Welsh D temperament.

[pistolpete]

Hi all promoted by latest query on adults riding natives I’m curious about all the good Welshies. I’ve known three or four well and they’ve all had a bit of a crazy streak. Huge amount of self preservation and quite bolshy to handle. I’m sure this is not the breed standard! I’d love to here about kind polite Welsh D’s in your lives. I think on paper one would be a good choice for me but am always put off by the ones I’ve known.

 

[milliepops]

I'm not sure about the bolshy bit. i think that is learned tbh. Mine arrived bolshy and is now like a lamb to handle, she just needed to be taught proper manners after years of going off the rails. They are often clever and quick witted i think, and can be highly strung and so if their handler does not keep on top of that they can quickly learn the wrong things, same as any other horse. My KWPN is very similar to how my welsh arrived and he is improving the same way she did.

 

[WispyBegs]

I think the bolshyness is definitely a management issue - not necessarily a breed specific issue.
Although, I must admit when I bought my Welsh D he was incredibly unmannered and bolshy - almost verging on dangerous. However, he had absolutely no groundwork skills and had overpowered the elderly lady who had previously owned him.
I worked incredibly hard for months on groundwork, respect and personal space with him and he is now a completely different horse. However, I do still incorporate this into schooling sessions every week to keep on top of it.
Don’t let it put you off, Welshies are so intelligent and willing, and really can turn their hooves to anything!

 

[ihatework]

I’d say they have a tendency towards anxiety and if that isn’t handled the best it displays as bolshy type behaviours.

 

[Reacher]

I am no expert having only had one - current riding horse (childhood pony was also possibly welsh too and was a saint) I bought my part bred to restore my confidence, I was slightly worried that once my confidence was restored I would find him boring- he has restored my confidence but is never boring!
But if I’d read their reputation beforehand it might have scared me off!

 

[Hormonal Filly]

My Welsh D was a absolute diamond to ride, no crazy streak whatsoever, could put a total novice on him in a open field. He could be spooky to handle but a firm leader and he was wasn’t too bad. He was quite a anxious type though..

 

[palo1]

My Welsh D mare is an angel and has been since the day I viewed her at 2y/o. She hasn't got a bad bone in her body but is great fun to ride with plenty of Welsh 'fire'; it is just never directed at being naughty!! I would say the 'typical' spooky Welshness is actually rather playful - she points out all manner of interesting things in the countryside but is generally as brave as a lion. She learns quickly and has an amazing work ethic; she is always up for new stuff. I adore her!! She was not remotely difficult to start though I think clarity and consistency are helpful with the clever types and on the whole Welshies are clever beasts. She is also quite athletic even if somewhat lacking in raw speed but she keeps up with most horses. And she is divinely beautiful too. I would have another any day of the week.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Love Welsh Ds!

My take on them is to firmly keep on top of their manners, and enjoying riding them with a sense of humour, that is definitely a must!.

 

[oldie48]

Just mulling really but I wonder if some are more or less unhandled until they come in for backing. If this is done quickly and then the horse is sold into relatively inexperienced hands, then it's a recipe for disaster. I'm afraid I know of several Welshies that have walked all over their owners. We've had a sect A, C and part bred D, they were all very clever and needed to be reminded of their manners from time to time.

 

[palo1]

Sweet example of my mare's sense of humour: quiet hack out with my daughter during most of which M Alw was entirely on side with trundling round the road and tracks. Totally cool about cars, lorries, the school bus. Continually astonished at the sight of cows (which she has lived with) and when we cantered down the bridle path she insisted, absolutely insisted on jumping every single fern overhanging the path. Jumping at least 2ft more than required, if jumping were even at all necessary. Which it wasn't and she knows that!! For some reason yesterday that was what was offered. I love her.

 

[Annagain]

In some ways Ebony was a typical Welshie. He was stupidly excitable, he just loved life and gave everything 110% (that's deliberately more than 100% as he would often go completely over the top). 95% of the time he was great but he could be incredibly bolshy to handle when he wanted to be. He had very strong opinions about what he wanted to do and if they didn't match yours he'd tell you. Every so often he'd decide he wasn't being caught and I'd have to manage this very carefully or it would escalate and I wouldn't catch him for days. His arrogance and stubbornness were infuriating at times. Everything was a game to him - if you were on the same side it was brilliant but if he decided you were the opposition you were in trouble.

