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BREED DESCRIPTION
- HEIGHT:
- Section C - not exceeding 13.2hh (137.2 cms)
- Section D - should exceed 13.2hh (137.2 cms) but no upper limit
- GENERAL CHARACTER: Strong, hardy and active, with pony character and as much substance as possible.
- COLOUR: Any colour, except piebald and skewbald.
- HEAD: Full of quality and pony character. A coarse head and Roman nose are most objectionable.
- EYES: Bold, prominent and set widely apart.
- EARS: Neat and well set.
- NECK: Lengthy and well carried. Moderately lean in the case of mares, but inclined to be cresty in the case of mature stallions.
- SHOULDERS: Strong but well laid back.
- FORELEGS: Set square and not tied in at the elbows. Long, strong forearms. Knees well developed with an abundance of bone below them. Pasterns of proportionate slope and length. Feet well-shaped. Hoofs dense. When in the rough, a moderate quantity of silky feather is not objected to but coarse wiry hair is a definite objection.
- MIDDLEPIECE: Back and loins, muscular, strong and well-coupled. Deep through the heart and well-ribbed up.
- HIND QUARTERS: Lengthy and strong. Ragged or drooping quarters are objectionable. Tail well-set on.
- HIND LEGS: Second thighs, strong and muscular. Hocks, large, flat and clean, with points prominent, turning neither inwards nor outwards. The hind legs must not be too bent and the hock not set behind a line falling from the point of the quarter to the fetlock joint. Pasterns of proportionate slope and length. Feet well-shaped. Hoofs dense.
- ACTION: Free, true and forcible. The knee should be bent and the whole foreleg should be extended straight from the shoulder and as far forward as possible in the trot. Hocks flexed under the body with straight and powerful leverage.
Contact the Welsh Pony & Cob Society
Secretary: Mrs G. Fazey-Koven, Welsh Pony & Cob Society, 6 Chalybeate Street, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 1HS Tel: 01970 617501 Fax 01970 625401
Email: secretary@wpcs.uk.com
Chief Officer/Secretary: Mrs G. Fazey-Koven
Website: www.wpcs.uk.com |
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SHOWING RULES
- Stallions and Colts
A stallion is accepted as such when 4 years of age. All stallions, 4 years old and over exhibited in stallion classes must be in possession of a Welsh Pony & Cob Society Licence of Correctness (or acknowledged alternative).
Colts may be licensed from 1st January of their 2 year old year and all colts presented for stallion premiums must be licensed. Progeny of unlicensed colts or stallions are not eligible for registration.
In the interest of safety all stallions and colts, two years old or over must be suitably bitted and led by a handler that has attained their 14th birthday before January 1st of the current year.
Please note that colts out of F.S.1. (first generation foundation stock) mares are not eligible to compete at shows and can only be entered for competition after castration and entry in Section E of the Stud Book.
- Mares
For showing purposes, females are acknowledged as being Brood Mares when four years old or over with foal at foot or has produced a foal in the current year.
Three year old fillies with foals at foot should be discouraged from competing.
A Novice Brood Mare is a pony or cob that has not won a first prize in any Brood Mare Classes up to and including the published closing date of entry.
A Barren Mare, for the purpose of showing, is a mare that has not produced a foal and will not produce a foal in the current year.
- Foals
Mares with Foals under 3 weeks of age must not be exhibited.
No foal to be shown in a bit of any type. Halter or leather head collar permissible.
- Trimming
Animals registered in Sections A, B, C, D & E must be shown in as natural a state as possible, manes and tails must not be plaited with the exception of a single long plait behind the ear.
Welsh Part-Breds should preferably be plaited but this is optional.
Animals, 3 years old and under must not be body clipped for showing purposes. Animals 4 years old or over, which have been clipped for winter activities can be shown. Fresh clipping for spring shows is not permissible. Judges must take special notes of this. Legs must not be clipped.
- Dress
Handlers must, at all times, present themselves in the show ring neatly and smartly dressed.
- Markings
Deliberate changes to the original markings of an animal as recorded on the registration certificate will not be allowed.
- Height
All ponies, 4 years old and over, come under the jurisdiction of the Joint Measurement Board. The following heights apply to the four Sections of the Welsh Stud Book. Measurements are not to be rounded up to nearest cms.
Section A Welsh Mountain Ponies Not exceeding 12.0 hands (121.9cms)
Section B Welsh Ponies Not exceeding 13.2 hands (137.2cms)
Section C Welsh Ponies (Cob Type) Not exceeding 13.2 hands (137.2cms)
Section D Welsh Cobs No height limit
Half an inch will be allowed in height for shoeing.
