Adults with ponies - Connemaras vs Welsh D?

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Kacey88

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Hi everyone :)

I have owned a connemara before but know nothing about Welsh cobs, although my first pony was a Welsh Section A. Anywho, been thinking because I'm just over 7 stone I should probably save myself some money and get a native instead of a horse. Very early stages of research - but as I am in Ireland and am into showing a bit I thought a connemara is an obvious choice, but I just love Welsh cobs! Has anyone much experience with the two? I would love some info on their temperament differences, I know connemaras are great jumpers but I am probably more into flatwork and would love to try dressage. I would consider getting a welsh cob from the UK if I had to.

Any adults out there prefer natives to horses? Thanks in advance for any advice :)
 
I have dealt with both Section D and Connemara extensively when I worked as a groom in Wales and both are fantastic for their own reasons but I personally would go for a Connemara every time. Brilliant ponies, so versatile and willing. Never met one which didn't have a heart of gold. I used to do BE with a great Connemara gelding for his owner and he never let me down. I did a lot of backing and breaking of welshies for a woman I worked for who bred them and while I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and loved the ponies I did find that they tend to be hotter and a little more anxious than the Connemara and need a certain sensitivity to get the best out of them. However, they are very smart, loyal and I found the majority of them to be athletic and talented.
 
I had a sec d as a teenager and my daughter has a Connie now, both lovely ponies with the welsh being more flashy but I have to say the Connie is so willing, kind and uncomplicated. As the previous poster has said a heart of gold. My welshie was lovely but could be headstrong. I would have to say go for the Connie :)
 
I currently have a connie, but had a welsh sec d prior to that.

I loved my welshie for his beauty and movement, but could be neurotic and over sensitive. He was a very scopey jumper but could be spooky at fillers. However to hack and hunt he was superb - comfortable, bold, forward going but totally bomproof.

My connie is more consistent in his attitude and wants to please more - he has manners to burn and jumps anything you put him at. On the downside he does not have the looks and paces of the Welsh. However he is equally nice to hack and hoping he will come in to his own once hunting resumes.

On balance I prefer the connie - just because he is an easier horse to ride and more consistent in his attitude.

Hope that helps!
 
I love my welsh D - he is stubborn but so sweet, kind and patient (he's my first horse - he puts up with a lot!). He has a lot of character, can be very cheeky and is very clever - i have to thnk quickly to stay ahead of him sometimes! But The more we get to know each other the better I deal with his stubbornness and cheekiness ! I don't have any experience with Connie's except that my friend has one and he spooks at everything! But I hear this is unusual for Connie's!

Don't know if that's helpful or not! I'll always say go for a Welsh D! But not if you want an easy life!
 
Carojay said:
I don't have any experience with Connie's except that my friend has one and he spooks at everything! But I hear this is unusual for Connie's!
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Mine literally spooked at his own shadow! I think my Connie was a dodgy model as he seemed to go against every Connie stereotype going and has put me off the breed for life! Loved him to bits but he was impossible to do anything with, was extremely stubborn and very opinionated, awful in any kind of traffic and could nap for england. However he was absolutely stunning and had the most fantastic ground manners (at least that's something ;) !!)

I do love Section D's and would go for one over a Connie, however due to the above I think I am probably very biased! Connies generally are supposed to have fantastic temperaments, be very trainable, and have an amazing jump (this last point is true, he jumped over the gate from standstill on an almost daily basis as I went to catch him). Section D's in my experience have been a bit hotter and more sensitive, but very whizzy and fun.
 
I have a connie and he is a star. He has the most lovely, gentle temperament, great to hack and school, jumps like a stag and is an all round nice person. So I would go for a Connemara.
Most of the D's I know have been talented and athletic but have an attitude to match, they can be sharp and neurotic. Some love them, some don't get on with them at all.
I have a welsh A, so not a D but not far off, and he is feisty, cheeky, has a right "make me" attitude and can be very sharp.
Of course, there are exceptions but generally I find Connemara's to be more biddable and consistent than the welshes.
 
I have ridden both Connie's and welsh cobs, both breeds can have neurotic and chill out characters. Think if I were you I'd try and ride both breeds and see which movement you like most as they move differently.
 