He was also incredibly honest, enthusiastic, talented, the most bombproof horse I ever rode. Despite the excitement he was incredibly sensible and had a great sense of self preservation (he spent a lot of time on his back legs but never once got anywhere near the point of losing his balance). Anxiety was completely alien to him and nothing scared him. Even after he got hit by a van he never worried on the roads. I trusted him more than I've ever trusted another horse - even Saint Monty who never did anything wrong. I never had a normal fall off him, just freak accidents due to external factors (and one or two that were down to my teenage stupidity). In 14 years he spooked once with me when a squirrel jumped out of a hedge and landed on his neck so I'll give him that one. He was 25 before he stopped at a fence and that was down to (what we soon discovered was) severe arthritis in his knees. He never had a day's lameness and still did everything with relish. The stop meant we took him to the vet straight away and we only knew to x-ray his knees when he was 1/10 lame after flexions.

If he was human he'd have been one of these people still sky diving in his 90s.

 

[Ratface]

I rode a very beautiful, highly intelligent Welsh D for a friend. He was lovely, as long as he had clear advice and guidance from me, and lots of appreciation when he got things right, or tried his best to do so.
Unfortunately, he frightened the living daylights out of my friend, who was less experienced than I.
I moved yards and she sold him very soon after.
I bought a mishandled Sec. C youngster, brought her on for a year, and sold her at 7 to a Pony Club home. She remained with Pony Club families until she retired at 20. She was a nanny for youngsters until her death at 30.

 

[Patterdale]

I’ve never known a nice straightforward section D. They’ve all had quirks, major and unmanageable in some cases. And I’ve known a lot of them!

I’m sitting here trying to think of a nice section D that I’ve had or known, but they’ve all come with a very big ‘but.’ I’d never have another!

 

[Annagain]

I’ve never known a nice straightforward section D. They’ve all had quirks, major and unmanageable in some cases. And I’ve known a lot of them!

I’m sitting here trying to think of a nice section D that I’ve had or known, but they’ve all come with a very big ‘but.’ I’d never have another!

My boy's dam was just like him. Her full sister was an RDA pony.

 

[FitzyFitz]

Mine was incredibly bolshy on the ground as a youngster and is now the best mannered in the field that we have. Backs up from the feed room door on a voice command, lunges the best out of any of them. He has given lessons (on lead rein) to small children with no issue as well and been tacked up by the kids and displayed more tolerance than any horse should ever have to have, poor little guy Absolutely bombproof too, I hack him out bareback no matter what we might come past. Building site? Traffic? Boats? Entire school walk group screeching like mad? No issues here haha.

BUT he is very sharp and clever and if you give him an inch he'll take ten miles so the trick seems to be being as calm and consistent but also careful as possible cause if he gets away with something once, he'll do it twice as hard the next time.

ex: we load in a carpark across the road from the paddock. Once he decided he didn't feel like going in and managed to whip the rope out of my hands when he turned to leg it back across the road to his mates. Next time we loaded he decided he'd do it again, and this time he stuck his head off and charged off so strongly noone could have held him.

He'd loaded fine since he was a youngster, but now I load him in a chifney cause I cannot take the risk he'll belt across the road again, might not be so lucky next time.

I have heard from someone who is far more involved in the breed than I am that a lot of studs are breeding more for type and flashy movement than temperament, which is where the bad rep is coming from. Treat each welsh you meet as an individual, some will have better natures than others same as any breed. Like many pony breeds they tend towards cleverness and self preservation which is a real double edge sword.

 

[SEL]

I knew an over height C who had been shown since he was a year old and he was brave, confident and cheeky - but none of that neurotic streak some of them have.

At the same time I rode a D who hadn't been backed until he was 8. Gorgeous horse but the type who gave most D's their reputation as tricky. Fortunately he found an owner who adored ed him and worked with his temperament.

I've known quite a few in trekking centres and working for hours every day tends to keep them in check. You end up with a fun, forward going ride with brain engaged. Time off though and the first ride back was always entertaining.

They do need work imo

 

[palo1]

I knew an over height C who had been shown since he was a year old and he was brave, confident and cheeky - but none of that neurotic streak some of them have.

At the same time I rode a D who hadn't been backed until he was 8. Gorgeous horse but the type who gave most D's their reputation as tricky. Fortunately he found an owner who adored ed him and worked with his temperament.

I've known quite a few in trekking centres and working for hours every day tends to keep them in check. You end up with a fun, forward going ride with brain engaged. Time off though and the first ride back was always entertaining.

