The Welsh Mountain Pony
Celebrating the World's Most Beautiful Pony
Meet a Welsh Mountain Pony
Obviously, the Welsh Mountain Ponies have beautiful faces! He or she can be found mostly in the 44-48 inch height at the withers which is where his neck connects to his back. Individuals can be 2 inches taller or any height smaller. The Standard is how ponies are judged in halter classes and is a description of what breeders should strive for in their herd. People new to the breed may wonder why one pony is so much heavier than another. Dr. Wynne Davies, who is a WMP expert in the UK says that there are two types - the Arab type and the draft type and that both are Welsh Mountain Ponies. Although there are two different interpretations of type both of these type have to have what is known as pony type. All of the pictures on this page are of ponies who are easily identified as having Welsh Mountain Pony type.
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Welsh Mountain Ponies also move differently. The standard describes his action as well away in front. If you notice in some of the trotting pictures the ponies front feet when extended in the trot will be out as far as his nose or farther. His back legs are to be powerful and well underneath his body in the extended trot. Below the pictorial please read the standards.
The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America's Breed Standard: 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. 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.
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Shoulders: Long and sloping, well laid back. Withers moderately fine, but not "knifey." Forelegs: Set square and true, and not tied in at the elbows. Long, strong forearm, well-developed knee, short flat bone below the knee, pasterns of proportionate slope and length, feet well-shaped and round, hooves dense. Back and Loins: Muscular, strong and well-coupled. Girth: Deep. Ribs: Well-sprung. Hind Quarters: Lengthy and fine, not cobby, ragged or goose-rumped. Tail well set on and carried gaily. Hind Legs: Hocks to be large, flat, and clean with points prominent, to turn neither inward nor outward. The hock not to be set behind a line from the point of the quarter to the fetlock joint. Pasterns of proportional slope and length. Feet well-shaped, hooves dense.
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Action: Quick, free and straight from the shoulder, well away in front. Hocks well-flexed with straight and powerful leverage and well under the body.
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With this conformation, the WMP can excel in many disciplines including driving, riding, barrel racing, reining, cattle herding, roadster, formal driving, hunter, children's classes, dressage, combined driving and trail. A pony with good conformation and correct way of going can be used in all of these disciplines. He is often shown in children's classes, hunter, driving and pleasure riding classes - all at the same long weekend show!