If anyone thought the Welsh pony was just another pony then consider what Henry VIII said about them – “vermin, and nags of small stature.” He proceeded to pass a law for their annihilation.

First season's Welsh foal at Cathy Tanner's Rune Hollow. Photo by Crispin Calicott.

Obviously he could see no use in something under 12 or 13 hands that was eating valuable food for his cavalry mounts. He may have been making a mistake. History and archaeology suggests the Welsh pony was the chariot pony of choice for the various warlike tribes, and that Julius Caesar was so impressed with them he took some to Rome.

Following Henry VIII’s decree the poor animals seem to have been persecuted for the next 300 years. One commentator in the 19th century remarked that they survived on the Welsh hills where neither sheep nor cattle would, and “we may wonder indeed that these little animals thrive in such a perfect state…” Today, the Welsh pony is one of the best examples of Darwin’s law ‘survival of the fittest.’

The Welsh pony in all its four sections is now well established in almost all equestrian disciplines throughout the world. Generally they are well known for their good temperament and free moving gait. Their hardiness goes without saying – they survived the Welsh climate! Some were used down coal mines as ‘pit ponies’, others were commandeered by the Army to haul heavy guns, and they were ‘general purpose’ farm transport for generations.

Three breeds may have had influence in the last 900 years, the Thoroughbred, the Hackney horse, and probably earliest, the Arabian. This later probably came about as a result of the Crusaders returning from the Holy Land with Arabians which then established their progeny in Wales. The ‘dished’ silhouette that is not uncommon in Welsh Ponies is the most striking visual clue, and further Arabian blood was added in the late 18th century when stallions were turned loose in the hills.

Before the motor-car and formal breeding stock licensing, ponies were the fastest transport in Wales. The legend is that the selection of a ‘good’ animal was for it to trot the 35 miles from Cardiff to Dowlais without breaking gait. As this is uphill virtually all the way, the fact the best ponies could do it in under three hours seems an astonishing feat.

The Welsh Mountain Pony, section A (not exceeding 12 hands) arrived in batches in New Zealand from 1947 onwards. The larger section Bs, which do not exceed 13.2 was imported firstly from the mid-60s. Welsh Cob stallions were introduced around 1971, and have resulted in the ‘Welsh pony, Cob Type, Section C.’

However, some Welsh Cob stallions were introduced in 1924 pre Stud Book times. These did result in crossings with station bred horses for pack and harness duties, and there is increasing interest in their history and future. With the increase of popularity in the last few years for cobs more Section Ds are available.

Finally in New Zealand there is the Welsh partbred. To qualify, a pony must have one parent or grandparent registered with the Society, but the end result can be an animal ranging from 11 to 17 hands!

Today the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of NZ is a thriving association devoted to the welfare of the ponies and their owners. Cathy Tanner has been breeding Welsh Ponies on her northland farm for 15 years. “The Welsh is the ideal children’s mount. Their nature and size lend themselves to early riding, and many a graduate of the pony clubs took their first rides on the back of easy-going, ‘bomb-proof’ Welsh ponies. In the years I have bred them I have found them to be as trustworthy as the text-books suggest, quite apart from having great stamina, friendly personalities and considerable intelligence.”

Surrounded as I was by a melee of Cathy’s ponies at the time, I would simply add ‘good-mannered, and very gentle’ to their list of qualities.