I have had both I have had really quiet welsh D with a heart of gold and so versatile you could do anything with her She was calm enough for a baby or bold enough to x country I have had a fiery on is toes Welsh D too
I have a connie now but I am told she is typical of one although she is my only one so I cant tell she is loyal devoted to one person but very quirky she is a real princess wont eat the grass unless it is clean so wont settle and graze at a show it simply isnt clean enough for her. She is hard to feed wont eat treats or hand fed food and will only be your friend when she has known you for months She turns her head away until she feels you are important enough to acknowledge. She is as stubborn as a mule too sometimes it is rare but I am told it is a common Connie trait So I am the opposite if you want easy then a welsh D if you want different a Connie is best
 
NinjaPony said:
I have a welsh A, so not a D but not far off, and he is feisty, cheeky, has a right "make me" attitude and can be very sharp.
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Mine is exactly like this! Sometimes if you use a whip or spur he will stop or buck or kick as if to say 'you just try doing that again' and then other times the whip or spur will do exactly what you intend the. To do! I love his funny character, even though sometimes I wish he would just do what he's told!

windand rain said:
She is hard to feed wont eat treats or hand fed food and will only be your friend when she has known you for months
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My welsh is like this too - a real one person pony - when I first had him he had the attitude of 'why should I do what you say I don't know who you are!' But now he knows me he is much better!

I've made him sound like a bit of a monkey, well he is but as i said earlier, he's brilliant and he gets better everyday! I've had him for nearly 8 months now, so still early days but I am really glad I got a Welsh D and wouldn't change him for the world!
 
I currently own a welsh D and had a welsh x before him and whilst both were / are flashy showoffs and could be spooky that is where the similarity ends! My first boy was a very forward pony and could be strong at times but he was also quite straightforwards and whilst he was excitable he wasn't stressy and had quite a sensible head on his shoulders. He could be a spooky little sod but the majority of his spooks were easily manageable.

Second horse has good general ground manners but is so over-sensitive it is untrue and if something upsets him he has a bit of a meltdown. (leading to a variety of fun things from kicking, rearing, bolting, freezing, going backwards, snorting and general drama-queeness) When you have his attention he is a fun, responsive ride, when you don't he's a pain in the backside and in the wrong situation has the potential to be dangerous.

Never owned a connie but have known and ridden a few. Generally found them to be pleasant and a bit more level headed but still with typical pony cheekiness and stubbornness. Tend to be less flashy than the welshies in their paces.

Both breeds can generally turn their hoof to most things at a low level and the majority of the ones I've met have been very nice allrounders.
 
Husband & I share a welsh D & a conny. Welshy can be bolshy & bouncy but real fun & safe.
Conny seems easier to ride but can throw a tantrum in occasion.
Both seem true to type & I'd just see what comes your way - try both they both have good & bad points.
 
As the owner of a welsh D I wouldn't actually buy another....there is nothing wrong with him temperment wise but I feel a connie would be the superior allrounder.
 
I have 2 sec D's and would have another. Maybe only 1 soon though as the other girly is out on trial... :(

The first one I've had 8 years, first pony! She is awesome you can do anything with her just has the best temperament. Put any rider on of any ability and she will just adapt-but put on someone who thinks they're better than they are and she will show them up. She is a real allrounder and bombproof. She's not without her quirks but she's just brilliant.

The second I've had 14 months. She is more a stereotypical welsh D, scared of her shadow and plastic bags etc! Quite backwards in the school but a gem in the respect that she's traffic proof, generally sensible and loves her jumping. Boy can she jump! She is currently out on trial as though she's very gentle and sweet on the ground we don't 'click' ridden wise and I am not really competitive so feel she is wasted. It's been a really really hard decision as I do adore her but just day 2 of her trial and they took her off down the beach with a 12 yr old boy on top (she will be his pony if they buy her) and she was a superstar.
 
I may be a bit biased as I have only ever owned a Connie x Arab and a full Connie but I absolutely love the breed. Kenny (full) is such a character, yes he can be a sod but I don't think there is a day where I come home and he hasn't made me laugh at something, even if its just his expressions to things! He's only young but will try his heart out when ridden. He can be slightly spooky in heavy traffic but he is only 6 and not been around it much.

Maybe they're not for everyone but I certainly will be having more if I get the chance!
 
I used to have an unregistered Welsh D - very typey. She had had a very bad accident before coming to me, so was limited slightly in what we could do, but I only wanted a happy hacker, and she's a very lovely amenable character. She's now with a young woman with learning difficulties and they have a fabulous time taking care of each other.

