A Statement from the WPCS.

Dear members, breeders, and enthusiasts of Welsh Ponies (Section B).

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust approached The Welsh Pony & Cob Society last year as part of their Native Equine Conservation Project looking into the populations of all Native U.K. breeds. In collaboration, the Society office provided the Trust with registration data for all of the Welsh sections as part of the project and subsequently, the RBST calculations that the Society has been waiting for have identified concerns over the population of Welsh Ponies (Section B) that has led to the Trust taking appropriate action. As a result, the Welsh Pony (Section B) has now been placed on the ‘At Risk’ register of the RBST Watchlist for 2024.

This marker on the ‘At Risk’ section of the Watchlist will see the Section B Welsh Pony breed sitting alongside the likes of the Clydesdale & Shires draught Horses and Fell & Dartmoor ponies in order of conservation priority. This is the first time one of the Welsh breeds has been classified as ‘At Risk’ since the Welsh Mountain ‘Hill Pony’ was so designated 25 years ago following the research submitted by Mrs Elizabeth French reporting on populations of wild and semi-feral ponies kept on hill/common habitats throughout Wales and the Border Counties.

The Welsh Section B breed has, unfortunately, seen a consistent level of decline from 2009 to 2023 and has now dropped to under 400 breeding mares, less than half the number seen in 2009. The EPS (Effective Population Size) reflects this decline which has been reduced to 413 from the 1,061 seen in 2009.

Despite all sections of the Welsh Studbook having seen a decline in the same period, none have seen quite such a marked decline as the Section B’s, which is a worrying trend. For now, the other sections of the Studbook that maintain at a healthier and more populated status, will remain amongst the ‘other native breeds not at risk’ on the RBST watchlist.

This is a difficult time for us all, not least as owning and breeding ponies becomes a more and more expensive hobby, but we must not lose sight of the importance of preserving our beloved Welsh Ponies, Cobs and Part-Breds. One of the primary objectives of our Breed Society is to encourage the breeding and improvement of the Welsh Breeds, and equally importantly to educate and promote the welfare of horses and ponies, and we will find a way forward to ensure all Welsh breeds continue and thrive.

Having only just received this information, the Society will be using the RBST’s findings to positive effect and have already entered into discussions following this report. The Trustees and Office will be working together to undertake further research, based on the data supplied by the RBST and look at some suggestions. The Society has been awaiting this report and its subsequent findings which will trigger a reconsideration of some recent show decisions. Urgent and priority review must also be given to encourage and support breeding programmes and to ensure that we encourage exhibitors of Welsh Section B’s continue to come forward to our affiliated events to showcase their stock. This will require some thoughtful and careful consideration moving forward and we will feed back to Members, Breeders, and Exhibitors in due course.

On behalf of the Society, I would like to thank the RBST for their valuable work. The Society recognises the importance of working with the Trust to ensure the perpetuity of our beloved Welsh breeds. The Society is keen to consult with its members, breeders, and exhibitors on this matter and welcomes any thoughts and suggestions.

More information will be available on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust website (www.rbst.org.uk).

Ed Gummery, Chair of WPCS Council.