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A cob is traditionally a draft type pony. Typically of a stout build, with strong bones, large joints, and steady disposition, it is a body type of horse rather than a specific
breed A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
. Historically, in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
and, to a lesser extent, the eastern
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, a 'cob' may be a common horse used for everyday riding but in the past was used for driving carts. The term continues to be widely used to describe this type of horse in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, but less so in
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
. In the United States, the term "cob" is primarily used to describe the
Welsh cob The Welsh Pony and Cob is a group of four closelyrelated horse breeds including both pony and cob types, which originated in Wales in the United Kingdom. The four sections within the breed society for the Welsh breeds are primarily distinguis ...
, and in the sizing of
bridle A bridle is a piece of equipment used to direct a horse. As defined in the ''Oxford English Dictionary'', the "bridle" includes both the that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit. Headgear w ...
s for horses, designating a smaller size that will fit not only the Welsh cob, but also many Morgans,
Arabian The Arabian Peninsula, (; ar, شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة, , "Arabian Peninsula" or , , "Island of the Arabs") or Arabia, is a peninsula of Western Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate. ...
s, some
American Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at s ...
s, and other horses with short, triangular-shaped heads.


Characteristics

In general terms, cobs are larger than
ponies A pony is a type of small horse ('' Equus ferus caballus''). Depending on the context, a pony may be a horse that is under an approximate or exact height at the withers, or a small horse with a specific conformation and temperament. Compared ...
, standing or taller, but are relatively small and compact, usually with somewhat short legs. The
breed A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of horse known today as the Section D
Welsh cob The Welsh Pony and Cob is a group of four closelyrelated horse breeds including both pony and cob types, which originated in Wales in the United Kingdom. The four sections within the breed society for the Welsh breeds are primarily distinguis ...
exemplifies the classic build of the historic cob. It is said that a good show cob should have "the head of a lady and the backside of a cook." Popular uses of the cob include
driving Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a vehicle, including cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, and bicycles. Permission to drive on public highways is granted based on a set of conditions being met and drivers are required to fol ...
, showing and recreational riding. Cob-type breeds have become increasingly popular for
Riding for the Disabled Association The Riding for the Disabled Association, also known as the RDA is a United Kingdom based charity founded in 1969 focused on providing therapeutic horse-riding, equestrian vaulting and carriage driving lessons to people with developmental and phys ...
(RDA), as well as for riders who seek horses who are responsive but with a calm temperament, shorter stature and steady, comfortable gaits. The rulebook of the
British Show Horse Association The British Show Horse Association (BSHA) is the governing body for the showing and registering of hacks, cobs and riding horses. Aims and Objectives The aims of the association are to improve the standard of horses shown under their rules, to ...
(BHSA), states: "The Cob is a type rather than a breed. A short-legged animal exceeding with a maximum height of , it has bone and substance with quality and is capable of carrying a substantial weight...Cobs should have sensible heads, (sometimes roman nosed), a full generous eye, shapely neck crested on the top, with a hogged mane and well defined
wither The withers is a part of the back of a horse, dog or other quadruped. Withers or Wither may also refer to People * Withers (surname), several notable people *Withers A. Burress (1894–1977), American soldier *Wither (comics), fictional character ...
...The Cob should also have clean, strong hocks and all the attributes of a good
hunter Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...
."


Show Cobs

Show cobs in the United Kingdom are overseen by the
British Show Horse Association The British Show Horse Association (BSHA) is the governing body for the showing and registering of hacks, cobs and riding horses. Aims and Objectives The aims of the association are to improve the standard of horses shown under their rules, to ...
(BSHA), formerly known as The British Show Hack, Cob and Riding Horse Association. Cobs are registered in three divisions: lightweight, heavyweight, or Maxi Cob exceeding . The classes where cobs are shown also have a similar breakdown: * Lightweight Cob: mare or gelding 4 years old and over, exceeding , but not exceeding 155 cm, capable of carrying up to . * Heavyweight Cob: mare or gelding 4 years old and over, exceeding 148 cm, but not exceeding 155 cm, capable of carrying more than . * Maxi Cob exceeding : to be judged as Cobs. Judges must pay particular attention to type (i.e. short legged animals of Cob type). Preferably to be shown hogged. Maxi Cobs are treated a bit differently from other divisions. The highest placed animals qualify for the Maxi Cob final at the National Championship show. Winners of these classes are not eligible for open cob championships..


