Welsh Sections

Section A: The Welsh Mountain Pony
Bred in the mountains and wild regions of Wales for many generations, their acknowledged beauty does not mean they are merely a 'pretty toy' — centuries of 'survival of the fittest' has ensured the sound constitution, iron hard limbs and great intelligence which combined with the legendary Welsh temperament, makes the ideal child's pony of today. They can be seen ridden and driven all over the world — equally at home in the cold of Canada and Sweden or the heat of Africa and Australia.

The head of the Mountain Pony should be small, with neat pointed ears, big bold eyes and a wide forehead. The jaw should be clean cut, tapering to a small muzzle; the silhouette may be concave or 'dished' but never convex or too straight. The neck should be of good length and well carried with shoulders sloping back to a clearly defined wither. The limbs must be set square with good flat bone and round dense hooves. The tail set high and gaily carried.

Action must be quick, free and straight from the shoulder, knees and hocks well flexed with straight and powerful leverage well under the body.

The height should not exceed 12 h.h. (121.9 cms).

Detailed Description
General Character
Hardy, spirited and pony-like

Colour
Any colour, except piebald and skewbald

Head
Small, clean-cut, well set on and tapering to the muzzle

Eyes
Bold

Ears
Well-placed, small and pointed, well up on the head, proportionately close

Nostrils
Prominent and open

Jaws and Throat
Clean and finely-cut, with ample room at the angle of the jaw

Neck
Lengthy, well-carried and moderately lean in the case of mares, but inclined to be cresty in the case of mature stallions

Shoulders
Long and sloping well back. Withers moderately fine, but not "knifey". The humerus upright so that the foreleg is not set in under the body

Forelegs
Set square and true, and not tied in at the elbows. Long, strong forearm, well developed knee, short flat bone below knee, pasterns of proportionate slope and length, feet well-shaped and round, hoofs dense.

Back and Loins
Muscular, strong and well coupled

Girth
Deep

Ribs
Well sprung

Hind Quarters
Hocks to be large, flat and clean with points prominent, to turn neither inwards nor outwards. The hind legs not to be too bent. The hock not to be set behind a line from the point of the quarter to the fetlock joint. Pasterns of proportionate slope and length. Feet well-shaped, hoofs dense.

Action
Action must be quick, free and straight from the shoulder, knees and hocks well flexed with straight and powerful leverage well under the body.

Section B: The Welsh Pony
The general description of the Welsh Mountain Pony can be applied to the Welsh Pony, with greater emphasis being placed on riding pony qualities whilst retaining the true Welsh quality with substance.

For generations these ponies were the hill farmers' main means of transport, herding sheep and wild ponies over rough and mountainous country. They had to be hardy, balanced and fast to survive, which ensured that only the best were bred from. These qualities, combined with a natural jumping ability, and the temperament of their Welsh Mountain Pony forebears make the Welsh Pony second to none in whatever field his young rider may choose. Today they hold their own among our top class riding ponies both in performance competitions and in the show ring.

The height should not exceed 13.2 h.h. (137.2 cms).

Detailed Description
The general description of ponies in Section A of the Stud Book is applicable to those in Section B, but more particularly the Section B pony shall be described as a riding pony, with quality, riding action, adequate bone and substance, hardiness and constitution and with pony character.
 
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