Welsh cobs

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Morland

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Can you tell me what Welsh cobs are really like to own and ride? I have heard they can be a bit thick and pushy... or are they intelligent and co-operative like my arab? Let me know your experiences!
 
My Genie's VERY intelligent... If she wants to get into the next field she puts her head between the fence rails and lifts the top rail off, then hops over the bottom. I don't find her bolshy at all, she can jump, she's great cross country, and very honest. If she wants to shift, then she will!!! I personally love welsh cobs!
 
Thick? Not a chance. Try your luck with my welsh cob and he'll show you who's got the brains.

And cooperative? Again, not a chance!
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The chances of finding a horse that conforms to the breed stereotypes are very slim. You will find all variations of characteristics in different horses. My own welsh d is stubborn, strong-willed, uncooperative, cheeky, sweet, brave, strong, very intelligent. My husband's welsh d was similar but more willing and less stubborn!

I meant to say that he's versatile and bombproof to boot. He will only get funny at say, a random tractor, if he thinks it's his golden opportunity to scare me and head for home (this is where intelligence comes in - if we are on a steep incline, he may well back up at speed down the hill for eg.). He doesn't scare me, though. I trust the dumbass not to kill himself
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Very intelligent - mine is too intelligent for his own good sometimes. He is as stubborn as a mule, sharp, very cheeky and when he wants to do something, he absolutely excels. The trick is getting him to want to do it in the first place.

On a good day he's fabulous, on a bad day he's absolutely vile! He's out on loan now and the loaners adore him, even though he can be very cheeky. I went up to see him over Xmas when he was supposedly lame...asked loaners to put him on lunge and he spent 10 mins going flat out, rodeo bucking, squealing and farting.

He has more personality than any horse I've ever known and he definitely kept me on my toes! I would never call him cooperative but def intelligent and can be v pushy. He's always trying to push things with his loaner and she's always having to tell him off!
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The traditional Welsh Cobs which are derived from the traditional Welsh Mountain Ponies have an excellent and laid back temprement. They are bombproof and spookproof canbe ridden by children or adults and can turn their hand to anything from dressage, to LeTrec.
 
My Sec D x TB is very intellegent (altho a bit blonde sometimes). She has no awareness of personal space altho I put this down to her upbringing in a herd. She is very argumentative if she doesn't understand something, but take the time to explain it properly and she takes to things like a pro.

Basically she's amazing to own.
 
I have sec D x appy and although he can be a bit bolshy i think this is more because he is still a stallion (at 3.5) his intellegance stretches to getting our traditional gypsy cob to do all the naughty stuff ie. crashing through fences so that he can jump over the remaining and get to the grass!
He is very energetic and we are learning he has a fantastic jump on him.
He is also a very quick learner
 
I have 2 both completely different, my biglad is amazing and can compete in any discipline - he is a fast learner and very intelligent. He is also a pleasure to own he has a quirky personality with an abundance of affection to give. The youngster is a filly she is more single minded with a little too much attitude but still very quick to learn! I wouldn't have any other breed! I love em
 
Thanks for quick responses! You are right - 'intelligent' and 'co-operative' don't always go together. My arab is both as long as I ask her to do what she's happy doing... A calm, consistent approach is called for.
 
Ours is v intelligent too. She is like and equine houdini and can get herself out of most places.

She is incredibly affectionate too. Loves a cuddle and a scratch. Wouldn't be without her. Hilarious watching her keep my 16.3 wb in check.
 
I luv 'em - mine's fab - she'll try anything, ignores most things lots of other horses find spooky (noisy machinery, traffic, windy days, etc.) but thinks about spooking if a leaf falls off a bush ! Fun to ride & great to handle.
 
ive got a welsh d X connemara and my god intelligent definitely, he is very quick to learn and will turn his hoof to anything but he definitely makes it known when he doesnt want to do something, but you couldnt find a more affectionate lad.
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:D:D absolutely love em!
 
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Go for a Welsh Cob! They're great fun and can do anything! I used to breed them! I've defected now though and gone for an ID x TB!!! Mum has Sec C's at home and a D filly approx 9 to 10 months old who I plan to steal!!!!
 
I think you either love them or hate them.
They have their own attitude and this needs to be understood. Very intelligent, versatile breed, however i have found with mine he has a very active brain and needs this channeling in the right direction. Had another welsh though who was as different nature again, intelligent but willing to use it to your advantage. Both welshes have been extremely versatile and held their own whatever company they have been competing in.
My trainer sometimes says he is having a 'welsh day' only welshie owners will understand this terminology!
Wouldn't swap mine for anything in the world though.
 
Bright as a button, which means that they can come across as stubborn at times because, like arabs, they think too much. Although they are generally a bit more amenable, eg, those I have known WILL lunge even though they think it's pointless, but they like to please you, whereas arabs know how to trot in pointless circles so often don't see the point in doing it at all.

