tell me about Welsh D's...

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An opportunity has arisen for me to acquire a Welsh D youngster. Just wondering what your thoughts are on the breed? Also your experiences, for those that own them? Trainability, attitude etc...

Thanks.
 
Cheeky but lovable ... they often need a confident handler but that's true with any youngster but the keep their large personalities :)
 
I have a welsh x sec D 5yo she is very strong minded l have had her 2 years and l am just getting her trust now. I am breaking her in myself at the moment with help of my instructor ans she is proving to be a fast learner.

They mature late so l think you have to go at there speed and you can end up with a fantastic horse. I would not swap Ellie for anything though it has been tough at times.
 
There are lots of previous threads about welsh Ds. Basically, either they're as solid as a rock and you could do anything with them, or (and I think this stands for the majority) they are complete neurotic nutcases (I say this as I am currently limping and all my muscles feel like chewed string after being thrown off mine at the weekend at speed into a field of rocks because some sweetcorn waved in the wind).

My favourite welsh D saying is that they have one hoof on world domination, the other on the panic button. Mine is opinionated, affectionate and extremely cheeky, but also scared of everything (e.g. he spooks regularly at his own tail, his own sneezes, even the other day his own hoof).

I will never sell mine, but he is by no means easy and I am not sure I would buy a welsh D again I am more an Arab/TB type person)! He gets by by being exceedingly handsome and charming. However, of course as with any breed they are all individuals. See the youngster and test him for spookiness, I say. And try clicker training, they are greedy so it works like a charm.
 
Personally I would never buy a Sec D again. Mine was a loving gentle animal on the ground, unless something unusual wound him up. A headcase when ridden, never was taught passage but could certainly perform it in grand style plus heavy snorting when even a little excited. Totally predictable as you could always expect him to play up strongly at the drop of a hat, particularly if mares were about. I did consider that he could have been a rig but he was far more loopy/dangerous than any stallion I have ridden so that would not have excused him. My dressage instructors NEVER offered to get on him as they did for other people. Enough said.
 
Morgan123 said:
There are lots of previous threads about welsh Ds. Basically, either they're as solid as a rock and you could do anything with them, or (and I think this stands for the majority) they are complete neurotic nutcases (I say this as I am currently limping and all my muscles feel like chewed string after being thrown off mine at the weekend at speed into a field of rocks because some sweetcorn waved in the wind).

My favourite welsh D saying is that they have one hoof on world domination, the other on the panic button. Mine is opinionated, affectionate and extremely cheeky, but also scared of everything (e.g. he spooks regularly at his own tail, his own sneezes, even the other day his own hoof).

I will never sell mine, but he is by no means easy and I am not sure I would buy a welsh D again I am more an Arab/TB type person)! He gets by by being exceedingly handsome and charming. However, of course as with any breed they are all individuals. See the youngster and test him for spookiness, I say. And try clicker training, they are greedy so it works like a charm.
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That makes me laugh, you've just been describing mine!!

Welshies well you either have a friend or a foe for life, mine is one on Monday and the other on Tuesday. But I love her. To bit, is very good alrounder and would never let her go, untill she throws me.....;)

I would say make sure you are confident if buying such a youngster. Ang go with your heart! Good luck
 
I had one from 6 months old to 28 years. 16hh of solid muscle. Kind and loving, never put his ears back, nipped or kicked. Jumped like a stag, never refused although he did jump me off plenty of times and went round corners too fast and ejected me out of the side door.

However, he was as mad as a box of frogs in a nice way. Very very forward to ride, bounced everywhere, never got tired and I never found the bottom of him. Despite being a 'shaken rather than stirred' ride he never bucked or reared, he just bounced along like a giant rubber ball. After hunting I was always exhausted, he never was. He was nicknamed 'The Welsh Dragon' out hunting because he was always covered in sweat and looked like he was breathing fire.

