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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Welsh ponies - Not just for riding school beginners wearing jodhpur boots


From jodhpur boot-wearing pony clubbers to top showing professionals, the Welsh pony is a much loved and very versatile breed. Descended from the Celtic pony, the Welsh mountain pony is believed to have existed in the mountains of Wales for over a thousand years enduring the extreme temperatures and lack of nourishment.

No doubt due to their history, Welsh ponies are extremely hardy and have an intelligence which has made them one of the finest foundations for horse breeding in the world. Coupled with their renown for a kind temperament, they have become an extremely popular children's pony and great all rounder.

With a slightly dished head, the Welsh pony's Arab roots are evident. When the Romans invaded Britain, they brought with them horses of Arabian descent from their African campaigning. When they left Britain in the fifth century most of their horses were turned loose or bartered, resulting in the introduction of Arab blood into British native breeds.

To be successful in showing, the Welsh pony should not exceed 12hh and should have a small head with neat pointed ears, big bold eyes and a wide forehead. The jaw should be clean cut, narrowing to a small muzzle with a good sized and well carried neck and shoulders that slope back to a clearly defined wither. The limbs must be set square and the tail should be set high and carried happily.

Stockier and bigger than the Welsh pony, the Welsh Cob is the stronger counterpart of the Welsh pony. They are surefooted and like all Welsh breeds, are natural jumpers and excel in harness. As with the Welsh pony, the Welsh Cob should have bold prominent eyes, a broad forehead and neat, well set ears. According to some, the wider and greater the eye, the deeper into the pony's heart you will see.

The body of the Welsh Cob should be deep with strong limbs and they should have a straight, free and forceful gait. Despite their stocky size, their agile and impulsive gaits also make them suitable for dressage.

With their incredible versatility, it is easy to see therefore what makes Welsh ponies such a popular breed. Suitable for dressage, jumping, hunting and driving, this breed is like no other and is certainly not limited for use as a riding school pony with beginners clad in jodhpur boot around on their backs.

[Image © bozo z clown via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence] 

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Have a non-spring clean by washing your horse rugs and tidying your stable

Spring needn't be the only time for a good clean up. Having a tidy of your stable and a sort out of all your horse rugs and equipment is important for keeping your stable a safe environment to work in and around. It also provides a good opportunity to check for any repairs that need to be made or equipment that should be replaced.

Start by having a good sweep up – take out everything from each area so that you can get into the corners and reach any dropped food that might encourage mice and rats into the yard. Make sure that any tools are hung up out of the way so that they can't be tripped over and aren't going to fall suddenly and spook the horses.

Make sure that there are no holes in the feed bins and that they are in a waterproof container so that feed isn't spoiled by the damp and doesn't get eaten by vermin. Large plastic dustbins can provide cheap places to store feed although persistent rats can gnaw through them so metal alternatives are better.

Walk around your horse's field and collect any rubbish that may have accumulated, as well as checking fencing and gates for any repairs that need to be made. Also, pull up any ragwort which can seed quickly and spread around the field causing a deadly menace to your horse.

Give your horse's equipment a good sort out and wash. Put your horse's turnout and stable rugs through the washing machine and keep them somewhere dry and away from where vermin can reach them. Find somewhere in prominent view to pin up an emergency contact list with names and numbers of owners, vets and farriers.

Finally, add some colour to your yard by putting up hanging baskets. Once everything from the fences to the horse rugs is in order, you can put your feet up and enjoy a well deserved cup of tea.


[Image © David Boyle via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence]