View source for Welara

{{Short description|Breed of horse}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox horse
|name= Welara
|status = 
|image=
|image_caption=
|altname=
|country= Originally bred in [[England]], registered in [[United States]]
|group1= American Welara Pony Registry
|group2=<!--USA and other national registry names and URLs needed-->
|std1= http://www.welararegistry.com/registry/registry.html
|std2=<!--link to breed standard page for group 2 registry-->
|features = Refined but hardy pony breed
}}

The '''Welara''' is a [[part-Arabian]] [[horse breed|pony breed]] developed from the [[Arabian horse]] and the [[Welsh pony]]. It was originally bred in England by [[Lady Wentworth]] at the [[Crabbet Arabian Stud]] in the early 1900s from imported Arabian [[stallion]]s and Welsh pony [[mare]]s. Breeding then spread throughout North America. In 1981, a [[breed registry]] was formed in the United States, and a [[studbook]] began to be published. They are used for many disciplines of [[English riding]], and are known for their refinement, hardiness and spirit.

==Breed characteristics==
 {{multiple image
 | footer = The two breeds used to create the Welara
 | total_width=400
 | image1 = Halterstandingshotarabianone.jpg
 | height1=240
 | width1=300
 | alt1 = A standing bay-colored horse
 | caption1 = An Arabian horse
 | image2 = Welshb shangri-la.JPG
 | height2=213
 | width2=320
 | alt2 = A standing dappled gray pony
 | caption2 = A Welsh pony
 }}

Welara [[stallion]]s average {{hands|14|to|15}} and mares {{hands|13.1|to|14.3}}. To be registered, Welaras must stand between {{hands|11.2|and|15}} high. Crosses between Arabians and each of the four sections of Welsh Pony (A, B, C and D) tend to produce slightly different types of pony. Section A Welsh Pony crosses (the smallest) tend to be under {{hands|13}}, and be used mainly as light driving ponies and mounts for small children. Section B crosses usually stand {{hands|13|to|13.2}} and can be used for driving and as riding ponies for larger children and small adults. Section C crosses average {{hands|13.2|to|14.2}} hands and tend to be a heavier pony, sometimes with [[feathering (horse)|feathered]] feet, although still showing the refinement of their Arabian ancestors. Section D crosses generally stand {{hands|13.3|to|15}} high. The latter two types are suited to riding by average and slightly larger adults and for the majority of disciplines.<ref name=Registry>{{cite web|url=http://www.welararegistry.com/registry/registry.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020109230726/http://www.welararegistry.com/registry/registry.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 9, 2002|title=Registration Requirements ~ Name Prefix & Suffix Recording ~ History|publisher=American Welara Pony Registry|access-date=2012-01-01}}</ref>

All colors other than [[Appaloosa]] are allowed for registration. Welara Sport Ponies may be of any color or size, without the restrictions of the purebred Welara.<ref name=Lynghaug/> The mix of Arabian and Welsh blood gives the breed refinement, spirit and hardiness, as well as good movement. The head is small and slightly [[wiktionary:concave|concave]], the neck is arched (and prone to be [[Stallion#Anatomy|cresty]] in stallions). The shoulders and [[rump (animal)|croup]] are long and the back short. Welaras are used mainly in [[English riding]], especially in [[Show hunter|hunter]] classes. They are also seen in [[show jumping]], [[three-day eventing]], [[pleasure driving]] and as general leisure riding horses. Welara/[[Thoroughbred]] crosses are popular mounts for riders competing in hunter and jumper classes.<ref name=Dutson>{{cite book|title=Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America|author=Dutson, Judith|publisher=Storey Publishing|year=2005|isbn=1-58017-613-5|pages=330–331}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Neville-lytton.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.75|Lady Wentworth, original breeder of the Welara]]
Crosses began to be made between the [[Arabian horse]] and the [[Welsh Pony]] in [[Sussex, England]] the early 1900s, by [[Lady Wentworth]] of the [[Crabbet Arabian Stud]]. She began breeding Arabian stallions, including [[Skowronek (horse)|Skowronek]] (1909–1930), a Polish Arabian stud,<ref name=Dutson/> to Welsh mares from [[North Wales]], especially the Coed Coch [[stud farm]],<ref>{{cite book|year=2007|title=International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds|author=Hendricks, Bonnie|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-3884-8|page=436}}</ref> which she imported beginning in the early 1920s.<ref name=Lynghaug>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xXzqDezPk7MC&q=welara&pg=PA540|pages=537–540|title=The Official Horse Breeds Standards Guide: The Complete Guide to the Standards of All North American Equine Breed Associations|author=Lynghaug, Fran|publisher=Voyageur Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7603-3499-7}}</ref> Other breeders in England and North America soon followed suit, although at this time they were not focused on creating a new breed, and the cross became known as the Welara.<ref name=Dutson/>

In 1981, a [[breed registry]], called the American Welara Pony Registry, was created in the US in order to develop and promote the breed. A [[studbook]] also began to be published, and [[Pedigree chart|pedigrees]] of Welaras were collected and preserved. Only Welsh and Arabian blood is allowed for [[purebred]]s, and all registered ponies must have at least 1/8 and no more than 7/8 blood from each breed. As of 2005, the registry claimed slightly over 1,500 ponies registered in North America, with around 100 new foals registered annually. Welara Sport Ponies may also be registered – these are ponies at least 50 percent Welara but with blood from other breeds, often the [[Thoroughbred]].<ref name=Dutson/> The association also registers pureblood Welsh and Arabian [[foundation stock]].<ref name=Registry/>

Welaras have now spread to additional areas of the world, including the Caribbean, Oceania and Europe. In Europe, Welsh/Arabian crosses, sometimes with additional Thoroughbred blood, are often called "riding ponies" or "sport ponies". In the US, the breed is seen most often in the central and western parts of the country.<ref name=Dutson/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20080603100745/http://www.welararegistry.com/ Article title]}}  Welara Registry

{{Horse breeds of the British Isles}}
{{Horse breeds of Canada and the United States}}
[[Category:Horse breeds]]
[[Category:Part-Arabian breeds of horses and ponies]]
[[Category:Horse breeds originating in England]]
[[Category:Horse breeds originating in the United States]]
[[Category:Ponies]]