Guess the (cross)breed

[Whinny_the_Pooh]

I’d love to hear your best guess on my horse’s breeding. When I bought him last year, I was told he’s a TB/Welsh, but my local vet said “gee, he’s big for a pony cross.” I have no reason to disbelieve the folks I bought him from, but he’s grade so who knows. I have no experience with pony crosses, so I don’t know how tall they can get.

Here are his stats: 15hh, forward, will test his rider but not unmanagable for an ammy. Thin tail, long fetlock hair even in summer, but I wouldn’t call it feathers. Any guesses ??

[Scribbler]

I think Welsh pony crosses can come out that big

It’s a known sport horse cross.

F1 crosses can vary a lot. The size of the mare has an impact on size of foal, on top of random genetics.

[Knubbsy]

I’d believe TB/Welsh with build and behavior, even if the welsh side is a small Sec B. Like @Scribbler says it’s a common enough sport cross and they can end up 15hh or taller even if they’re usually in the upper 13s and low-mid 14s.

[Arlomine]

I have a Welsh Cob thoroughbred cross. He is 16.2. This guy definitely could be a Welsh thoroughbred cross

[exvet]

I’ve produced two welsh cob x tb crosses that both hit 15.1 hands using the same mare (TB mare 16.1 hands) but two different welsh cob stallions.

[quietann]

A friend had a TB/Connemara cross that was just shy of 17 hands. He was basically a pony on stilts – wore a size 78 blanket. Lovely horse, gone too soon.

[NoSuchPerson]

Add me to the list of people who see no reason to doubt that the horse is a TB/Welsh cross.

[eightpondfarm]

Neck and hip say thoroughbred to me. I don’t know welsh cobs at all.

[ShenanAnna]

Welsh pony is what the vet was assuming, when doubting the size. Welsh cob crosses are what the other posters are talking about.

[NoSuchPerson]

Yeah, Section D Welsh Cobs are over 13.2 and I believe that there is no upper limit on size, so you can have a Welsh Cob that isn’t technically a pony.

When I was a kid my fantasy ponies were Connemaras and Welsh Cobs.

Edited to add that I used to own a 15.2 cross between a 14.2 grade pony mare and a TB, so the idea that a pony/TB cross could be 15 hands seems perfectly reasonable to me.

[Whinny_the_Pooh]

Interesting replies! I didn’t know there could be so much height variation. I’m in stock horse country, so I was surprised to find his type for sale- grade QH types are way more popular here.

I’ve had two vets look at his teeth & they disagree on his age, of course…one vet thought he is about 10 yrs, the other thought younger than 10.

[RMJacobs]

My large grade pony had a big horse body on pony legs. I could swap saddles between him and my Paint mare, yet he was only 13.2. My driving trainer though he was a Welsh pony cross of some sort. And his size wasn’t fat, although he was certainly overweight when I got him. When he got down to a good weight, it didn’t change saddle or harness size because he had such a huge barrel. I always said he was put together from other horses’ spare parts. It was interesting buying a harness for him. The harness guy said I must have measured wrong. So I whipped out a picture, and after he stopped laughing, he put together a nice harness for me.

Rebecca

[sophie]

I once rode a 15h Welsh Cob during a 2-week trek. Lovely “pony”, forward, sensitive but with a great mind and attitude. My kind of horse. I can believe OP’s horse is a Tb/Welsh cross.

[skydy]

I’m surprised that your vet believes that 15H is big for a pony cross.
I agree that your horse may well be TB x Welsh. Nothing about his size or appearance rules it out.

[Renn_aissance]

Perfectly likely he could be a Welsh/TB. Sometimes you breed for a large and get an XL.

[Montanas_Girl]

I see no reason not to believe that horse is a Welsh/TB cross, if you have paperwork or evidence to that effect. If there was no proof of bloodline provided, sheer law of averages says it’s probably a QH cross.

[phantomhorse]

This is a 15.3h TB/Welsh pony cross (for reference, I am 5’6):

I hope you love your guy as much as I love the guy pictured above!

[red_mares]

That’s my pony mare. She’s got pony legs on a horse size body. It’s short coupled horse size body, but still horse size. Someone made a comment about her large ears - “Well, she’s got a big head”

She’s probably some mix of Morgan, mini or Shetland, maybe Haflinger. It’s unlikely she’s got any Welsh blood, there aren’t many in the area.

[RMJacobs]

My guy came through a rescue who got him at auction. I have no idea of his background, or where he lived. His head always looked huge, but he wore a cob halter. He had the short coupled body. Fitting a saddle on him was a nightmare. Harness was much easier as it was put together with various size parts. He was a great driving pony, lousy riding pony.

Rebecca

[Whinny_the_Pooh]

Great picture! Practically my horse’s twin. One of his nicknames is “Pocket Rocket”