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History of the Welsh Breeds
The
original Welsh Mountain Pony is thought to have evolved from the
prehistoric Celtic pony. Welsh ponies were primarily developed
in Wales and existed in the British Isles prior to the arrival
of the Roman Empire. They were adapted to the difficult climate
of severe winters and sparse vegetation. Shelter most often was
an isolated valley or a clump of bare trees. Bands of ponies
roamed in a semi-feral state climbing mountains, leaping
ravines, running over rough moorland terrain. Therefore the
Welsh pony developed intelligence, speed and soundness, and is
known for "heart" and endurance. They are tough and thrifty,
with a steady, tractable, and calm nature,
When the Romans occupied Ancient Britain, they brought horses of
their own, which bred with the native ponies, producing hardy
offspring with substance and attractive appearance. Some
historians believe that Julius Caesar founded a stud for the
ponies on the shores of Lake Bala, only a few miles from Arc de
Triomphe, although little significant evidence of this has been
found.
The characteristics of the breed as it is known today are
thought to have been established by the late 15th century, after
the Crusaders returned to England with Arabian stallions
obtained from the Middle East.
In the 1500s, King Henry VIII, thinking to improve the breeds of
horses, particularly war horses, ordered the destruction of all
stallions under 15 hands and all mares under 13 hands.
Fortunately the ponies in the wild, remote, and inaccessible
mountains of Wales escaped this order.
On the upland farms of Wales, Welsh ponies and cobs would often
have to do everything from ploughing a field to carrying a
farmer to market or driving a family to services on Sunday. When
coal mining became important to the economy of England, many
Welsh ponies were harnessed for use in mines, above and below
ground. In the 18th century and 19th century, more Arabian blood
was added by stallions who were turned out in the Welsh hills.
Other breeds have also been added, including the Hackney,
Thoroughbred, Norfolk Roadster, and the Yorkshire Coach Horse.
In 1901, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society was formed in the United
Kingdom, with the first Stud Book published the following year.
In 1949, the sections of the Stud Book (A, B, C, and D) were
introduced. The United States registry, also named the Welsh
Pony and Cob Society, was incorporated in 1906.
One important stallion in the Welsh breed since the 1900s was
Dyoll Starlight, credited with being the foundation sire of the
modern breed, and who was a combination of Welsh and Arab
breeding. 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.
A life-sized statue of a Welsh cob stallion was erected in the
town of Aberaeron in 2005 donated to the town by the Aberaeron
Festival of Welsh Ponies and Cobs to denote the area as Welsh
Cob country. It was created by sculptor David Mayer.
A small feral population of about 180 animals roams the
Carneddau mountains in Snowdonia.
The
Welsh Cob [Section D]...
is
the largest-sized animal within the Welsh pony and cob breed
registries, and is no shorter than 13.2 hands. Under some
organization rules there may be no upper height limit, others
require they not be over 14.2hh.
Though they are the tallest and stockiest of the Welsh sections,
the head remains full of pony character, with large eyes, and
neat ears. The legs may be relatively short, also akin to pony
proportions. Mature stallions have somewhat cresty necks, those
of mares are generally leaner. Like the section C, they have
powerful, extravagant action. Grey colouring is rarer in the
section D cob than other types of Welsh ponies, but bold white
markings are common.
Today, the Section D is best known for use in harness driving,
but they are also shown under saddle and in hand. Like other
Welsh ponies, Cobs are also exhibited over fences as hunters and
jumpers.
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Sources:-
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_section_d#Section_D_-_Cob
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