We often get asked, 'What is a cob horse?' Our Horse Insurance team are here to help define this question further with guest commentary from the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association and showing producer Hannah Horton.
Cobs are sturdy and generally sensible, compact with short, strong legs and come in different shapes and sizes; they are often thought of as a type, but there are also breeds of cob and they can be a horse or a pony.
Breeds of cob
The main defined breeds of cob are the Welsh Section C and D cob and the Traditional Gypsy Cob. Both have a breed standard to which horses and ponies of the breed will clearly adhere to. As per the breed standards, in the showring, both these breeds of cob are shown unplaited with full mane, tail and feather.
The Welsh Section C – pony of cob type – and Welsh Section D – the Welsh Cob – are both characterised by being, strong, hardy and active. Silky feather is favoured over coarse hair on the legs. A Welsh Section C should have lengthy and strong hindquarters and the whole foreleg should be extended straight from the shoulder and as far forward as possible in trot.
Andrea Betteridge, Director of the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association explained: “The breed standard for the Traditional Gypsy Cob requires the horse or pony to have an abundance of mane, tail and feather. The bone will be flat and silky feather indicates a better quality of bone owing to increased blood flow to the area. A Traditional Gypsy Cob is workmanlike in their movement. We encourage owners to send pictures so the animal can be assessed to see if it meets the required Breed standard as explained the association members hand-book. Through this we can determine if the cob is a Traditional Gypsy Cob and whether it is pure-bred or part-bred.”
Showing classes for cobs including SEIB Search for a Star
There are specific showring classes for Welsh Section C and D Cobs and Traditional Gypsy Cobs. Welsh Cobs are also eligible for general Mountain and Moorland classes and Traditional Gypsy Cobs fall into the wider showring class category of Native and Traditional breeds.
Both Welsh Section C and D and Traditional Gypsy Cobs have the opportunity to compete in SEIB’s very own showing series for amateur competitors, Search for a Star. There is a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifying class in the series specifically for Traditional Gypsy Cobs and a Your Horse Live championship qualifier for Mountain and Moorland breeds – which includes Welsh Section C and D cobs. If in-hand showing is more your thing, SEIB Search for a Star has Your Horse Live classes for in-hand Mountain and Moorlands and in-hand Rare, Native and Traditional breeds.
Hogged cobs
The hogged and trimmed Show Cob is a type of cob rather than a specific breed. In general, a Show Cob should have a compact stature with short legs, good bone, substance and a good temperament. There are several different types of Show Cob, each of which has a different showring class. The British Show Horse Association rules determine three different categories of show cob – Lightweight, Heavyweight and Maxi.
The Maxi-Cob is a cob exceeding 155cm in height but maintains the true characteristics of a show cob (as above). The recommended height limit for this class is 160cm. The Heavyweight cob should not exceed 155cm in height and have at least nine-and-a-half inches of bone and the Lightweight cob should also not exceed 155cm in height and have at least eight-and-a-half inches of bone.
SEIB Search for a Star judge and show producer Hannah Horton said: “A cob should be shown with its mane hogged and tail pulled. The tack should include a well-fitting double bridle with a flat, plain noseband. The saddle should also fit well and show off the shoulder well.”
The Show and Maxi Cob class is a longstanding SEIB Search for a Star HOYS show class. The three different types of cob are shown together in one class and the best of type is judged the winner. Competitors lucky enough to qualify in this class will go on to compete under the bright lights of HOYS in the SEIB Search for a Star annual championship.
To find out more about SEIB Search for a Star please visit our competitions page.
About SEIB
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