The Welsh Cob - the best ride and drive animal in the world
Suitably described as "the best ride and drive animal in the World", the Welsh Cob has been evolved throughout many centuries for it's courage, tractability and powers of endurance.
The general character is the strength, hardiness and agility. The head shows great quality with Pony character: bold prominent eyes, a broad forehead and neat, well set ears. The body must be deep, on strong limbs with good joints and a flat bone. Action must be straight, free and forceful, the knees should be bent and then the whole foreleg extended from the shoulders as far as possible in all paces, with the hocks well flexed, producing a powerful step.
The Welsh Cob is a most competent performer in all competitive sports. In recent years they have had great success in the international driving world. Their abilities in all spheres are now fully recognised throughout the world.
The height should exceed 13.2 h.h. (137 cms), but there's no upper limit.
Source: WPCS - The Welsh Pony and Cob Society - www.wpcs.uk.com
General Character
Strong, hardy and active, with pony character and as much substance as possible.
Head
Full of quality and pony character. A coarse head and Roman nose are most objectionable.
Ears
Neat and well set.
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.
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.
Colour
Any colour, except piebald and skewbald.
Eyes
Bold, prominent and set widely apart.
Neck
Lengthy and well carried. Moderately lean in the case of mares, but inclined to be cresty in the case of mature stallions.
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 inward 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.
