But the Welsh breeds’ unique qualities are the key ingredients in breeding versatile performance animals of the highest calibre.”ĭeciphering what makes the Welsh “ingredient” in sports ponies so covetable is far-reaching, it can feel like an exercise in celebrating all that is great about our native breeds.

If this is lost, then the characteristic and essence of what is special in the Welsh breed will disappear. “However, you have to combine this with the breed society focus on animals being bred that have the attributes and breed type as laid down in the breed description.

“There is no question that if your breeding programme is evaluated closely then you eliminate the inferior and promote animals with natural aptitude, and I think we could learn a lot from that. “I think one of the reasons the Europeans and particularly the Germans have been so successful in utilising the Welsh bloodlines is the fact that they have a more structured approach ,” says Jo Filmer, who breeds section Bs at Longhalves Stud in East Sussex and is the organiser of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society’s annual Performance Awards. With a feeling that more emphasis needs to be put on getting natives back into our sports ponies on home soil, there is something enviable about the efficiency with which they have been used on the Continent.

Mister x dressage horse