Presentation

Cobs are exhibited with manes hogged, legs trimmed, and pulled tails and may be ridden astride or
sidesaddle Sidesaddle riding is a form of equestrianism that uses a type of saddle which allows female riders to sit aside rather than astride an equine. Sitting aside dates back to antiquity and developed in European countries in the Middle Ages as a way f ...
.


Working Cobs

Working Cob classes may also be held, where the horses must jump a series of fences and then demonstrate their paces on the flat in a manner similar to the requirements in British Working Hunter classes. Fence heights for novice classes are minimum 2'3", maximum 2'6", with a maximum spread 2'6". In open classes, fences are 2'6–2'9", maximum spread 2'9". The height of the jumps may be raised at the National Championship Show at the discretion of the Course Builder or Show Director.


Dress code

As with all horse showing disciplines, riders who exhibit cobs are required to conform to strict rules for personal attire.


Daytime dress

*
Bowler hat The bowler hat, also known as a billycock, bob hat, bombín (Spanish) or derby (United States), is a hard felt hat with a rounded crown, originally created by the London hat-makers Thomas and William Bowler in 1849. It has traditionally been worn ...
for men, bowler or hunting cap for women. * Tweed coat for men. Tweed coat or plain black or blue for women. * Plain fawn or buff coloured
breeches Breeches ( ) are an article of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each human leg, leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. Formerly a standard item of Weste ...
- not white. * Plain black or brown
boots A boot is a type of footwear. Boot or Boots may also refer to: Businesses * Boot Inn, Chester, Cheshire, England * Boots (company), a high-street pharmacy chain and manufacturer of pharmaceuticals in the United Kingdom * The Boot, Cromer St ...
. * Garter straps. Points must face outwards and buckle should be against and between buttons on breeches. *
Spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to back ...
s should be worn by exhibitors and must be high on the heel of the boot and horizontal. * Any style of leather or string gloves. * Plain
malacca Malacca ( ms, Melaka) is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Strait of Malacca. Its capital is Malacca City, dubbed the Historic City, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site si ...
or leather cane, not to exceed 32”. No schooling
whip A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
s. * Collar and ordinary tie. Tie must be pinned down. * Ordinary shirt. * No earrings


Evening dress

* Hunting Dress with hunting whips. * Ladies wear black or blue hunting coats with bowler hat or hunting cap. Fawn breeches and black boots and garter straps. Some ladies now wear top hats in the evening. * Gentlemen wear scarlet or black hunt coat, either ordinary pattern or cut away. White breeches must be worn with scarlet coat and boots with tops and white garter straps. White breeches with black patent top boots may be worn with black coats or coloured breeches and plain black boots.
Top hat A top hat (also called a high hat, a cylinder hat, or, informally, a topper) is a tall, flat-crowned hat for men traditionally associated with formal wear in Western dress codes, meaning white tie, morning dress, or frock coat. Traditionally m ...
to be worn.


Popular cob breeds

A number of cob breeds are popular in the UK, including the Welsh cob and the Gypsy Cob, also known as the "Coloured Cob" or "Irish Cob," known in the US as the Gypsy Vanner Horse.


Welsh Cobs

The
breed A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of horse known as the Section D
Welsh cob The Welsh Pony and Cob is a group of four closelyrelated horse breeds including both pony and cob types, which originated in Wales in the United Kingdom. The four sections within the breed society for the Welsh breeds are primarily distinguis ...
exemplifies the typical build of the traditional cob. In competition, unlike most other cobs, these animals are shown with full manes and tails.


Coloured Cobs

Traditional or "Gypsy" cobs are often seen in "
coloured Coloureds ( af, Kleurlinge or , ) refers to members of multiracial ethnic communities in Southern Africa who may have ancestry from more than one of the various populations inhabiting the region, including African, European, and Asian. South ...
" horse classes. Originally a favourite of Romany travellers, who used them to pull caravans, they are now used for
driving Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a vehicle, including cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, and bicycles. Permission to drive on public highways is granted based on a set of conditions being met and drivers are required to fol ...
,
dressage Dressage ( or ; a French term, most commonly translated to mean "training") is a form of horse riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an art sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. As an equestrian sport defined b ...
, showing, and even
jumping Jumping or leaping is a form of locomotion or movement in which an organism or non-living (e.g., robot