Welsh Sec Ds

[Caol Ila]

Doing some vague window shopping (oy), mainly for Highlands, but there are some beautiful Welsh Sec Ds out there. I've read that they can be tricky characters,and the one I've ridden certainly bore that out. She would get hysterical and start spinning and throwing her head at every new concept (or if someone moved a jump standard), no matter how slowly you introduced it. I could work with her fine and got her where her owner needed her to be, but I was also very happy to hand her back to her owner at the end of our sessions. Horses are individuals, of course, so I was wondering if that was just this horse or if it's a breed characteristic.

 

[Sandstone1]

They are not for everyone. Can be spooky and self opinionated but also sensitive, however once they trust you they will try their heart out for you.

 

[milliepops]

Mine is.... idiosyncratic ?

Friend has a gelding thats a total mare.

All the ones I've had anything to do with have had a dose of draaaaaama, its what I like about them.

You might enjoy a part bred more? Have only ever come across good ones.

 

[DirectorFury]

Mine is pretty sane but does have her quirks and moments! They’re usually minor and dealt with quickly, and she never does anything with a view to getting the rider off, if she’s carrying on and feels you become unseated she’ll either stop being a prat or try to move back under the rider.

But when they trust you they’ll do literally anything for you. If you pick bloodlines carefully then you should be fine .

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Love them and their crosses but then I like quirky horses with big characters and a mean sense of humour.

None of my part reds have had a bad temperament and they all gave me their all once I had their trust. My youngster is like that as well, he trusts me so will try for me.

 

[HorseyTee]

Mine is my first horse. Novice and didn't think of breed when I got him.
He has been...challenging. And taught me a lot.
He's like a teenage girl full of hormones with multiple personality disorder.

But he is such a sweet boy and I always feel so safe with him.
Never once has he put me in danger or been malicious.
He can be an absolute arse and hates strangers and has tried to kill a few vets.
But once he trusts you, he's a big puppy.

 

[HorseyTee]

Will add...mine is a part bred.

 

[rextherobber]

I love them, always have, but when horse shopping last time, they were out of my budget, so I ended up with an ID x, and realised life didn't have to be like that...I will love them from afar!

 

[Equine_Dream]

They are little horses with big hearts. Opinionated, stubborn and massive characters, but equally I've never had a horse try harder and give everything asked of her her best than my section d mare. Spooks at sheep in the distance but will trot happily past a lorry with air breaks going off as if it were nothing.
They are also such a versatile breed. My mare's half brother is an accomplished dressage stallion. My own mare is fantastic out hunting and pings fences like a stag.
Id have another section d in a heartbeat. I would recommend doing your homework as some bloodlines are "hotter" than others. It depends entirely on the type of horse you're after.

 

[McFluff]

I totally love mine. He’s hot and sensitive, athletic and scopy, yet totally safe. Any drama appears to be more for his amusement. Sense of humour is needed. Very loyal.
I’ve ridden loads over the years. The majority have been lovely. Safe and fun. They can be misunderstood and mucked up by poor handling - a friend has taken a few to reschool. All successful, but their memories are good (one never did cope with flapping jackets on his rider, we never did work out what had happened to him).
Most have what I’d call a ‘safe spook’. It’s almost like they are bored and looking for something to brighten up the ride. They have a look that just says I’m going to spook - just need to find the right thing to spook at! It’s usually comfy and easy to sit to. I end up laughing quite a lot!

 

[Melody Grey]

Mine (in profile pic) is Welsh x sports horse.

He’s opinionated, a diva, good looking (and knows it) but with a big heart- I wouldn’t have him any other way. I had OTTBs for eventing previously. People said I’d get bored....hasn’t happened yet!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I've only ever ridden one, years ago. Hes was a Sec D stallion and an absolute sweetheart 80% of the time....the other 20% he was an absolute drama queen, very spicy and threw tantrums but it was generally over as quick as it started.

 

[Caol Ila]

Whatever I end up with will be (most likely) unbroken, three or four-ish, and it needs to be a decent enough mover to keep me vaguely entertained in the dressage ring, but smart, brave, sane, and surefooted on the trails. There are long (6+ hours) rides that can be done from my yard, which I've never been able to do with my mare, as she needs easy hacking at age 26-27. If I'd moved to the yard even a year or two before I did..... Anyway, so that's where I'm at. Budget will be up to £5k, though spending less would be nice.

 

[tiga71]

In 2019 I took on a nearly 8 year old as a project. I was his last chance as he had become dangerous on the ground and increasingly difficult ridden. He was owned by a friend of a friend and when I heard she was considering PTS, I said I would see if I could help him and if I couldn't I would PTS.

I didn't really know what I was taking on tbh but I knew of him and felt he deserved a chance.

