7. IN HAND
7.1. Stallions and Colts
In the interest of safety all colts and stallions, two years old or over must be suitably bitted and led by a handler who has reached the age of 14 years or over before January 1st of the current year.
7.2. Mares
7.2.1. Brood Mares must be 4 years old or over with foal at foot, or have produced a foal in the current year.
7.2.2. Foals must accompany their dams into the ring or a veterinary certificate justifying the absence of the foal be produced on request.
7.2.3. A Novice Brood Mare is a Pony or Cob that has not won a Brood Mare Class before 1st January of the current year.
7.2.4. A Barren Mare, for the purpose of showing, is a mare that has not produced a foal and will not produce a foal in the current year.
7.3 Foals
7.3.1. Mares with Foals under 3 weeks of age must not be exhibited.
7.3.2. Foals to be shown in a halter or leather head collar.
7.3.3. Three year old fillies with foals at foot cannot be shown.
7.4 In-Hand Tack
7.4.1 Youngstock may be shown in a white webbing or rope show halter, leather head collar or show bridle.
7.4.2 Mares/Geldings four years old or over may be shown in a white webbing or rope show halter, leather head collar, show bridle or riding bridle.
7.4.3 For Colts/Stallions the use of stallion Show Tack is optional.
8. RIDDEN
Judges for Welsh Pony and Cob Society Ridden Classes must be selected from the Ridden Panel. All animals must be 4 years old or over.
8.1 Lead Rein and First Ridden
Classification should be as follows:
8.1.1 Pure Bred Lead Rein
Open to registered Welsh Sections A or B, mares or geldings not exceeding 121.9cms (12hh). Riders must have attained their 3rd birthday but must not have attained their 9th birthday before 1st January in the current year. Ponies to be shown in a suitable snaffle bridle - the reins to go directly from the bit to the rider’s hands. The lead rein must be attached to the noseband only; no extra attachment to or on the saddle.
8.1.2 Pure Bred First Ridden
Open to registered Welsh Sections A or B, mares or geldings, not exceeding 128cms (12.2 hh). Riders must not have attained their 12th birthday before 1st January in the current year. Ponies are to be shown in a suitable bridle. Ponies must not be cantered except in their individual show.
8.1.3 Part-Bred Lead Rein
Open to registered Welsh Part-Bred, mares or geldings not exceeding 121.9cms (12 hh). Riders must have attained their 3rd birthday but must not have attained their 9th birthday before 1st January in the current year. Ponies to be shown in a suitable snaffle bridle - the reins to go directly from the bit to the rider’s hands. The lead rein must be attached to the noseband only; no extra attachment to or on the saddle.
8.1.4 Part-Bred First Ridden
Open to registered Welsh Part-Breds, mares or geldings, not exceeding 121.9cms (12 hh). Riders must not have attained their 12th birthday before 1st January in the current year. Ponies are to be shown in a suitable bridle. Ponies must not be cantered except in their individual show.
8.2 Ridden Classes
8.2.1 It is required by the Society that all Sections shown under saddle (stallions, mares and geldings) must be Judged at the Walk, Trot and Canter. Riders will be asked to gallop during their individual show. The only exception to this rule is where, at the discretion of the Judge/Show it is deemed too dangerous to gallop. Classes will be Judged on way of going including manners, conformation and breed type.
8.2.2 These classes may be split by height, age of rider, novice and open.
8.2.3 Judges officiating Ridden Classes for the Welsh Breeds must not ride entries and must Judge from the ground. Those Judges selected from the Ridden Panel of Judges are eligible to Judge Sections A, B, C and D in Ridden Classes.
8.3 Age of Rider
There is no age restriction for riders in open pure bred Welsh Pony, Cob or Welsh Part-Bred ridden classes with the exception of stallions in that riders must have attained their 12th birthday before the 1st of January of the current year when riding a Section A, B, C or Part-bred under 137.2 cms (13.2hh) and their 14th birthday before the 1st of January of the current year for Section D or Part-bred over 137.2 cms (13.2hh). Riders of Welsh Part-Bred animals may be governed by specific age groups within their classification.
8.4 Ridden Tack
8.4.1 No spurs to be used in any class.
8.4.2 Saddle - Close fitting and comfortable. The use of a plain coloured numnah is optional.
8.4.3 Bridle - A snaffle or double bridle or Pelham. Cavesson noseband, plain brow band, not brass as with in-hand bridles.
8.4.4 No extra tack to be worn in flat classes. Martingales and brushing boots are permissible in Working Hunter Pony classes but must be removed before the conformation section. Style of boots optional.
8.5 Ridden Dress
The impression to aim for is smart, appropriate, safe and comfortable.
8.5.1 Hat: Correctly secured British standard skull caps/riding hats up to current British Standard must be worn at all times when mounted
8.5.2 Jodhpurs: Cream or fawn breeches or jodhpurs. Style of boots optional.
8.5.3 Jacket: Tweed riding jacket, with or without a plain coloured waistcoat.
8.5.4 Shirt: Light shirt with collar and tie.
8.5.5 Gloves: should be worn.
8.5.6 Jewellery: should not be worn.
11 8.6 Conduct
8.6.1 Where an unruly animal is likely to cause an accident, the Judge has the power to ask that the animal leaves the ring.
