Premium Stallions

Brief History of the Welsh Mountain Pony

The origin of the Welsh Mountain Hill Pony is uncertain; however it is believed to have descended from the Celtic pony. The Hills of Wales and the borders were alive with hill pony herds of wild, hardy animals left virtually to fend for themselves, ensuring that only the hardiest survived. Mother natures doctrine of ‘survival of the fittest’ led to the evolution of the Welsh Mountain Pony, agile, hardy, fit, strong, intelligent and beautiful.

From information it is believed that the Hill Pony Improvement Societies became established as a result of the Commons Act 1908, however a few Hill Societies existed before The Bill came into being and in fact this acted as an instigator to The Bill itself. The early Welsh Stud Book reported that The Right Hon. Earl Carrington, G. C. M. G. President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, received a deputation on the subject of protection and improvement of the breed.

Lord Kenyon led the deputation, the meeting resulted in the Act of Parliament, intended to assist with the improvement of the Hill Pony and breeding. The Act itself still stands the test of time today, enabling control of the ponies, especially entires, roaming common land to ensure breeding standards are maintained.

It is essential to try and maintain the tradition of keeping these ponies on their natural heath to ensure that these invaluable characteristics are not lost, there has been an enormous contribution by the hill breeders over time to retain the traditional characteristics of the Welsh Mountain Pony. At some Hill Sales you will see many lowland breeders looking for these bloodlines. We owe our Native Hill ponies much; they play an important role in conservation grazing and are vital for Welsh Heritage. It is important that we preserve this unique way of breeding for future generations to enjoy.

Earlier records of the Premium Scheme:

The Board of Agriculture in 1913 offered twenty three Premiums of £5 each to Welsh Mountain Pony stallions which the rules of the WPCS clearly stated you must abide by the 1908 Commons Act. The first Societies to receive Premium grant in 1913 were:

• Church Stretton (8 premiums @ £5)
• Eppynt Forest (9 premiums @ £5)
• Gower Common (3 premiums @ £5)
• Penybont (3 premiums @ £5)

The Pony Improvement Scheme supported by the War Office, continued to expand and by 1929 despite difficult times there were fifty one premiums paid. From approximately 1938 the Racecourse Betting Control Board later called the Horse Betting Levy Board paid the Premium grant. Although there was a decline over the war years, this did improve in the 1950’s, all the grants were paid subject to the inspector’s approval who used to travel to the different areas.

From 1958 inspection of these stallions took place at Glanusk Park, Crickhowell and later at the Glanusk Stallion Show, held at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, the inspections are carried out by approved panel judges of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society, stallions qualify the same way as before but the venue has become the shop window for the Welsh Pony and Cob Society and the Hill Pony Improvement Societies.

Deri Brigadier - Photo by Dewi Thomas

Population Decline

The serious decline in numbers of the Hill Ponies became apparent to many of the Hill Breeders and The Welsh Pony and Cob Society Council Members. The W.P.C.S. then commissioned Betty French to carry out a survey throughout the Hills of Wales on The Welsh Mountain Pony. This huge task was carried out from 1998 and completed approximately in the year 2001.

The figures collated of the Welsh Mountain Ponies by Betty French were that there was less than 800 brood mares 4 year old and over. The Welsh Pony and Cob Society then submitted these figures to the Rare Breed Survival Trust and the Welsh Mountain Hill Pony was placed on their “at risk” register in 2002.