He is a fantastic horse. He was like a giant ball of tension, anxiety and distrust when I got him. There was no softness or relaxation about him, even when you watched him in the field from a distance. But being turned out in 30 acres with a mixed herd did wonders for his mental health and I spent a lot of time earning his trust.

He is basically a pretty bold, smart horse that found himself in a situation where no one listened to him. He had very little training and was often thrown in the deep end and expected to swim. So he became a very anxious chap who felt like he had to look after himself. His go to was to run.

Lots of working him under threshold and he is a different horse. We will be starting ridden work in the spring. We would have been further along but I have other horses and lots of other stuff going on. But taking our time has benefitted him I think. We are in no rush.

He is very sensitive but I agree with the others saying that when you have their trust, they are cracking. We still have a lot to work through, (he had a lot of issues), but I am looking forward to lots of adventures with him.

i would do it again.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Mine has absolutely no nastiness in him, never bitten or kicked or reared etc

But my word he's infuriating, he was tied on the yard after a bath once (he's no longer allowed to be tied on the yard) and one of the other liveries said "it's almost like he's looking for something to spook at" and she was right the legs would start to stiffen, he would rock backwards then the dragon snorting would start

He spooks at random things- his hair on the floor if trimming/ mud or poo on the road, lately it's a puddle in a layby that we go past every hack... yet isn't too bad with actual spooky things...

Jumping he was scopey but I eventually lost my nerve as you could never be entirely sure he would go over... he noticed any changes made to a jump

I suspect he's been bashed over the head in the past as he's very head shy, would he be as knobbery if that hadn't happened, who knows

He is super intelligent and has to be in a routine, he's funny who he will let catch him, he prefers my mum who helps me with him in the week to me. He's quite set in his catching times if you're too early you can take a hike! Literally walking round the field after him!

I categorically wouldn't have another!!

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I rode one on the Trans-Wales riding holiday I went on last October and I must admit I fell in love and wanted to bring him home. They had a lovely selection mostly full bred but some part-bred. Very tough and spirited. Did make me think I’d consider one for my next horse but wondered if without the hard exercise they’d be rather a handful.

 

[teddypops]

Mine is lovely. She always behaves when we are out and about, no matter what every horse around her is doing, she always tries her best to do what is asked of her and she’s very very clever. Very easy to break in. She’s great to load, travel, with vet, farrier and to clip. She doesn’t like large vehicles and she can be a pain to catch, but I can put up with that because she is so good otherwise!

 

[shortstuff99]

An Iberian would do all of that too ?. (I need to stop plugging them at every opportunity)!

 

[milliepops]

In 2019 I took on a nearly 8 year old as a project. I was his last chance as he had become dangerous on the ground and increasingly difficult ridden. He was owned by a friend of a friend and when I heard she was considering PTS, I said I would see if I could help him and if I couldn't I would PTS.

I didn't really know what I was taking on tbh but I knew of him and felt he deserved a chance.

He is a fantastic horse. He was like a giant ball of tension, anxiety and distrust when I got him. There was no softness or relaxation about him, even when you watched him in the field from a distance. But being turned out in 30 acres with a mixed herd did wonders for his mental health and I spent a lot of time earning his trust.

He is basically a pretty bold, smart horse that found himself in a situation where no one listened to him. He had very little training and was often thrown in the deep end and expected to swim. So he became a very anxious chap who felt like he had to look after himself. His go to was to run.

Lots of working him under threshold and he is a different horse. We will be starting ridden work in the spring. We would have been further along but I have other horses and lots of other stuff going on. But taking our time has benefitted him I think. We are in no rush.

He is very sensitive but I agree with the others saying that when you have their trust, they are cracking. We still have a lot to work through, (he had a lot of issues), but I am looking forward to lots of adventures with him.

i would do it again.

Mine is very similar. Acquired in similar circumstances 7 years ago. I utterly worship her tufty feet ? but the quirks are cemented in.

I think it helps with welshies if you're the sort of person who lets it wash over you a fair amount. You have to chuckle at them rather than get frustrated. There's no "my way or the high way" with the ones I know, it's very much a collaboration.

 

[Celtic Fringe]

My old lad was opinionated, one of the most single-minded beings I have ever met and very, very clever. You definitely had to work with him - he knew exactly who he liked and who he didn't, but he was very loyal. He had amazing stamina and an incredible sense of direction. He ruled his herd with absolute authority but loved children and young horses. I had him for over 15 years and the first 6 were 'tricky' - mostly because he had various health issues including kissing spines which took some time to sort out. He died about a year ago aged 30+ - the YO called me because he was unexpectedly lying in the field and clearly fading fast. It took me 20 minutes to arrive and I swear my lovely old lad looked straight at me and then passed away within a minute. The end of an era.

 

[millikins]

Whatever I end up with will be (most likely) unbroken, three or four-ish, and it needs to be a decent enough mover to keep me vaguely entertained in the dressage ring, but smart, brave, sane, and surefooted on the trails. There are long (6+ hours) rides that can be done from my yard, which I've never been able to do with my mare, as she needs easy hacking at age 26-27. If I'd moved to the yard even a year or two before I did..... Anyway, so that's where I'm at. Budget will be up to £5k, though spending less would be nice.

Check out Dales ponies, will tick all your boxes but saner

 

[ester]

Frank's epic but for the most part the welsh dragon side is hidden, only comes out very occasionally and mostly just amusing. It's hard to be taken too seriously when you are only 14.2.
Never bucked/reared/peed off.
Could pretty much go anywhere and ask him to do anything however ridiculous it was.
Bit spooky but predictably so once you knew him fine and never followed through with anything post spook.
Generally didn't see the point in putting too much effort into life unless he had an audience- this didn't include instructors, had to be a proper judge but sat in a car, didn't really like them at tables much . . . There was a stage I thought for dressage/jumping at home I should just give in and ring a bell to pretend ?
A bit of a tricky jumper but with hindsight as much my skill level at the time as his slight lack of genuineness at times.

 

[ester]

Oh I also like riding other peoples Fihunts Genie is fab, as was Trendybraincells boy and with a strict instruction of 'no welshies' for nikib I unknowingly snuck one in without her noticing and that explained why I enjoyed riding her so much too at viewing.

My current most frequent welshie exposure is driving Rara's section C stallion, who is just funny. He's all mouth about being the big I am, and no trousers.

I do really struggle imagining having anything else, even though I wasn't really looking for a welshie when we bought Frank. He just hacked past our house and I wanted him

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I used to hack out with two lovely Welshies. The first was an older sec C mare and she was a complete schoolmistress, the kind that looks after a tiny tot, can gallop on a stubble field and pull up easily but then can do a nice novice dressage test the next day. The second was a sec D mare, she was one of the really tall ones that isn't so typey and she was unbacked when I first met her. Once she was backed I escorted her on hacks (with my chestnut mare) and she was such a level headed youngster. Quick to learn, willing and such a sweetheart too.

 

[J&S]

OMG.....just realised its more than 50 years since I had a little house in mid Wales and rode every thing and any thing that the farmers offered me! Three D's in particluar, all no trouble at all and cracking rides over all terrains. One was a mare, already sold to Sweden for RDA, another was a show quality gelding, been to Royal Welsh etc and another just a rather green but willing gelding owned by a novice owner friend. Any one of these a horse to be happy with. Good luck in your search.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I used to work for someone who had 2 the mare was a handful and really not for the faint hearted, the stallion was an angel and I loved riding him he was one of easiest stallions I have ever worked with, he was a really beautiful liver chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail.

 

[Caol Ila]

An Iberian would do all of that too ?. (I need to stop plugging them at every opportunity)!

I've wanted an Iberian since I was about 10, but I don't know if I can afford one. The nice ones are like five figures. Am I looking on the wrong websites?

 

[PurBee]

My mare is half sec d x arab, so a chunky looking arab. She’s a drama queen and fairly spooky with new things. Not easy to gain her trust. Her history was same home all her life, so she didnt like moving! I wasnt prepared for the drama tbh! But i had time, no rush for her to be anything, and she is now amazingly trusting. Still a spooky beast at the most ridiculous stuff. She’s just spent 2 days out in the rain because the pellets mixed with shavings in it are new and feel ‘funny’ under her feet. Thank god it wasnt windy and stayed mild otherwise idve spent hours changing everything to Madame's comforts!
??

the gelding is 1/4 welsh D and 3/4 arab, he’s much saner! Braver...certainly. He’s really reactive with his senses but doesn't freak hot coals and snort like the mare.
I kinda love their spunk and sparkle tbh!
It’s hard to know whats the arab and what’s the welsh D part, but considering the gelding, i think arabs are saner than welsh d!...maybe consider an arabian for your treks?

 

[shortstuff99]

I've wanted an Iberian since I was about 10, but I don't know if I can afford one. The nice ones are like five figures. Am I looking on the wrong websites?

Yes! You could easily get an un-backed 3 year old for within your budget. Might be worth putting a wanted post on the facebook group Spanish horses UK only as they are often not advertised .

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I've wanted an Iberian since I was about 10, but I don't know if I can afford one. The nice ones are like five figures. Am I looking on the wrong websites?

Yes.

I got a nice, just started under saddle 4 year old for less than 8k. I imagine he would've been less if not backed.

Also depends on what you consider "nice" he has good conformation, nice character (albeit a bit quirky), but his movement is average. However, that has improved with his education (dressage).