Welsh D 'Sports model' - just how sporty??

scatty_mare

scatty_mare

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I have been offered a baby Welsh section D, 15.2hh, apparently with 'sporty breeding'.
I am looking for something to bring on as an eventer (and all round fun horse), looking for loan (lack of funds due to expensive vets and retirement of current 2 horses :( :() but can offer fab home.
This baby sounds very unspoilt and in photos is beautiful. Owner is genuine as they come and I feel that the arrangement could work beautifully.
Only concern is... can a welsh D potentially event? I would hope to take new horse to at least prenovice... Is this realistic?
Thanks for thoughts :D
 
I know of quite a few sec Ds that do pre novice so i would say yes, go for it.
They can be fantastic jumpers and although not always as fast as a Tb they have great staying power.
 
I have only had limited dealings with Sec D's - I shared some for a few months when I lived nr London. None of these were "sports models" IMO and I would have thought they would not have been competitive compared to ISH, TB, WBs etc for eventing though they would hunt well. But it sounds like stilton's experience is far more rounded than mine.
 
Thank you for replying - and so quickly!
Makes me happy - I like the idea of having a big pony, a bit more robust than my poor, fragile, lovely thoroughbreds (and as a bonus should cost a bit less to feed!) :)
 
Time wise you may struggle - however Bounty was very much a 'hold on!' type of welshie, she would have had no problem making the time round a PN if fit, despite only being 14.2hh. She also had one hell of a jump (I did a grid up to about 1.20m on her which was easy for her, and her owner jumped her over some 2* XC fences) and always got good dressage marks as welshies do seem to hold themselves nicely.
However, they can be quite stubborn ;)
 
Definitely go for it, I am riding one at the moment for a friend, I took him for a lesson with my trainer who doesn't mince his words (BE acc and course designer etc). He was very very complimentary about the little chap and recommended to the owners they try some eventing with him. In my opinion he is too fat, but he is very very nimble and clever and the scopiest thing I have ridden in a long while.
A fit Welsh D should do the time easily at intro and with some practise at PN.
 
I know of a fair few Welsh section D "sporty" numbers that do very well in eventing some even up to Novice level BE so no probs with a prenovice. I wouldn't say that you would have a problem with the speed either if you get him fit enough. You would have to have a native type fitter for the job required than your TBs were but it is worth the extra work. As you say, sturdier, less likely to break, cheaper to feed and the pony 5th leg in there for good measure. Sounds good to me!!!
 
Friend was on GB Pony team with a Sec D - that's 1* fences and N speed so a good Sec D is MORE than capable of PN.... Go for it :) (They can be cheeky, mind!)
 
Should easily do the lower levels, I've always known complete corkers of welshies for jumping machines and hunting. The two down my old yard were regularly doing 1.20's\1.30's BSJA and out hunting jumping all.
They're spritely, over enthusiastic and work off springs I've always found!

I adored my mare through my teenage years...she's out on loan now asI out grew her, but she'd reguarly do 4ft+ courses at college and before, would fly round any XC jump without hesitation, did dressage academy etc :)

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I still insist she was my perfect pony ever and if I could clone her into a 16-17hh version, I would have my perfect horse!
 
go for maesmynach breeding- definitely a sporty welsh cob.

or some derwen blood are that bit finer quality so more suited to jumping :)
 
My welshie is only 14.1, easily competes at intro, will easily pn (i wont.. too scary!), jumps 1.20 and has fabulous paces.
Just make sure you get one with all its braincells.. ive met a quite few (mine included) that are "quirky".
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Intro xc
 
Wow! Thanks for all these testimonies, my mind is made up! Amazing photos binky01. I am beginning to wonder what I have been doing for all these years reschooling ex-racers when clearly welshies are the perfect equine!

Interesting you say that, loopy lozza - the mare I've been offered is by Maesmynach stallion out of a Derwen mum - sounds like she is bred for it.

Pep12 said:
the pony 5th leg in there for good measure. Sounds good to me!!!
Click to expand...
The pony 5th leg? :confused: She is a mare! :o
 
Aaaaah, JoseyJo88, I love your mare!
I also love this forum, it is a very new to me, but what a great source of wisdom, advice, opinions and support! I sense an addiction coming on...
 
Mine is the 'sporty' model!! Derwen/Nebo lines. Doesn't look much like a Welsh D TBH. Have competed in PN/BE100 for 5 seasons and she generally easily makes the time. She's 14.3hh too, so pretty diddy, but she adores jumping/Eventing!!

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Definately go for it.... another friend of mine has a Welsh D gelding, about 15.2hh and he does well as at that level too.

Mines very spooky, that's her main quirk, but she forgets to do it when we're jumping!!
 
Ive got a Derwen/Nebo lines gelding thats very sharp and quick against the clock, nice jump on him to but has to be handled sensibly otherwise he becomes to much, had him 7years now so i know pretty much everything that sets him off.
 
Do it!! They are great fun, hardy and generally cheap to keep!
My mare is a welsh D x something. I dont event her as no money but she would fly round if I did:

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Funnily enough the ones I have ridden were maesmynach and I didn't rate, just goes to show how breeding often doesn't count!!! They were all mares though and I don't get on that well with mares generally it seems! They look so different to the ones in the pics here!! Big bonus is they are generally very good doers and can live out in all weathers!! ... will try to root out some pics!
 
A friend of mine is at Purston today doing the PN on a Welsh D (with flaxen mane and tail). He has an excellent record through Intro and PN and is finding it all well within his abilities. Equally I'm sure there are some for who it would be too much. Just depends on the horse really!
 
Thanks! I don't really have any really good ones of her but they were the best ones I could find lol.

I went to watch her at her ODE today :D First time I've seen her since she went on loan. She came in 2nd! She was in her element doing 2'3 round, easy peasy lol! She's loving her life and is so happy doing lower level stuff now to what she did at college and before [she is 15 now and had quite a few foals!]. Her and her young loaner are doing so well together and just having so much fun as she's just a little schoolmistress.

Though it made me feel all nostalgic and made me want to be a foot shorter and ten years younger again so it could be me on her again! :( lol.


And the 5th leg refers to abaility to get themselves out of a pickle,if they trip/hash up a fence etc, they find a way to sort their legs out somehow! :)
 
the 2 in my signature are both Welsh D's. the chestnut most certainly doesn't look like one, or act like one and can keep at the front all day hunting with horses 2hands bigger than him. have raced him across a field with an ex-racer and he won. Time across country is not an issue for him, and neither is height of jumps! He has schooled round PN and he jumps the biggest hedges out hunting. He is Llanarth bred both sides.

The big chunky one in my sig is Maesmynach/Llanarth bred and although he can jump 3ft I dont think he'd ever have made an eventer above unaff 2ft9 level as not got the scope or the speed. You just need to pick a sportier type if you want to event, but they certainly can make good eventers. And often they go for a lot cheaper than more typically bred eventers.
 
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