Cob

A cob is the result of an Irish Draft cross, although some cobs are pure Irish Draft, some are bred from Welsh Cobs, and some are derived from a heavy horse crossed with a Thoroughbred or a Cleveland Bay.

Two breeds of cob, the Welsh Cob and the Norman Cob, but there is also a type of horse called a cob, and they come from Ireland and England.

These types do not have a set breeding pattern, and can be produced    by   various    different crosses; they do, however, have similar characteristics.

The cob is quite unmistakable and is easily spotted and there are classes at many of the top shows in England, specifically for the cob, divided into lightweight, heavyweight and working cob.

APPEARANCE
The cob should have an attractive and quality head. The cob often exhibits a very sensible and honest facial expression, and indeed these are qualities much sought after.

They tend to have short, arched necks which should be in proportion to the body, and invariably have their mane hogged, which is when the hair is clipped completely off! This enhances their attractive topline.

Cobs are of a sturdy and solid build, and have a broad and deep chest with good spacing between the front legs. They should be compact through the barrel, with wellsprung ribs and great depth of girth, which can make their short legs appear even shorter.

The hindquarters are muscular, broad, and well rounded, and the legs, although short, have very good bone and large flat joints. Cobs often used to have their tails docked, which was common practice on horses that were used in harness to prevent the tail from becoming entangled, but it was also used for
 
A horse that is not actually a cob is described as having 'cobby' conformation, meaning that it is thickset and powerful-looking, with a pact body and short legs.

Cobs are upright in the shoulder, which gives rise to a relatively short, high stride. They usually average in height approximately 15 hh but can sometimes be larger, although for entry into showclasses they must be under 15.1 hh, and they can be any color.

Qualities of the Cob
Cobs are great weight carriers, and in sprite of their relatively small size, a good cob should be able to carry a man riding all day. They are built as 'power houses,' and have conformation resembling the heavy horse breeds more than the light horse breeds.

They are built for strength rather than speed, but like an old Rolls Royce, once a cob is in full throttle, it can go surprisingly fast. They are extremely versatile and often make excellent 'family' horses, having the calm and kind temperament to allow children and adults alike to ride them.

They are still frequently used in harness, and a good cob in harness is a highly attractive sight. Cobs can jump, and will jump out hunting all day- They usually have sensible and calm personalities and gentle temperaments.

Horse Fact:
Weaving is the name given to a particular type of stable vice, where the horse stands in its box and sways rhythmically from side to side.

Stress, boredom, tension and excitement are often trigger's for weaving, and once a horse has leamt to weave it is difficult to completely break the habit.