Sabino is established as a Pinto. Were we not told that excessive white Welsh are Sabino not Pinto?! If a pony is genetically tested as a Sabino, it is also genetically tested as a Pinto. According to the British Piebald & Skewbald Association, Inc., the Pinto and Piebald & Skewbald animals are basically one and the same as both are color breeds with no definite breed requirements except color.

Now, think about that....... If the WP rules say no piebalds or skewbalds, and piebalds and skewbalds are pintos, and, now, Sabinos are Pintos; then does this not mean that a Sabino absolutely cannot be a registered Welsh as Welsh would not allow pintos? Logically that makes sense to me.

However, think on how that would affect the Welsh gene pool if carried to the extreme by a requirement of genetic testing for the Sabino Pinto gene.

So, this is what I think: 1) the WP defintely needs a Section X registry; and 2) the rule for the EXCESSIVE white ponies has to be reinstated, because the Section X registry would be where the EXCESSIVE white ponies would be registered NOT any non-excessive white parents of those ponies. However, if the white rule specified Sabino, and genetic testing was done to establish which ponies have the gene, and those ponies were required to be registered in Section X, we would lose a lot of non-excessive white sabinos to Section X. BUT once the Sabino is recognized as Pinto, and the White Rule reinstated, and a Section X registry put in place then people wanting pinto performance ponies of Welsh origin could go ahead and choose those ponies without contaminating the Section A, B, C and D registries which have always ruled against registration of purebreds with "pinto" coloration. That would be the best of both worlds! A place for every pony! After all the PURPOSE of the WPCSA is to register, record and transfer purebred Welsh ponies and to transact all other business incident thereto, per it's Articles of Incorporation a copy of which is posted on the information page of our website.

I agree 100% - WPCSA should reinstate the white rule! A separate section should be added to handle the registration of the pure-bred Welsh ponies that have excessive white. Preserve the quality of the Welsh ponies through the registry and breed to the standard!

Thank you fancy ponies, glad to see someone else out there with 'common sense' and a concern for the welfare of the welsh breed standard remaining as it has always been, NO PINTOS. I understand that there are plans underway to CHANGE the Breed Standard by members of the WP Board of Directors. Keep your ears tuned!