They do need work imo

I think you are right; very little food, plenty of work and clear, consistent handling. For me, being able to indulge in having a big pony has been just brilliant; we have had sharp, blood types and Arab x's which we love and knowledge of their sensitivity helps in handling a sharp pony but the Welshie bring lots of other things to the party too; ruggedness, native charm and considerable ability which can feel quite 'natural' rather than schooled. I love our refined sports horses and I adore their paces but my Welsh mare makes me smile and laugh so much and her attitude towards schooling and jumping is soooo much better than lots of horses I have known.

 

[Hallo2012]

i don't think a lot of them get the chance to a solid upbringing:

either feral until 3/4 then dragged in and quickly backed

OR

ragged round shown in hand chased with bottled and whips etc kept stabled and fed tons of feed

anything gelded late and shown as a stallion will have been actively encouraged to act the total dangerously explosive fool too.

if you can get them before they get razzed up or left to go wild, they are easier.

 

[paddy555]

I had a sec d and never ever ever again. Not ever.
Somehow or other the brain had just never been put in. Very sweet horse but not nice to ride, total lack of intelligence. Nervous, anxious, had to live with a companion or he seriously went ape shit. We had real problems when his donkey died. Could and did walk through anything. A closed stable door was no problem, broke the planking vertically from top the bottom. Broke gates. If he wanted to be somewhere he just kept walking.

beautiful looking horse. He had lived on a Welsh mountain for his first year, was bought at a sale by his previous owner and broken professionally by an excellent rider. He had no wish to ever leave his mountain.
Oh and he wanted to be personally introduced to every single sheep he met. As we often meet at least 50 sheep on a daily ride and sometimes more that didn't work too well.
Not too good with cattle. Tried to drive cattle with him, he just stood there, wouldn't or couldn't understand what was required or that he even had to move so one cow just walked straight into him and moved him. Dozy horse didn't realise the roles should have been reversed.
Slow, lazy unless there was a pig within half and mile and then he could certainly move, very fast.
Excellent jumping ability. He could jump sideways up a 4 ft bank with ease. Not quite so good when you wanted him to jump forwards over a 2 ft jump.

He was by Nebo Magic.

 

[Annagain]

ex: we load in a carpark across the road from the paddock. Once he decided he didn't feel like going in and managed to whip the rope out of my hands when he turned to leg it back across the road to his mates. Next time we loaded he decided he'd do it again, and this time he stuck his head off and charged off so strongly noone could have held him.

This sounds familiar. If Eb didn't want to do what you were asking of him he'd simply stick his head down and drag you in the opposite direction. When I was first going out with OH (a big strapping rugby player) and he was still trying to impress me, he saw Eb drag me across the yard and offered to take him (he knew nothing about horses) thinking his brute strength would solve the problem. You can imagine my delight therefore when he went concrete skiing past me attached to an Ebony shaped speedboat.

Eb had the added trick of flicking a shoulder out to knock you off balance (never enough to knock you over, but just enough to prevent you acting quickly to pull him around you) at the perfect moment for him to get away in the opposite direction.

 

[pistolpete]

Wow! Thanks everyone. Enjoyed reading that! Still got a foot in each camp though. Stick to my Connie share pony for now. No idea if I’ll ever get the chance to buy again in all honesty. So just musing. Really fascinating though. Definitely some traits are characteristic of the breed.

 

[Sandstone1]

They can be sensitive and are not for everyone. They have a sense of humour too and you have to work with that. Get them on your side and they will try their heart out for you. They respond to firm but fair handling and they do not like to be bullied.

 

[FitzyFitz]

This sounds familiar. If Eb didn't want to do what you were asking of him he'd simply stick his head down and drag you in the opposite direction. When I was first going out with OH (a big strapping rugby player) and he was still trying to impress me, he saw Eb drag me across the yard and offered to take him (he knew nothing about horses) thinking his brute strength would solve the problem. You can imagine my delight therefore when he went concrete skiing past me attached to an Ebony shaped speedboat.

Eb had the added trick of flicking a shoulder out to knock you off balance (never enough to knock you over, but just enough to prevent you acting quickly to pull him around you) at the perfect moment for him to get away in the opposite direction.

ha!!

Yep! any horse or pony at all can drag you bodily if it so chooses, the trick seems to be not letting them realise that xD
Or getting one thats really gangly and noodly like my sisters arab. Even when he's having a funny 5 minutes there's barely any pressure on the rope whereas if the natives really fancy a wander theres bugger all anyone could do, rugby player or not.

 

[conniegirl]

They are wonderful ponies.
My current is a C not a D but ive had D’s in the past and they are the same.

They do all have an internal dragon but if you handle them right they are absolute lambs.
They have a good brain in thier head and will get you out of trouble but you do need to keep them entertained or they will make thier own entertainment.

