Welsh Pony and Cob

The Welsh Pony of cob type, Section C, is the smaller of the two Welsh cob types. The Section C has a height limit of 13.2 hh, and is similar to the Welsh Mountain pony, except that it has a heavier frame and is more cob-like. Both Section C and the Section D, the Welsh Cob, probably developed through a cross with the Mountain pony and horses brought by the Romans when they went to Wales.

There were later crosses with Spanish horses, which led to the development of the Powys horse. The Powys horse was the foundation stock from which the Section C and Section D developed. Much later in the development of the breed was influence by the indomitable Norfolk Roadster and early Hackney types, as well as the Yorkshire Coach Horse.

Both Section C and D are excellent in harness and the recent revival in competitive driving has increased the use of the Welsh Cobs. Four very influential stallions on both Sections were: Trotting Comet, foaled 1840 from a long line of formidable trotting horses; True Briton, foaled 1830, by a trotting sire out of an Arabian dam; Cymor Llwyd foaled 1850, by the Arabian stallion out of a trotting mare; and lastly Alonzo the Brave, foaled 1866, whose ancestry traced back through Hackney heritage to the Darley Arabian. The heritage of these four sires clearly shows both the trotting and the Arabian influence and these characteristics are present in both Sections today. The Arabian debt is seen in the presence, bearing, and carriage of these two types, and also sometimes in the head and expression of the face. Both Sections are versatile animals with great talent and scope. They have very good temperaments, stamina and endurance, and are easy to keep.

In appearance, the Section C is a smaller version of the D, which has no height limit. They have attractive heads, a good muscular and arched neck, a deep and wide chest, good depth of girth, and a rounded barrel, a compact back, and muscular powerful quarters. The legs are well made, sturdy and strong, and the Section D may have light feathering around the fetlock. they can be any color except piebald or skewbald.

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