My daughter has a Welsh C on loan, with another baby Welsh C waiting to be her next pony. The loan pony is fabulous, was very green when she came to us as she hda been backed a couple of years, but only ever hacked out. She's now becoming a fabulous dressage and jumping pony, very willing and keen, but safe too. Took us a while to find the right bit for her as she was very fussy in her mouth (teeth up to date, no problems) but now working really nicely in a happy mouth loose ring snaffle with roller. She is the perfect child/small teenager's pony - daughter is 9yo, pony is about 12.2. Our baby C is 3 years old so hasn't started proper ridden work yet. Daughter has sat on him and ridden him bitless and bareback on little hacks around our fields. He's such a gentle willing soul, I'm really looking forward to next year when we start him properly.

If daughter ever outgrows him - we're hoping he might make 13.1 - I would be looking at a NF or Welsh D, although daughter fancies a Highland...

Oh and natives win over horses every time for me - daughter has been warned I'm disowning her if she outgrows native ponies and wants to get a horse!!!
 
w1bbler said:
Both seem true to type & I'd just see what comes your way - try both they both have good & bad points.
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I think this sums up the thread so far! Maybe I should keep an open mind.

Would anyone agree that if you were into dressage a Welsh Cob might be the better option? I really don't do much jumping - if I did I'd definitely go for a connie.
 
I don't know anything about Welsh Cobs so I cannot give any advice there. The only stud of Welshies I know of is Muskerry in Co. Cork. There are probably more, I just don't know about them!

You can get many a flashy Connie ;) How about a Connie x Arab ? The one's I bred had very flashy movement but were good and strong of their backs. (When I see Welshies they seem to be quite dipped in the back. This probably does not affect them at all but it looks weak to me, although maybe I am just not used to them.)


Happy shopping!
 
Welsh Ds are renowned for being difficult. Some are AMAZING and straightforward, but many are this weird mix of being forward going but lazy, spooky but bolshy.... the saying is that they have 'one hoof on world domination and one on the panic button'. For example I once heard Kelly Marks saying she'd be out of business if it wasn't for Welsh Ds. I have one and adore hm btu it took several years to get my head around what on earth goes on in HIS head, and I'm not sure I'd buy one again - give me a nice straightforward TB or Arab any time! Welsh Ds seem to be either/or - either they're saints you could put anyone on, or they're as I describe earlier on. You'll see that a lot of ads for Welsh Ds say cryptic things like 'needs experienced rider to bring out the best in him', that sort of thing. Don't take that lightly!!!

An example: yesterday my welsh D farted, then spooked at the noise. Often he sneezes then spooks. Or trips then spooks. Or sees a shadow - anything really. And I don't just mean a little 'oh what wsa that' spook, I mean 'Oh MY GOD THERE IS A LION COMING FOR ME AND I'M GOING TO GALLOP HALF A FIELD'.

Connies on the other hand tend to be much more level headed. If you don't have experience really with welsh Ds I'd get a nice connie, ideally one from Ireland where they all seem to be fun-loving and sensible. Also as you're veryyyy light connies are often more lightly built and athletic, meaning they may be a bit more manageable (obviously depends on the type).
 
Welshies are more flashy and have more expressive paces but can be a bit more difficult to get to perform nicely I have known many good dressage welshes but the connies are less expressive and generally less open but are more biddable and forgiving so for dressage maybe a good connie may suit better
 
Morgan123 said:
Welsh Ds are renowned for being difficult. Some are AMAZING and straightforward, but many are this weird mix of being forward going but lazy, spooky but bolshy.... the saying is that they have 'one hoof on world domination and one on the panic button'. For example I once heard Kelly Marks saying she'd be out of business if it wasn't for Welsh Ds. I have one and adore hm btu it took several years to get my head around what on earth goes on in HIS head, and I'm not sure I'd buy one again - give me a nice straightforward TB or Arab any time! Welsh Ds seem to be either/or - either they're saints you could put anyone on, or they're as I describe earlier on. You'll see that a lot of ads for Welsh Ds say cryptic things like 'needs experienced rider to bring out the best in him', that sort of thing. Don't take that lightly!!!

An example: yesterday my welsh D farted, then spooked at the noise. Often he sneezes then spooks. Or trips then spooks. Or sees a shadow - anything really. And I don't just mean a little 'oh what wsa that' spook, I mean 'Oh MY GOD THERE IS A LION COMING FOR ME AND I'M GOING TO GALLOP HALF A FIELD'.
.
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My friends Welshie makes me think of this clip :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCRBH_N0B-Q
 
Hhahah that is EXACTLY EXACTLY what my friend always says when he does it!! She introduced me to the exact same Catherine Tate sketch. She thinks it's hysterical (from her nice unspooky tb :-(!!!!) lol.
 
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