Cob Horse

The Cob Horse Type ...

The cob is a short legged stuffy type of small horse, stocky in appearance and capable of carrying a heavyweight rider. Its kind unflappable willing nature and impeccable manners coupled with its weight carrying ability, make it an ideal mount for a heavyweight elderly rider or indeed anyone who is not particularly athletic.

As with the hunter there is no set formula for breeding a cob. Many of the best are produced by chance, although Irish Draught blood is often used with great success, particularly when mixed with Thoroughbred.

The cob's sturdy muscular proportions are not designed for great speed, but it should have active paces and be able to gallop and jump well.

Cob Horse General Description ...

Height - Up to about 15.3hh (in show classes not over 15.1hh)

Colour - Any

Conformation - Intelligent looking head, with no suggestion of coarseness; fairly short arched neck; strong sloping shoulders; broad deep body with short back and powerful loins; strong well muscled hindquarters; short strong limbs with plenty of bone; broad open feet.

Interesting Facts ...

In the show ring cobs are judged like hunters and are expected to show that they can gallop. The judge rides each exhibit in turn to assess the quality of ride they give.

At one time the cob was used as an all-purpose horse, performing equally well in harness and under saddle. Today it is most often used as a riding horse, the best making excellent hunters.

Under British Show Hack and Cob Association rules, cob horse types are exhibited in two weight classes:

• as lightweight, capable of carrying up to 14 st (196lb/89kg)
• as heavyweights, capable of carrying over 14 st.

There are also working cob classes, in which the horses must jump a working hunter-type course of fences.

The cob horse mane is traditionally hogged (cut short). It was once the custom to dock the tail of cobs but this cruel practice was made illegal in Britain under the Docking and Nicking Act, 1948.