I would not advise a first time buyer to go pure welsh cob especially a younger horse and I personally would not buy myself another one now I am a lot older. They are fun, action packed horses for young at heart and fit and confident riders to enjoy.
 
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Versatile, affectionate, good-looking, spooky, intelligent, stubborn, bouncy, loads of stamina/attitude.

My last three have been Sec D's. I am now almost 50 and my next one is hopefully going to be a more laid back traditional type of cob.

They have been my perfect horse for the past 27 years, but I do think they are a young person's horse, and if you're taking on a youngster you need to know what you're doing.
 
My favourite welsh D saying is that they have one hoof on world domination, the other on the panic button. Mine is opinionated, affectionate and extremely cheeky, but also scared of everything (e.g. he spooks regularly at his own tail, his own sneezes, even the other day his own hoof).


Brilliant, this describes mine to perfection! I am on my 3rd, the previous two being Cob X Arab and Cob X TB now a full Sect D, love him but to be honest it is really hard to believe that something so big and powerfull can be scared of so much! Saying that he is fantastic with traffic including lorries and tractors but if a cat so much as stretches he is in the air and ready to make a run for home. They are beautiful and full of character but I think they take a little time and effort to understand. Good luck OP if you choose to take him on, you'll need it! Only joking.:D
 
If your looking for a REAL long term challenge then fine but if like most sensible people you want a nice average youngster to bring on then run a mile
You can't even look at the youngster and decide because chances are as soon as you get him home he will change, or within a few weeks anyway
They are nearly always more intelligent and one step ahead than the owner!!' meaning that they gradually take over who is boss and with a welsh more than any other breed you need to be boss. However they also have a incredible sense of fairness and if you cross it if your lucky you will live to regret it :)
Havinga said all that. The welshies I have had full and part bred have taught me more than all the others
Would I do it again. NO!!
Way too much hard work and sore parts if my body
 
Mine is a spooky beast too although at the age of 12 he finally seems to be outgrowing it. He's very willing and honest ride, doesn't generally buck and never rears. He's a complete nitwit but he's adorable and full of character. More intelligent than he lets on but is know on another forum for being particularly stupid an comical. He's not your typical welsh, doesn't get hot about anything other than jumping an even then he's easy to control.
 
My second pony was a welsh D - she was obstinate, head-strong and a stubborn little pig (had to use three highly similar words to get this point across!) but with it had LOADS of character and was a really safe ride (when she wasn't trying it on with the napping).

I now have a half welshy and he doesn't seem to have the same qualities but is unbroken so lord knows what he'll be like once he is broken in. I will say that they have HUGE personalities and hearts of gold.
 
Haha thanks guys! You have all confirmed pretty much what i was thinking. I was going to take him on for me and get my daughter a pony to grow into but i dont think il have the...how can i word it...energy/stamina?...to spend battling with the D as well as bringin on the pony. Think il stick to original plan of getting myself a sane but forwars going riding horse and stick to bringing on a nice quiet pony for the little one!

:) Loved reading through that cob post!
 
My wife has had her welsh D (chestnut mare) for 11 years now.
Revel certainly has her own opionions on how the world should (has to) work and on her people. She see's me as the boss and is very loving, affectionate and well behaved. She see's my wife as a friend so on equal terms with her. This can lead to disagreements.
She see's our daughter as the hired help and treats her as such.

Revel is very talented. Apart from her main role of dressage comp horse (BD Adv Med) she is a pleasure to hack alone or in comany, showjumps (at her pace) and will do pretty much anything you ask of her.

Perfect to clip, catch, shoe etc.