They are capable of doing anything, within their physical capabilities, and, IF they have a mind to, they'll try their hearts out for you.

Not bad looking either really and they have a bit of spark to them too.
 
Horseyhetha - haha yes I know exactly what you mean! Genie will have a 'welsh day' whenever we want to put her on a lorry to go somewhere! However, show her some food and that's sorted!
 
I love them too! over the years we've stood stallions and had mares and youngters, usually too many!! They all have their own little traits, but definately intelligent, wonderful sense of humour and very sweet to deal with. They can sometimes be sharper than people give them credit for and some lines are definate worriers.We have two at home at the moment. My homebred Trakehner X, the sweetest people person horse you could wish to meet who I wanted to sell to a Rodeo when we backed her! and my teenage daughter's sec D, a wonderful pcl allrounder who is also affliated BE,such a genuine,talented honest boy whose humour keeps my daughter in check!!Wouldn't be without them....
 
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Horseyhetha - haha yes I know exactly what you mean! Genie will have a 'welsh day' whenever we want to put her on a lorry to go somewhere! However, show her some food and that's sorted!

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Yes mine too, although he can gor for weeks and be perfect/go on straight away, and then suddenly one day he thinks no i will have them wait a while - carrots/food/shouting etc do not work, he goes in when he feels ready. The joys of the welsh!!!
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Horseyhetha - haha yes I know exactly what you mean! Genie will have a 'welsh day' whenever we want to put her on a lorry to go somewhere! However, show her some food and that's sorted!

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Yes mine too, although he can gor for weeks and be perfect/go on straight away, and then suddenly one day he thinks no i will have them wait a while - carrots/food/shouting etc do not work, he goes in when he feels ready. The joys of the welsh!!!
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But never once will they try and hurt you! Thats another reason they are so special, taf bites the seams on my jeans and if he takes a bit too much and gets my skin he looks at me with genuine regret, then cowers in a corner incase you bash him! (where he gets that from i've no idea he's never had a bash)
 
I love my welsh D - he is fab. Very loving, cheeky, nosey, funny, iteligent, clever, fast learner, inquisitive. You name it he is it!
I love him to pieces and wouldn't swap him for the world.
He can turn his hoof to anything and would go to the end of the world for me if i asked him to!
 
Definitely know there own minds, go like little choo choo trains and think way much, experts at opening gates, bolts etc which means there yes there are too intelligent for there own good.

Used to have one when I was young, now looking after one...a spooky chestnut mare with 4 white socks (dear god help me!) they say you always go back to your roots lol execpt this time its chestnut and its a mare lol....and I don't do mares!
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I've just loaned a Sec D; Only been at my place for 4 days, but already I have fallen for him in a big way!!
I put him straight out with my other two ponies, and he just ran around with them, grazed with them and he hasn't left their sides since.
Today I walked him in hand around the village, we came across a tractor and a skip lorry, they didn't bother him at all
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He was sooo interested in everything he made me smile.
Tomorow I shall tack him up and go for a potter around, I'm so excited!
 
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My trainer sometimes says he is having a 'welsh day' only welshie owners will understand this terminology!


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PMSL - been there, done that, got the t-shirt!
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My Welsh Cob is quirky, bolshy, intelligent, button-pushing, stroppy, heartbreakingly beautiful, stubborn, talented, tries her heart out, jumps like a stag (on her own terms, not mine) and has the biggest trot of any horse I have ever known. She is like a 17hh hunter trapped in a 14.2hh body with a mischevious pony spark mixed in for good measure.

Make of that what you will!
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Thick? thick? what a horrid word! Is there such a thing as a thick horse lol? Section D's I've found are intelligent and great all rounders although I've yet to met one that would be truely suitable for a novice rider. They've all been wizzy genuine and forward going with heaps of cheek lol
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mine is a sec d, chesnut mare!! some say one of the worst cobinations u can get. totally stunning, totally clever!!
ive had a few issues with mine but she's only young but i do think they need fair and firm. ditto what the others say, for all her issues still feel very safe on her an she'd never set out to kill you but they do tend to need alot of work/stimulation. i tend to find the ones that were bred for showing-as mine is- are more difficult but have a real look at me thing. i wouldn't be without her.
 
Section D's are one of the most intelligent breeds of horse. Beautiful, lovely to ride, can be very spirited and have great scope making great all-rounders.
 
i have 2 and they're very different, apart from both being highly intelligent. thick definitely does not come into the Welsh breed description. quick to learn good and bad, intelligent, fiery, naughty, know how to push the boundaries etc. get them on side and they'll try their hearts out for you. one of my mine is very bolshy and bargy and throws his weight around, the other is gentle as a lamb and scared of everything. both very talented and both have huge jumps on them.
 
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