Heights recommended for “on the day of the show” for sections A, B & C
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Height at Maturity |
Yearling |
2 yr |
3 yr |
| 12.0 hh (121.9cms) |
11.1hh (114.3 cms) |
11.2 hh (116.8 cms) |
11.3hh
(119.4 cms) |
| 13.2 hh (137.2 cms) |
12.3hh (129.5 cms) |
13.0 hh (132.1 cms) |
13.1hh
(134.6 cms) |
Where possible the Society would encourage exhibitors not to shoe youngstock but where they have to be shod, would ask that the shoes be light in weight.
- Freeze Branding
The Society does not object to ponies and cobs being branded and this should not be detrimental to animals in the show or sale ring and is encouraged by the Society.
- Age
Age is calculated from 1st January in the year of birth.
- Soundness
If a pony/cob entered in a class is, in the opinion of the Judge, unsound, the Judge shall, at his/her discretion, require the exhibitor to withdraw the animal from that class or place it at the end of the line. The Judge’s decision in this matter is FINAL.
- Conduct
Where an unruly animal is likely to cause an accident, the judge has the power to ask that the animal to leave the ring.
Exhibitors must not remove their ponies from the Ring during judging, without the Judge’s permission. The class ends when the judge requests the class to be dismissed.
Exhibitors of the Welsh Breeds must not enter an animal in any Show when that animal will be judged by a person who has or has had a financial interest in that particular exhibit, stud work exempt, (the exhibitor being the owner, lessee or person producing and/or showing the animal):
(a) A judge may not adjudicate a class in which, to the Judge’s knowledge, a pony bred, sold, leased or produced by the Judge or his immediate family or employer is exhibited.
(b) If a judge has reasonable grounds for belief that any part of Rule 11.3 (a) is being contravened he must ask the exhibitor to leave the ring and the exhibitor must withdraw. The Judge’s decision is final in all cases.
(c) A rider, whip or handler must not compete in a class judged by a person for whom he/she has ridden, driven or produced in hand during the previous 12 months.
(d) A judge may not judge an exhibitor for whom they have produced an animal within the previous 12 months.
Substitutions and nomination of entries are not allowed.
- Whips and Canes (Riding)
No riding whips/canes shall exceed 75cms (30 inches).
- Performance Classes
There is no age restriction for riders in open pure bred Welsh Pony or Cob ridden classes with the exception of stallions in that riders must have attained their 12th birthday before the 1st of January of the current year when riding a Section A, B or Part-bred under 137.2cms (13.2hh) and their 14th before the first of January of the current year for Section C, D or Part-bred over 137.2cms (13.2hh). Riders of Welsh Part-Bred animals may be governed by specific age groups within their classification.
- In driven competition the driver, groom(s) and passenger(s) must have attained their 15th birthday on the first day of the show at which they are to compete. In the event that the driver is under the age of 18 he/she must be accompanied in the vehicle by a person aged 18 or over. Proof of age will be required in the event of a query.
No spurs to be used in any class.
A Judge has the power to ask any animal, which constitutes a danger, to leave the ring. The Judge’s decision is final.
Where a rider has been unseated or fallen from his/her animal, the rider cannot re-mount in the ring. The animal must be led out of the ring and cannot re-join the Class.
Correctly secured British standard skull caps/riding hats up to current British Standard must be worn at all times when mounted.
N.B. A competitor whose hat comes off, or chin strap comes undone whilst competing must, on penalty of elimination replace it or fasten it before continuing. He may dismount without penalty to recover the hat or have it passed up from the ground, or may stop without penalty to fasten the chin strap.
No change of rider will be allowed during a class without the Judge’s permission. Where an exhibitor qualifies two animals for a championship, they must elect a substitute rider who conforms to the regulations of the class.
In all ridden and driven classes ponies/cobs/part-breds must be 4 years old or over.
Mares with a suckling foal born during the current season are not eligible to compete in ridden or driven classes.
No animal will be shown on a leading rein except those entered in Leading Rein classes.
Grooms and handlers, when entering the ring, must at all times look neat and smartly dressed.
- Novices
A pony/cob/Welsh Part-Bred shall be deemed not to be a Novice if, by 1st January of the current year, it has won an Open class within the discipline in which it is currently competing.
All Novice ridden animals must be shown in a suitable snaffle bridle.
- Lead Rein and First Ridden
Classification should be as follows:
Mountain and Moorland Lead Rein, open to registered Welsh Sections A or B, mare or geldings not exceeding 122cms (12hh).
Riders must have attained their 3rd birthday but must not have attained their 9th birthday before 1st January in the current year.
Ponies to be shown in a suitable snaffle bridle - the reins to go directly from the bit to the rider’s hands.
The lead rein must be attached to the noseband only; no extra attachment to or on the saddle.
Mountain and Moorland First Ridden, open to registered Welsh Sections A or B, mares or geldings, not exceeding 128cms (12.2 hh). Riders must not have attained their 12th birthday before 1st January in the current year. Ponies are to be shown in a suitable bridle. Ponies must not be cantered except in their individual show.