This is my lad with my little one. There are very few other ponies i would trust like this.

 

[palo1]

Wow! Thanks everyone. Enjoyed reading that! Still got a foot in each camp though. Stick to my Connie share pony for now. No idea if I’ll ever get the chance to buy again in all honesty. So just musing. Really fascinating though. Definitely some traits are characteristic of the breed.

Just to add - I don't think you will ever find an impartial view on Welshies tbh - people really seem to love them or loathe them with very little middle ground. Sadly I think that because they are cobs, many are mistakenly bought with the view that they will be quiet and steady and whilst some undoubtedly are, that is not generally the case! Indeed, most Welsh enthusiasts and experts would say that a bit of fire is absolutely characteristic of the breed. I have seen and heard of many mishandled/bolshy Welsh cobs - maybe because they are very appealing looking and often not expensive they can end up where there is not enough work for them or enough confidence to install and maintain good manners.

 

[sakura]

My mare is PB (sire is registered Welsh D), she is amazing! She has been prone to anxiety, and still is, but she is a phenomenal horse. I've owned her since she was 4 and never had a problem with manners, but she definitely has the spirit and feistiness of a Welsh. She's smart, so her brain needs to be kept active but that's the only ongoing issue I've ever really had with her. She's been so much fun to ride!

 

[milliepops]

I have seen and heard of many mishandled/bolshy Welsh cobs - maybe because they are very appealing looking and often not expensive they can end up where there is not enough work for them or enough confidence to install and maintain good manners.

i think this is a huge amount of it tbh. I am very much looking forward to a home grown one that hasn't been allowed to go wrong(or if it does, at least i will know what i did wrong!!) the gone-wrong ones can be improved so much but they don't forget what they knew before the straightening-out process

 

[PurBee]

My 1 and only welsh d x arab mare is as others describe. Somewhat bolshy when nervous anxious - but with a handler she trusts she will listen to you, and despite any freak-out behaviour she’s shown, always she’s been aware of her handler and is mindful to keep handler safe.

She had good ground work when young - didnt like change of 1 previous owner, so took a good chunk of months building trust with her. Old owner said shes sweet as a lamb - within the first week with me had cow kicked my thigh and bitten my shoulder! I was deflated thinking i’d bought a nutter!
Once trust was established despite her head-strong potential, i felt safe with her. She’s fine with me handling every part of her body. Old owner couldnt handle underbelly and teats to check foaling as a broodmare without lifting one foot, and i managed to overcome that -so they can be taught new things, even when older.
They have alertness, listen, are intelligent, so can learn well. Same with any horse, if problematic, start from basics, groundwork, building trust, work at their pace.

Mines a fairly serious yet kind horse. She’s not lovey dovey, but we have our close quiet moments occassionally.
The only time my mare has really overtly grinned with deep happiness and satisfaction is when i tried adlib hay with the pair of horses. Small netted a 17kg tight pressed bale and they gobbled almost all of in the space of a mere 6 hours! Her belly waddling and that smile….i couldnt help but laugh! Mine really loves her food…but im yet to meet a horse that doesnt!

 

[dorsetladette]

i think this is a huge amount of it tbh. I am very much looking forward to a home grown one that hasn't been allowed to go wrong(or if it does, at least i will know what i did wrong!!) the gone-wrong ones can be improved so much but they don't forget what they knew before the straightening-out process

True - they never forget. They are super intelligent and once you have them 'on side' you have the best partner in crime. They will try their heart out for you. They pick up on your nerves easily so if you get spooked by them they replicate your behaviour. Some have quite extreme reactions to fear others just snort and prance (like donkey off shrek).

I honestly find anything not welsh a little boring TBH. I've ridden lots for other people and shown to a high level on lots of different breeds, but the memorable ones are the welshies.

I think the bolshyness comes from incorrect/no handling as a youngster.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Mine was one of the least bolshy horses ever, he'd stand to the side while you put his feed in his manger, however I'd always never allowed him to stick his head in the bucket until I'd filled his manger

The "bolshiness" would only present if he was scared at an activity (e.g. clipping) and he'd try and push you away but never lashed out etc. He never showed any malice

He had a cracking jump but caused me to lose my nerve jumping, as you never knew if he was going over or would stop as he was so spooky. It made him careful but I ended up bracing for a stop, which of course made him more suspicious

He wouldn't hack alone when I got him but I worked on it with willing foot soldiers and he became great to hack. However things you'd expect him to be scared of were usually fine, however random things like mud on the road were terrifying!

The hysteria and nothing being simple means I'd never have another if I ever went back to horses.