Would we leave her in novice hands? Not on your life. :eek:
 
My favourite welsh D saying is that they have one hoof on world domination, the other on the panic button. Mine is opinionated, affectionate and extremely cheeky, but also scared of everything (e.g. he spooks regularly at his own tail, his own sneezes, even the other day his own hoof).
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However, he was as mad as a box of frogs in a nice way. Very very forward to ride, bounced everywhere, never got tired and I never found the bottom of him. Despite being a 'shaken rather than stirred' ride he never bucked or reared, he just bounced along like a giant rubber ball. After hunting I was always exhausted, he never was. He was nicknamed 'The Welsh Dragon' out hunting because he was always covered in sweat and looked like he was breathing fire.
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Are you two sure that we don't own the same horse? ;)
I own a (we think!) Welsh D x Connie and this describes him beautifully, except he has been known to have the odd rear!
Mine is very sweet but terribly forward and would certainly hold his own out BSJA or BE, although we might have a problem getting over the 'scary' fences :rolleyes:
What I am trying to say is that they tend to be super versatile and they can give any horse a run for their money, it's just a matter of keeping their head together and preventing any meltdowns!
I've found Welsh D's to combine stunning good looks, great personalities and huge talent and if you gel with them then you will have a fantastic horse for life! :D

Would I own another? YES!
They aren't half fun! :D
 
I've been putting some schooling on a Section D for someone and I think the line about one hoof on world domination and the other on the panic button describes the little mare to a tee. I've never worked much with British natives (not many in the US) and I have to say, the wee Welshie mare isn't like the draft-crosses, warmbloods, Arabs, thoroughbreds, and quarter horses I have dealt with over the years. She's a wonderful little horse, quick to learn, but has this weird combination of cheekiness, willingness, stubbornness, boldness and spookiness and I'm not quite sure sometimes what to make of it. It's great fun working with her though; so different from the draft/TB crosses I'm used to. It's forcing me to be a bit creative in training her. When I ask a draft-cross to do something new, I feel the question they ask me is, "How?" When I ask the Welshie D to do something new, the question she asks is, "Why?"
 
They are forward thinking, move very well and usually good jumpers; to be honest if you ride well enough to bring on a youngster you shouldn't have any trouble. The canter can need a bit of training, but they can really trot!!

I had a 14.2hh a few years ago that I backed and produced, jumped him senior BS(JA) to 1.10m before I sold him to a girl who took him on to 1.20/1.30 and he won many classes, went to Grade A.
I had another I regularly took out bloodhounding and he would jump the hedges with the best of them.

I find that the harder they work, the better they get. They need a 'job'.
 
POLLDARK said:
Personally I would never buy a Sec D again. Mine was a loving gentle animal on the ground, unless something unusual wound him up. A headcase when ridden, never was taught passage but could certainly perform it in grand style plus heavy snorting when even a little excited. Totally predictable as you could always expect him to play up strongly at the drop of a hat, particularly if mares were about. I did consider that he could have been a rig but he was far more loopy/dangerous than any stallion I have ridden so that would not have excused him. My dressage instructors NEVER offered to get on him as they did for other people. Enough said.
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You've just described my Welsh D x mare! The most exasperating creature God ever created, but I wouldn't change her for the world. Yes, she jogged for hours, yes she would gallop off when the fancy took her (most of the time if she saw grass), yes she would spit out her dummy if she anticipated what we were going to do, did it without being asked then I aborted it, yes, she wouldn't have ANYTHING AT ALL in front of her (including cyclists) but she never reared, bucked or was seriously rude, and I could trust her completely with the tiniest of children around her (not my children I should add). And yes, I always referred to her as the headcase! She has taught me to be patient (arrgghhhh) and not think she should do something just because I said so - she isn't a machine and sometimes she just isn't in the right mood - just like me. She is definitely a one-person horse and sometimes I think we are both sides of the same coin.
 
It's so amusing to read everyone has experienced the same kind of characteristics!
Have a Welsh D 2yo now, Her front legs fly everywhere, eyes pop out her head in new environments and she haunches up into a ball getting ready to charge at any second, bombs about the second a horse leaves her eyesight for the entire time, farrier has to keep the dog in the car else she will try to chase it rather than have her feet trimmed and bonkers doesn't quite sum her up.