- Pure Bred Ridden Classes
It is required by the Society that Welsh Mountain Ponies and Welsh Ponies, Sections A and B, shown under saddle (stallions, mares and geldings) must be judged at the Walk, Trot and Canter. Riders will be asked to gallop during their individual show. The only exception to this rule is where, at the discretion of the Judge/Show it is deemed too dangerous to gallop. Judges must also take into consideration manners, way of going, conformation and breed type. The animals may be ridden at the discretion of the Judge.
- Working Hunter Classes
Working Hunter Pony classes, open to stallions, mares and geldings.
No pony may be shown on a lead-rein.
No change of rider or saddlery is allowed between phases or during a phase. Protective boots may be used for the jumping phases only. Bandages and protective pads on animals feet are not allowed.
Once judging has commenced, if a pony leaves the ring, it will be eliminated from the class.
Five classes are recommended:
Height Section 1 Not exceeding 122cm (12hh)
Height Section 2 Exceeding 122cm (12hh) and not exceeding 133cm (13hh)
Height Section 3 Exceeding 134cm (13hh) and not exceeding 143cm (14hh)
Height Section 4 Exceeding 143cm (14 hh)
If Welsh Part-Breds are competing within the same section, end class 4 at 153cms (15hh) and add:
Height Section 5 Exceeding 153cm (15 hh)
Fences must be of a hunting type built with rustic materials and be as substantial as possible.
(a) The maximum spread must be at the base of the fence.
(b) Not more than two fences may be of maximum spread.
(c) Round poles to have round cups, gates to have flat cups.
(d) The jumping phase will be taken first and any pony eliminated will not be
required again.
(e) The course must consist of a minimum of seven fences, maximum of nine, one of which must be a spread, with no more than two double elements. A change of direction must be included.
(f) It is recommended that competitors be allowed to walk the course on foot before their class.
Height of Fences
Height Spread
Min Max Max
Height Section 1 1’9” (53 cms) 2’0” (61 cms) 1’9” (53 cms)
Height Section 2 2’3” (69 cms) 2’6” (76 cms) 2’3” (69 cms)
Height Section 3 2’6” (76 cms) 3’0” (90 cms) 2’6” (76 cms)
Height Section 4 2’9” (84 cms) 3’3” (99 cms) 2’9” (84 cms)
Height Section 5 3’0” (90 cms) 3’6” (106 cms) 3’0” (90 cms)
For novices -
Height Section 1 1’6” (47 cms) 1’9” (53 cms) 1’6” (47 cms)
Height Section 2 2’0” (61 cms) 2’3” (69 cms) 2’0” (61 cms)
Height Section 3 2’3” (96 cms) 2’6” (76 cms) 2’3” (69 cms)
Height Section 4 2’6” (76 cms) 2’9” (84 cms) 2’6” (76 cms)
Height Section 5 2’9” (84 cms) 3’3” (99 cms) 2’9” (84 cms)
- Penalties Marking
Jump knock down 10 faults Jumping 50
First refusal 15 faults Style while jumping 20
Second refusal 20 faults Conformation, freedom of action
Third refusal Elimination & Breed type 20
Fall of horse/rider Disqualification Manners 10
Half marks in the event of a tie
- Guidance for Showing
- Trimming Hints:
The Welsh breeds are a Native breed and too much trimming and pulling detracts from their native characteristics.
Long hair under the jawline and those protruding from the ears may be trimmed off leaving as natural a line as possible. The whiskers around the muzzle may be trimmed.
If the mane and tail is very thick, they can be discreetly thinned to show off the topline and the hindquarters. The tail should look natural and should not be “banged” (leveled off square).
- In-Hand Tack
Youngstock May be shown in a white webbing or rope show halter, leather head collar or show bridle.
Mares/Geldings Four years old or over may be shown in a white webbing or rope show halter, leather head collar, show bridle or riding bridle.
Colts/Stallions Two years old or over, should be suitably bitted.
The use of stallion Show Tack is optional.
- Ridden Tack
Saddle Close fitting and comfortable. The use of a plain coloured
numnah is optional.
Bridle A snaffle or double bridle or pelham. Cavesson noseband, plain
brow band, not brass as with in-hand bridles.
No extra tack to be worn in flat classes. Martingales and brushing boots are permissible in WHP classes (See rule 17.3) Style of boots optional.
- Dress
Jodhpurs Cream or fawn breeches or jodhpurs. Style of boots optional.
Jacket Tweed riding jacket, with or without a plain coloured waistcoat.
Shirt Light shirt with collar and tie.
Gloves Should be worn.
Jewellery Should not be worn.
The impression to aim for is smart, workmanlike, safe and comfortable |