8.6.2 Exhibitors must not remove their ponies from the Ring during judging, without the Judge’s permission. The class ends when the Judge requests the class to be dismissed.
8.6.3 Where a rider has been unseated or fallen from his/her animal, the rider cannot remount in the ring. The animal must be led out of the ring and cannot re-join the class.
8.6.4 Correctly secured British standard skull caps/riding hats up to current British Standard must be worn at all times when mounted. A competitor whose hat comes off, or chin strap comes undone whilst competing must, on penalty of elimination replace it or fasten it before continuing. He may dismount without penalty to recover the hat or have it passed up from the ground, or may stop without penalty to fasten the chin strap.
8.6.5 No change of rider will be allowed during a class. Where an exhibitor qualifies two animals for a championship, they must elect a substitute rider who conforms to the regulations of the class.
8.6.6 In all ridden and driven classes Ponies/Cobs/Part Breds must be 4 years old or over.
8.6.7 Mares with a suckling foal are not eligible to compete in ridden or driven classes.
8.6.8 No animal will be shown on a leading rein except those entered in Leading Rein classes.
8.6.9 Grooms and handlers, when entering the ring, must at all times look neat and smartly dressed.
8.7 Novices
8.7.1 A Pony/Cob/Welsh Part-Bred shall be deemed to be a Novice if, by 1st January of the current year, it has not won an Open class within the discipline in which it is currently competing.
8.7.2 All Novice ridden animals must be shown in a suitable snaffle bridle.
8.8 Working Hunter Classes
8.8.1 Working Hunter Pony classes, open to stallions, mares and geldings, 4 years and over by the 1st January in the current year.
8.8.2 No pony may be shown on a lead-rein except in Lead Rein Working Hunter Pony classes.
8.8.3 No change of rider or saddlery is allowed between phases or during a phase. Protective boots may be used for the jumping phases only. Bandages and protective pads on animals feet are not allowed.
8.8.4 Once judging has commenced, if a pony leaves the ring, it will be eliminated from the class.
8.8.5 Three classes are recommended:
| Exceeding | Not Exceeding | |
| Height Section 1 | - | 121.9 cm (12 hh) |
| Height Section 2 | 121.9 cm (12 hh) | 137.2 cm (13.2 hh) |
| Height Section 3 | 137.2 cm (13.2 hh) |
If Welsh Part-Breds are competing they should be shown in respective height sections.
8.9 Fences
8.9.1 Fences must be of a hunting type built with rustic materials and be as substantial as possible.
8.9.2 The maximum spread must be at the base of the fence.
8.9.3 Not more than two fences may be of maximum spread.
8.9.4 Round poles to have round cups, gates to have flat cups.
8.9.5 The jumping phase will be taken first and any pony eliminated will not be required again.
8.9.6 The course must consist of a minimum of seven fences, maximum of nine, one of which must be a spread, with no more than two double elements. A change of direction must be included.
8.9.7 It is recommended that competitors be allowed to walk the course on foot before their class.
8.9.8 Height of Fences
Open
| Height | Spread | ||
| Height Section | Min | Max | Max |
| 1 | 53 cm (1’9”) | 61 cm (2’0”) | 53 cm (1’9”) |
| 2 | 69 cm (2’3”) | 84 cm (2’9”) | 69 cm (2’3”) |
| 3 | 84 cm (2’9”) | 99 cm (3’0”) | 76 cm (2’6”) |
Novices - No water Trays for Novice Classes
| Height | Spread | ||
| Height Section | Min | Max | Max |
| 1 | 47 cm (1’6”) | 53 cm (1’9”) | 47 cm (1’6”) |
| 2 | 61 cm (2’0”) | 69 cm (2’3”) | 61 cm (2’0”) |
| 3 | 76 cm (2’6”) | 84 cm (2’9”) | 76 cm (2’6”) |
Penalties
| Jump knock down | 10 faults |
| First refusal | 15 faults |
| Second refusal | 20 faults |
| Third refusal | Elimination |
| Fall of horse/rider | Disqualification |
Marking
| Jumping | 50 |
| Style while jumping | 20 |
| Conformation, freedom of action & Breed type | 20 |
| Manners | 10 |
| If equal marks, Performance marks take precedence, then style, if still equal, the Judge’s preference | |
8.10 Driving Classes
8.10.1 In driven competition the driver, groom(s) and passenger(s) must have attained their 14th birthday by the first January of the current year. In the event that the driver is under the age of 18, he/she must be accompanied in the vehicle by a person aged 18 years or over. Proof of age will be required in the event of a query.
8.10.2 In all driven classes Ponies/Cobs/Part Breds must be 4 years old or over.
8.10.3 Private Drive classes will follow the rules of the British Driving Society.
8.11 Conduct
8.11.1 Where an unruly animal is likely to cause an accident, the Judge has the power to ask that the animal leaves the ring.
8.11.2 Grooms and handlers, when entering the ring, must at all times look neat and smartly dressed.
Complaints guidance: All complaints relating to potential breaches of WPCS rules must first be lodged with the Show Secretary, within the rules of the Show. If, following the conclusion of those procedures, the complainant remains dissatisfied with the outcome the complaint may be referred to the Welsh Pony & Cob Society. All complaints should be in writing and addressed to the Principal Officer.
