Well-Suited Welsh Cobs

Nestled between England and the Irish Sea, my home country of Wales is famous for its picturesque hills and heavy rainfall. We also have a long history of farming, including several of our own livestock breeds. Welsh cattle and sheep are well-known for their hardiness, but the Welsh Cob and its ancestor, the Welsh Pony, have achieved the greatest worldwide recognition.

The Welsh Cob is a small, stocky animal with a high-stepping movement, similar in size to the American Quarter Horse, but heavier in the limb, with a focus more on strength than on speed. Historically, farmers used Welsh Cobs for endless tasks, from farm work during the week, to hunting on Saturday, to pulling the carriage to church on Sunday at a smart, spanking trot. Welsh Cobs were the perfect all-around equine, and they were easy keepers too. Larger draft breeds might’ve been better suited for heavy farm work, but they weren’t as efficient at the long-distance trips to market, and keeping a draft horse took good fodder and stabling, whereas a Welsh Cob could live comfortably outdoors