cob or irish cob?

[Davi]

Hi, please can anyone tell me how you tell the difference between a "Cob" and an Irish cob? excuse me if i'm posting things in the wrong place i'm new to this. :o

[molly34]

I'm pretty sure 'Cob' is a type, not a breed (except the Welsh cob I suppose).
In very broad terms cobs are short legged, stout, weight carriers. When you see a horse described as a Normandy cob, Irish cob, Gypsy cob etc, I think its just an indication of where it came from and its general type.

[Davi]

Hi, Thanks for that :) I always think of cob as stocky short legged weight carriers :) the reason why I asked is: a few people have said to me you have a lovely irish cob. My reply is thank you but not sure if he's irish lol! just wanted to know how people tell if he/she is irish or not.

[Cobgirl]

Hi Davi, I am part loaning a skewbald 'cob' mare who also has a smuttering of Arab somewhere! I agree that the word 'cob' just means a thickset type of horse. But I also agree that Welsh Cobs (A B C D) are registered in the Welsh Stud Book. Irish Vanner horses or Irish cobs are large set horses between 14 and 15 hands, (probably crossed in past times with Draft Horses). Most cob type horses are crossed at some point with shire type horses to obtain the bone density and they are easily recognisable by their legs and beautiful manes and tails. Mollie has a full mane and tail but we cut the feathers on her legs.

[bitsnpieces]

the term "cob" is used to refer a type of horse, within this there are lots of varieties, the irish cob being one of them, as far as I can remember they dont have the roman nose of the gyspy cob but are similar in all other aspects and usually stand at 14.2hh - 15hh

[JOJOBA]

I agree that the word 'cob' just means a thickset type of horse.

There are several different types of Cob. It's more to do with bone than appearance, though you do often find fat horses being sold as cobs ;).

The traditional 'English Cob' which is now more usually referred to as a 'Show Cob' comes in two categories - Lightweight and Heavyweight.
The definitions of the two are as follows:

'The lightweight cob should not exceed 15.1hh and have at least 8" of bone below the knee, while a heavyweight is classified to carry 14 stone or over at 15.1hh. The true weight carrier should have at least 9" of bone, with powerful hindquarters, but also a quality shoulder and head. The old saying that a show cob should have 'a head like a lady and a backside like a cook' is still an apt description of what one is seeking when looking for a cob to purchase.'

Show cobs are shown hogged, often clipped, and with pulled tails. Like so;
http://www.horseweb-uk.com/hi/int3.jpg


Then there are Traditional Cobs, which are coloured and more the 'gypsy cobs' type. They are shown feathered, with long manes and tails, like so;
http://www.ashmoorstud.co.uk/images/stallions/GL1.jpg
It is common to see any plump coloured horse being advertised as a Traditional Cob but they need to have a lot of bone and be good weight carriers, with emphasis on strong bodies and small, delicate and intelligent faces.

The Irish Cob, and I may be wrong here, is the traditional type horse originally bred by travellers in Ireland. They tend to follow the criteria of the Traditional Cob above, but they are bred in Ireland from Irish lines. The Irish Cob Society states;
'The ICS does not take credit for establishing the Irish Cob as a distinctive breed, but aims to preserve and protect the breed, in it's tradition form and type, as originally bred and established over many generations in Ireland, by the Travelling community, who did not keep written records of breeding (a stud book), but who passed the breeding pedigrees and lineages on verbally to the next generation. In recent times, the Irish Cob breed has become hugely popular in the Equestrian Leisure Industry world-wide and with laws introduced in the EU, which require all equidae to have valid EU identity documents, there became an obvious urgent need and demand, for the establishment of the Stud Book of Origin for the Irish Cob breed in Ireland.'

Note - solid coloured horses cannot be shown as traditional, so often get hogged and pulled and make nice show cobs. However coloured cobs CAN be shown as Show Cobs I believe, so people tend to make the decision about which category the horse would do better in.


That's where my knowledge runs out Im afraid! There are some cob showers on here, they would be able to answer any more detailed questions.


xxx

[Davi]

Thanks to all who have tried to explain to me :) i'd like to try n put a pic on of Dan but not sure how to yet. The pic I do have of him that is 1 of my favourites he's not to scrubbed up or standing proud but I like it :) catch you all again soon n MANY THANKS.

[Blazie]

Do anyone know where I can find serious cob studs?

[lauraandharvey]

It is common to see any plump coloured horse being advertised as a Traditional Cob but they need to have a lot of bone and be good weight carriers, with emphasis on strong bodies and small, delicate and intelligent faces.



oooh sounds like my gypo cob ;)

[coyote]

This is my irish cob .He will be 4yo in may and he stands 15hh ATM!! (still bum high)
He has 10.5" of bone too.:D


Last year as a "traditional"
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/coyotegreyhounds/nellys%20shows/Image011.jpg

Now as a "show cob"
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/coyotegreyhounds/clipping%20piccys/Photo-0133.jpg

[Horsecrazy88]

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/coyotegreyhounds/clipping%20piccys/Photo-0133.jpg

i think he looks even more gorgeous now you've fully clipped him. i could sit and stare at pix of him all day, hes a right stunner! x