Welsh Pony and Cob

History
 The Welsh breed is thought to be a descendent of horses and ponies that lived in Wales several thousands years, and is even thought to have a trace of Arabian blood in it. They were used for various purposes, including working on farms. which caused them to develop into four types: the Welsh Mountain Pony, the Welsh Pony, the Welsh Pony of Cob Type, and the Welsh Cob.

 The two smallest types of ponies, the Mountain Pony and Pony, were once used for herding sheep, with the latter also being used as transportation by farmers. The stronger, chunkier Welsh Pony of Cob Type was used when heavy loads needed to be moved. They hauled slate out of mines, worked on farms, delivered goods, and transported military equipment. The last type, called the Welsh Cob, was used for farming, cavalry, and transportation.

Welsh Cob credit

Breed Description and Uses
 Four types exist within the Welsh breed. Section A, also known as the Welsh Mountain Pony, is small at an average height of 12 hands high and smaller. As the name suggests, the Welsh Mountain Pony was found roaming the mountains of Wales. They have tough hooves developed from climbing mountains, strong hindquarters, a short back, a crested neck, and a small head with large eyes and tiny pointed ears. Because of their small size and gentle nature, they is used for therapy riding and for small children.

 Section B is known as the Welsh Pony. They are similar to the Mountain Pony, though they are slighter bigger at a maximum of 13.2 hands high. Today, the Welsh Pony is used as a children's mount in hunter classes and driving.

 The Section C Welsh Pony of Cob Type is strong and sturdy, yet small at a maximum height of 13.2 hands high. Their hindquarters and shoulders are muscular, and their refined head is carried on a high-set arched neck. Today, the Welsh Pony of Cob Type is valued as a driving horse, as well as a hunter, jumper, and trekking horse.

 The Section D Welsh Cob is the tallest of the breed, standing at any height taller than 13.2 hands high. They are stockier than the Section C, with muscled hindquarters and shoulders, a high-set neck, and a pretty head.  The Welsh Cob's legs have a little bit of feathering on them. Aside from being a competitive carriage horse, the Welsh Cob can do well in hunter classes and eventing.

Hackney

 History
In 18th century Norfolk, Thoroughbred stallions were crossed Norfolk Trotter mares. The resulting horse was excellent at hacking(hence the name) and could easily trot over long distances, going as fast as 18 miles an hour. In the mid-1800s, as roads improved, the Hackneys became carriage horses, moving much faster than they heavy carriage horses meant to pull wagons over uneven roads, a difficult task. Soon after, the Hackney pony came into existence by breeding Fell pony/Thoroughbred crosses with small Welsh Cobs, and then breeding those offspring with a 14 hands high Hackney named Sir George. Though it is disputed by many, Hackney ponies and horses are considered one breed, are registered under the same studbook, and judged the same way in the show ring.

Both Hackney ponies and horses look very similar
and have the same high-stepping gaits. credit

In 1883, the Hackney Studbook Society was founded. Since then, the horse became known as the ultimate carriage. People from both America and England loved the breed because it was quick transportation.

 In 1891, the American Hackney Society was founded, and up until the Great Depression in the '30s, hundreds and hundreds of both Hackney horses and ponies were shipped to America.

Breed Description and Uses
 Both the Hackney horse and pony are very similar in appearance. They have long hind hocks, a lot of knee action, a level croup, sloping shoulders, and a high-set neck. Their head is elegant and small. The horse type stands 14 to 16 hands high, while the pony is only 12 to 14 hands high. Both come in black, bay, chestnut, and sometimes pinto. Their tails are often docked.

 Hackneys are generally used for English disciplines, such as dressage, jumping, and saddle seat, though they can also be used in driving, something even the ponies do well at.

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Morgan

 In 1789, a logging horse named Figure was born in West Springfield, Massachusetts. No one knew who his parents were, although some suspect the sire to be True Briton, a Thoroughbred, and believe that Friesians, Welsh Cobs, Norfolk Trotters, or even Canadian Horses to be somewhere in his lineage. Then again, these are just speculations. No one really knows for certain. 

 As a yearling, Figure was sold to Justin Morgan, a schoolteacher from Vermont, who lent the young horse to neighboring farmers to be used as a plow horse and a logging horse. It turns out that the small, 14 hands high colt was also good at racing. He would beat the fastest Thoroughbreds in match races, win trotting races, and could even out-pull heavy draft horses in log-pulling races, always winning, no matter how much extra weight was put on.

Morgans are usually found in bay,
black, and dark chestnut. They
can be used in many disciplines,
including western pleasure, like the one
above.

 It wasn't long before villagers asked for Figures stud services, breeding him mainly to Thoroughbred and Norfolk Trotter mares, although he successfully made his mark upon generations of horses, which became to be known as "Morgan's horse." Later, the name was shortened to "Morgan," which is used to this day. 

 The Morgan has large, intelligent eyes; a slightly dished profile; a crested neck, which flows smoothly into high withers; a short back, sturdy legs, powerful haunches, and stands between 14.1 and 15.2 hands high. Also, the breed is divided into two different types: the powerful, compact Morgan, which closely resembles the breed's base stallion, Figure, and the elegant, more refined type, developed more recently than he other type. Despite their physical differences, the two have three traits in common: liveliness, endurance, and a good-natured temperament. 

 Just like the Thoroughbred, the Morgan excels in many disciplines, including dressage, driving, endurance racing, eventing, show jumping, and just about any other discipline, English or Western. The fact that it is an all-round horse most likely goes back to the early development of the breed, when a farmer needed to have it ready to do harness work or another man had to use it for different purposes. 

Dales Pony

The Dales pony is a native British breed that has never been wild, being bred by man in captivity. It has descended from the Celtic pony, like many other British breeds. It also has other breeds mixed into it.

Long ago, the Fell pony and the Dales pony were pretty much the same breed. The Fell pony came from the west of the Pennine hills and the Dales from the east(the Pennine hills stretch through the northern half of England)Back then, both ponies were called Pennine ponies.

Dales ponies, known for being both good trotters and for their ability to pull heavy loads, were used by the army to carry ammunition to soldiers as well as to pull mine carts full of lead or coal. Also, it was ridden by farmers. Dales ponies can run a mile in three minutes and can carry up to 220 pounds.

Characteristics

The Dales pony is strongly built and has sturdy joints. Its hooves are hard and have bluish tint to them;feathers grow on the fetlock. Its face shows alertness, its ears are short, and its eyes are bright. The mane and tail are wavy. It can grow to be up to 14.2 hands tall. The pony can be either black, brown, bay, or grey.

Ancestry

The Celtic pony was crossed with a Friesian-Ariegeois cross bred horse that was brought to england by the Romans. In the 1800s, a Welsh Cob was added to the mix, and finally, Clydesdales were added for size.

Dales Pony's Uses Today

The Dales pony is mostly used as a trekking pony or a driving pony.