Meet the Welsh Pony & Cob: A Wales Tale

By Jayna Pellett

The winsome Welsh Pony and Cob! We are celebrating these ponies as our September Breed of the Month on YourDressage!

Did you know that dressage riders who choose a Welsh Pony or Cob as their dressage mount are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as the Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America, Inc. (WPCSA) is a participating organization?

What the Welsh?

The Welsh Pony and Cob is a breed of small horses and ponies developed over thousands of years in Wales. The first mention of the Welsh breed exists in 15th-century medieval literature, where they were praised for being fast, agile, and strong enough to carry heavy loads for farm work or timbering. However, the modern Welsh Pony and Cob results from Arabian, Thoroughbred, and Hackney influence being added in the 18th and 19th centuries to refine the breed. During this era, horses were the primary form of transportation, so daily commuters sought a mount with speed, stamina, and a quality trot, and the Welsh breed checked all of those boxes.

In addition to bold, powerful movement, Welsh Ponies and Cobs feature a petite head on a muscular neck that feeds into sloped shoulders, a short back, and large hindquarters, all of which sit atop short but strong legs and dense hooves. When Welsh Ponies and Cobs were first exported to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these characteristics allowed the breed to adapt to new terrains, climates, and landscapes easily. With Welsh breed populations growing in the United States, American breeders formed the WPCSA in 1906.

Today, these horses make perfect riding ponies for children – or cobs for adults! With a general character described as “hardy, spirited, and pony-like,” this breed is exceptionally versatile and has competed at the highest levels of pleasure/combined driving, hunter/jumpers, eventing, English and Western pleasure, and, of course, dressage.

The Sections

In 1901, Welsh and English breeders formed the first breed association, the Welsh Pony & Cob Society (WPCS), and subsequently published the first official stud book in 1902. To distinguish the types of ponies within the breed and their uses, breeders began classifying their stock by type and height, and the new breed standard was finalized in 1949. Now, the Welsh Pony and Cob stud book is divided into four sections: A, B, C, and D.

Section A: Welsh Mountain Pony

• Up to 12.2 hands (12 hands in the UK)
• Section A x Section A = Section A

Section A is the smallest of the Welsh types in height, but it is the largest in population, and the foundation from which the other sections developed. This section is also known for being extraordinarily intelligent and kind, making them easily trainable and great partners for young equestrians. Despite being compact and hardy enough to excel in driving, these ponies retain a degree of refinement that fosters natural athleticism, endurance, and, most notably, extreme versatility.

Section B: Welsh Pony Riding-Type

• Up to 14.2 hands (13.2 hands in the UK)
• Section A x Section B = Section B
• Section B x Section B = Section B

Section B is the second section of the Welsh stud book. It refers to the larger, riding-type pony that was initially developed to combine the substantial strength of Section A with the more extended, agile movement of your typical riding-type horse. This development gave way to an even more refined riding-type pony that has since become immensely popular among young riders. Although lighter in build, Section B should still represent the sturdy, heavier-boned type from its mountain pony ancestors.

Section C: Welsh Pony Cob-Type

• Up to 13.2 hands
• Must have at least one C or D parent

Section C is the third section of the Welsh stud book. These ponies are a slightly larger, heavier version of the breed that was originally used for agricultural and industrial work. During World War II, farmers and breeders were required to hand over their horses to the military, which caused colossal damage to many horse populations, including stocky Welsh ponies. After the war, WPCS officially opened Section C to preserve and repopulate the workhorse-type Welsh pony.

Section D: Welsh Cob

• Over 13.2 hands
• Must have at least one C or D parent

Section D is the largest of the Welsh types and has no maximum height limit, making them a popular choice for riders of all ages. Like the other sections, Section D exhibits the same strong yet refined build that allows such versatility and skill in various disciplines, but is the most robust of the divisions. In addition, the Welsh Cob is also known for its particularly powerful and extended gaits, a characteristic that has made them massively successful in the dressage ring.

In addition to the four designated sections, owners can also register half-Welsh and part-bred Welsh horses. For half-Welsh registration, horses must have one purebred Welsh parent registered through one of the WPCS-accredited societies. To register as part-bred, horses must have one half-Welsh parent who is, again, registered as such through one of the Welsh societies.

Regardless of section or half-bred status, all Welsh Ponies and Cobs have proven to be fantastic mounts for riders of all ages, and thanks to massively talented stallions like North Forks Cardi, they continue to make waves in the dressage world. Next time you find yourself searching for a new dance partner, consider a Welsh Pony or Cob – and learn why you’ll never want to go back!