Youth Zone

Children and Welsh Mountain ponies at the show

English and Western Riders compete together in the leadline class.

The Welsh Mountain Pony is a particularly good choice as a mount or driving pony for a child due to his good disposition and friendliness. While solid training by an experienced trainer is desired for any child’s pony or horse, the Welsh Mountain Pony is known to be easy to train and willing to work as a breed.

Children can learn responsibility and good sportsmanship, develop a good work ethic, and set goals and work to attain them by working with their pony.

They can enjoy trail riding, 4-H, Pony Club, and other activities with their pony as well as showing at all breed shows and WPCSA Welsh breed shows. A list of shows is available at the WPCSA website-wpcsa.org

The following is a list of classes available to children at Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America’s breed shows. Classes are often divided by children’s ages, for instance, 7 and under and 8-11years. Equitation classes and Jr. Handler classes are available for older youth as well as youth exhibitor performance classes (English, western, driving). Open, local shows also offer classes for youth to show. Some children also enjoy trail riding and games on their ponies such as poles and barrel racing. There are divisions of Hunter Pony classes that are often the largest at a breed show.

WPCSA CHILD’S FIRST PONY - mare or gelding to be ridden by junior exhibitors at least four, but no more that 10, years of age. Riders to be suitably dressed in Hunt, Saddle or Western attire including protective headgear. Ponies to be shown at a walk and trot or jog, both ways of the ring. Ponies to be judged on performance, manners and suitability. Conformation, way of going, manners, suitability and turnout to be emphasized. This is not an equitation class. There are no restrictions for the pony or rider.

WPCSA LEADLINE WALK - Classes open to riders 7 & under mounted on mares and geldings. See rules for attachment of leading rein. No chain leadlines allowed. Judged on equitation and suitability of mount at a walk. To stand quietly. To be led by an adult or a junior age 12 or over. Both handler and rider to be appropriately attired. English or Western attire is acceptable. No chain leadlines. RIDERS ineligible for other ridden classes except costume, leading rein, leadline walk-trot, and leadline walk-trot poles.

WPCSA LEADLINE WALK-TROT - Classes open to riders 7 & under mounted on mares and geldings. See rules for attachment of leading rein. No chain leadlines allowed. Judged on equitation and suitability of mount at a walk and trot/jog. To stand quietly. To be led by an adult or a junior age 12 or over. Both handler and rider to be appropriately attired. English or Western attire is acceptable. No chain leadlines. RIDERS ineligible for other ridden classes except costume, leading rein, leadline walk and leadline walk-trot poles.

WPCSA LEADLINE WALK-TROT POLES - Classes open to riders 7 & under mounted on Ponies/Cobs / Half-Welsh/Part Breds, mares and geldings. See rules for attachment of leading rein. No chain leadlines allowed. Judged on equitation and suitability of mount. To be ridden once around a course of four poles on the ground entirely at a walk or entirely at a trot/jog. Poles are to be placed at a minimum of 4 feet off the rail, two on each side of the ring, simulating a hunter course. The poles should be placed far enough away from the entrance gate to provide an adequate sized area to do an opening and closing circle. To be led by an adult or a junior age 12 or over. Both handler and rider to be appropriately attired. English or Western attire is acceptable. No chain leadlines. RIDERS ineligible for other ridden classes except costume, leading rein, leadline walk and leadline walk-trot.

WPCSA WALK - Classes open to riders 11 & under mounted on Ponies/Cobs / Half-Welsh/Part Breds, mares and geldings. Judged on equitation and suitability of mount. English or Western attire is acceptable. RIDERS ineligible for other ridden classes except costume, leading rein, child’s first pony, walk-trot and walk-trot poles. To walk both ways of the ring.

WPCSA WALK-TROT - Classes open to riders 11 & under mounted on mares or geldings. Judged on equitation and suitability of mount. To walk and trot/jog both ways of the ring. Possible test to include: walk, trot/jog, turn, halt and rein back at spots marked. English or Western attire is acceptable. RIDERS ineligible for other ridden classes except costume, leading rein, child’s first pony, walk and walk-trot poles.

WPCSA WALK-TROT POLES - Classes open to riders 11 & under mounted on mares or geldings. Judged on equitation and suitability of mount. To be ridden once around a course of four poles on the ground entirely at a walk or entirely at a trot/jog. Poles are to be placed at a minimum of 4 feet off the rail, two on each side of the ring, simulating a hunter course. The poles should be placed far enough away from the entrance gate to provide an adequate sized area to do an opening and closing circle. English or Western attire is acceptable. RIDERS ineligible for other ridden classes except costume, leading rein, child’s first pony, walk and walk-trot.

Pet Pony Obstacle classes are sometimes offered as a children’s class. The child leads their pony through an obstacle course. Costume classes are open to all ages but the children are usually very involved and may exhibit their pony individually or in a group.

Often, everyone is a winner in the Costume class.

Equitation classes and Jr. Handler classes are often scheduled at breed shows.

WPCSA JUNIOR WELSH HANDLER Class open to juniors handling mares or geldings. Judged on the ability and skill of the Junior in handling their animal as in the breed ring. The show qualities of the animal shall not be considered, although cleanliness and grooming can be considered. Exhibitors enter to the left so as not to obscure the judge’s view. The judge evaluates the ability of the junior to follow directions, use space wisely, and execute the requested patterns. Juniors should appear “ring wise,” be alert to the judging progression and be prepared for changes in the judging routine.

At the 2016 WPCSA American National Show, a videographer recorded the all of the classes except for the trail classes. To see a class you may be interested in showing in, you can contact sharyhillshooters.com for a copy of the class at a very reasonable cost.

When someone is first starting to show it can be a little intimidating but the Welsh community is a very friendly group and willing to help.

If you like to take pictures of your pony having fun – please send us a picture and we will put it on the website youth pages. Send us the name of your pony and your name along with the picture.