hardiness ensures that a great many ponies remain sound well into advanced age. The principal health risks arise from over-feeding rather than from any inherited weakness, and weight management must therefore be regarded as central to the maintenance of the breed's health.

Preventive care

• Maintain a healthy body condition and assess or score it upon a regular basis
• Arrange annual veterinary examinations and ensure vaccinations remain current at all times
• Schedule dental examinations no less than once annually
• Adhere faithfully to a planned worming and faecal egg count programme
• Maintain farrier visits upon a strict 6 to 8 week cycle

The Welsh Pony learns with commendable rapidity and responds most favourably to training that is clear and consistent in character. Its considerable intelligence renders it capable across riding, jumping, and driving alike, though this very intelligence ensures it readily perceives and duly exploits any inconsistency on the part of its handler. Calm and patient handling from the foal stage onward produces, without exception, a confident and willing pony. As the breed is remarkably forgiving by nature, it is very frequently employed to instruct children, though it nonetheless requires a knowledgeable adult to establish and uphold appropriate standards.

Basics

1. Commence with handling, leading, and standing quietly for grooming and the farrier
2. Instruct the pony in basic voice and rein cues from the ground
3. Introduce tack and long-reining prior to the commencement of backing
4. Back the pony in a gradual manner, and only once it has attained physical maturity
5. Build ridden or driven work through sessions that are short and frequent
6. Progress in due course to jumping, harness, or showing as confidence steadily develops

Welsh Ponies attain breeding maturity at a mere few years of age, although mares are, as a rule, not bred until they are fully grown and physically prepared for the undertaking. Breeding decisions must take due account of conformation, temperament, soundness, and adherence to the breed standard, inasmuch as these very traits define the registered animal. Stud-book registration, conducted through the breed society, faithfully records pedigrees and section.

The mare carries but a single foal, twins being both rare and distinctly undesirable. Gestation extends to approximately 11 months. Mares of this hardy breed very often foal with minimal assistance required, though careful supervision at the time of foaling remains essential to safeguard both mare and foal alike.

Foals are typically robust in constitution, standing and nursing soon after birth, a most admirable trait inherited from generations bred upon open hill ground. Early and gentle handling, at times termed imprinting and socialisation, contributes materially to the calm, people-friendly adult for which the breed is so justly esteemed. Foals are customarily weaned at approximately six months of age.