The final section of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society studbook is for the Welsh Cob. The section D carries the most body weight of the Welsh breed sections and should also have the most bone.
Any purebred Welsh pony that stands over the height of 13.2hh is a Welsh Section D and there is no upper limit to this section. However the vast majority range from 14hh to 15.2hh, with very few members of the breed standing over 16 hands.
Utilised by thousands, this is a serious weight carrying horse and is ideal for use both under saddle and in harness. Popular among riders of all ages, Welsh Cobs are successful in all areas of ridden and driven competition and in the hunting field.
They have been also been successful crossed with a wide range of horse breeds including the Thoroughbred to produce top class competition horses.
With the most feather of the Welsh sections, the extravagant knee action makes the Welsh Cob extremely eye catching and easily recognisable to most people.
Handlers that intend to show their Welsh Section D’s in-hand in the show ring need to be very fit to run fast enough as they cover the ground at a tremendous rate of knots!
To fully understand the variations of the Section D and to compare the stallions with the mares, a visit to the Royal Welsh Show will never be forgotten.
The colour stipulation is the same for all four categories, so no piebald or skewbalds are allowed and for this section, the predominant colours are black, bay and chestnut.
Welsh Cobs generally have a laid back temperament and although there are always some exceptions, the smaller Section D is highly suitable for young riders coming off finer ponies.
Welsh Pony and Cob Society breed definition
- The general character of the Welsh Cob is the embodiment of strength, hardiness and agility.
- The head shows great quality with pony character: bold prominent eyes, a broad forehead and neat, well set ears.
- The body must be deep, on strong limbs with good “hard wearing” joints and an abundance of flat bone.
- Action must be straight, free and forceful, the knees should be bent and then the whole foreleg extended from the shouldersas far as possible in all paces, with the hocks well flexed, producing powerful leverage.
