Haffies and welshies

[racaille]

My coach is fired up with finding me a new horse to take over from Paco in the summer. She has sent me a link to a welsh cob who is ride and drive but it loks like mostly driving and I'm not sure how much ridden work he has done. But I'd always thought that welshies were stubborn. Is this true? Any thouhgts?

Another one is a haflinger mare who is aleady competing at trec. She is relatively expensive but ready to go. I used to ride a wonderful haffy who was a true allrounder, worth his weight in gold. But a mare .....? any thoughts?

[haffyfan]

I was dubious about having a mare again but pen is a delight! I guess it depends on the individual, obviously the haffy sounds more appealing to me than the welsh. I actually think you want a nice Highland, can't recommend them enough!

[hazel]

Hazel is a welsh Sec D mare. I have had her since she was 4, she is 19 this year. I could never describe her as stubborn she has always enjoyed schooling and hacking. In the early days we had a lot of other problems, bucking, tanking off, scared of lorries and tractors (she still is but now not so quick to react). In the first year or 2 I nearly gave up several times but now so glad Ive got her and hoping she will go on for a few more years yet. She was my first and probably only horse. I got her relatively late in life when I was 46 so hoping she will go on for a few more years so we can retire together!

[brigadier]

Ive known a few Welshies and I personally love em but they are either very good or awful. Take Floss for example, she is great if you keep at it but give her a break and she goes feral. Looks at me as though I would murder her if I approach with anything in my hand. They are also either very highly strung and stupid with it, or very intelligent and bolshy with it. But get a good one and it will lay down and die for you! Wouldnt particularly want a ride and drive unless I was driving as they can be strong and heavy in the hand. Know nothing about Haffies except they are cute!

[ceej]

Agree with Brigs - get a good welshie and they are fab - Harry was Welsh D but he had been raised with manners. I think they are not for the novice - if taught how to behave they are great! I think it would be hard work to alter one once it was an adult.

I prefer mares - again; get a good one and they'll do anything for you. I know a Welsh D mare and she was hard work at first but only because her owner was quite soft - they do like to be told rather than asked I think.

To add to that though - Harry was quite strong - when he felt like going somewhere it was chin to chest! (I found the dr cooks bitless solved that tho)but my god he was good fun and I trusted him with my life.

[haffyfan]

Lots of welshie arguments so here goes for haffys although it's pretty much based on Harry!

Lovely temperaments, harry doesn't have a nasty bone in him, never even puts his ears back when murph is mean to him but is playful, he would love raising hell with Rac and Dr Evil! Generally placid and willing but does have a bit of spark under saddle. He is very strong and wouldn't be a child's pony as he would not intentionally do anything but is very powerful, as ceej describes above he does the Trojan horse and tucks his chin to chest to evade!

Fence wrecking aside, which seems to pretty much be a breed characteristic unfortunately, he's pretty easy to handle/be around and lets you do most things to him/with him and isn't bolshy on the ground. I call him the John smiths pony, as he's a real no nonsense type although he does think he's a bit of a comedian (think Johnny Vegas!). They also have that wow factor with the colouring of course! Non horsey people always comment on his colour/locks!