She's your best friend at the same time though, follows you round like a dog and as long as you read the signs fast and avoid any conflict, things can be fairly straight forwards.

Grew up with a Welsh D too, my mums riding horse she had since a foal. Fab horse and was great for my mum but everyone else hated riding her. She was also great on roads yet when my mum was pregnant, she loaned her out and she soon came back branded as dangerous and had an accident on the roads. She was a bit shook up for a while but soon settled when back in familiar hands again and in her older age is happily competing in dressage with her new owner.
 
Caol lla

It wa great to read your
Post. I have tried for ages to
Explain to people that welsh D's are a breed of their own, unlike other horses. You made me laugh while nodding my head at the way the welsh says 'why' not 'how'. I found that too. Give them a reason and they will try their hardest. I was trying to teach mine how to do turn on haunches and forehand. As you said he was saying why. Tool him to a closed gate that was normally open and asked him. Suddenly he no longer asked why!!
Luckily for me I have a nice WB now. After 8 yrs with my last welsh I have my 2nd WB and boy life is so much simpler, still have challenges just not such difficult ones. So much so it took me a long time to realise that it was my welsh that was the odd one and most other horses are so much easier
 
Have 2 living with us at the moment, a lovely broodmare who is a complete softie , has been used as a ridden and very safe and not mareish at all.Also have a lovely gelding who is spooky , but moves like a dream and is very genuine and trusting.Love welshies we have a secb too.
 
I have a part bred but he has a lot of the welsh characteristics described on here. Too clever for his own good. Way ahead of me. Very loving and kind natured though. Is the boss of the herd although not the biggest but also very kind to the smallest horse. If he doesn't want to do something it is very hard to persuade him. A fun safe ride but agree can be a bit spooky. You will have a friend for life.
 
They are the Collie dogs of the horse world

They need something to do, good solid handling and boundaries, learn very fast and are loyal and biddable

If your home and handling is the equivilent of being in a one bedroom high rise flat then you will get trouble!
 
I bought a young, greenish one as my first horse and schooling project... he managed to ruin my confidence within the first 3 months to the point I didn't want to get on him and it took me hours to catch him :o :D However since passing his initiation (still not quite sure what the rules were) we have had a great relationship and he is genuinely affectionate.

In situations where you'd understand why he would throw a wobbler, he copes fantastically (loves travelling, great in traffic etc) but a block not being in the exactly same position as where he last saw it will have him snorting incredulously, and doing his uttermost not to be made to walk anywhere near it for an entire schooling session or even full blown spins if it really takes him by suprise.:rolleyes:

Once you engage his brain and get him to relax and concentrate, he seems to finds the physical work relatively easy. He has loads of athletic ability and really lovely paces but he can also be very spooky, tense and was born with the attention span of a pea...
 
I have had a number of Welshies, from all sections, and probably wont ever have anything else now. I have had TB's, Sports horses, Cobs, Irish draughts, but its the Welsh that have me hooked.

Youngsters, especially colts, can be hard work, and take a lot of time and preparation. I find its all in the way you teach them though. If your quiet and calm, they tend to follow you, but if your hopping and jumping around like a mad hatter, they will also follow suit! But what a site to see! I like nothing more then watching youngsters play in the field, tails on their back, snorting away showing off their power and presence! People sometimes make the mistake in thinking these are signs that they are scared, i can assure you they are not, look in a welsh cobs eyes when its prancing around free, you will see pure delight! Their ears will always be pricked and looking for their spectators!

To ride, my section d is just amazing. He ma only be 14.1hh, but he feels like a big hanovarian dressage horse with his big bouncey paces! yes he can spook at silly little things, but thats how i know he is happy, alert and in good health! In fact I brought him back from a working loan at a college because he went round like a bored donkey, no life in his eyes or bounce in his stride!

They are not for everyone, but i always say " don't knock it till you've tried it!"

x
 
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