Can someone tell me about cob classes please?

[Chunkie]

Am considering a coloured cob after having Welsh cobs for 30 years.

I like showing, but not all the trimming/plaiting that's involved with anything that's not a native. Would I be able to do working hunter at local level without either plaiting or hogging?

How do cob classes work? Is it by height, bone or what? What defines a heavywight from a lightweight - is there such as thing as a mediumwight cob in showing? Do they need to be hogged or could I enter a cob class with a mane and feather?

Some of the horses in ads I've seen look very similar but some are advertised as "traditionals" and others simply as cobs - is there a difference?

As you can tell, I know nothing so any info/advice would be great.

Thanks

 

[L&M]

It depends on what level you are showing at - at local level traditional and hogged cobs can be shown in the same class. Equally you could show either type in coloured classes.

At affiliated level cob classes are for the hogged and trimmed type, divided into l/w and h/w (dependant on bone). There is also a maxi cob class for the cobs over 15.1hh.

Alternatively you could show yours as a traditional in affiliated coloured classes - but the horse would need to be registered with CHAPS (coloured horse and pony society).

 

[clippi]

Cobs are hogged, 2 types of classes (I think) maxi or normal (think done on height). Sorry not much help new to the world of patches

Edited to add cross posted with L&M much more useful post

 

[L&M]

Your so kind!!!!!

 

[Chunkie]

At affiliated level cob classes are for the hogged and trimmed type, divided into l/w and h/w (dependant on bone). There is also a maxi cob class for the cobs over 15.1hh.

Alternatively you could show yours as a traditional in affiliated coloured classes - but the horse would need to be registered with CHAPS (coloured horse and pony society).

Thanks for replying - if I buy one that isn't CHAPS registered can I do that myself, or is that something that the breeder would do? Would it need a CHAPS passport or can it be any agency?

thanks

 

[L&M]

I 'think' you could chaps register yourself,but I would double check their website. I don't think the passport is relevant, other than it has one.

I don't know if you have posted this on the 'competition' pages, but someone there may be better to advise as I haven't shown a coloured since the 90's.

 

[Chunkie]

Just so that I understand - is a traditional and a coloured cob the same thing?

 

[conniegirl]

You can CHAPS or BSPA register at any point. They overstamp the passport if the horse already has one. Its not expensive to do and very easy.

Cobs are hogged and trimmed, Traditionals are hairy.
For Coloured classes cobs & traditionals are in the same class.
for straight cob classes MUSt be hogged

Chunkie,
This is a coloured traditional

and this is a coloured cob

They are quite differently shaped and differently moving horses.

 

[L&M]

Sorry but I disagree with the fact that they are 'differently shaped and differently moving'……the pictures above show an example of a 'traditional' cob and a 'show' cob, but both are 'coloured cobs'. If you hogged and trimmed photo one, its body shape would be very similar to the cob in photo two.

A 'coloured cob' is a coloured cob, whether it is hairy or hogged. How you choose to turn it out will depend on what classes you want to enter…..

You could argue that the second cob is a more versatile beast to show at affiliated levels, as it could go in a 'Show Cob' class (with other non coloured cobs), but also be shown as a 'non traditional' coloured in a Chaps classes.

Hope I have not confused you more (or myself!)

 

[Chunkie]

Am thinking I may buy another Welshie.....

So, if I buy a piebald hairy, I can compete at local level in ridden coloured classes and in W/H, but if I want to do cob classes (which we don't get at local level around here anyway), I could do it with the same horse, but would need to hog and trim.

 

[L&M]

You got it!

I also did WH with my coloured 'show' cob but only at local level, and did have the occasional judge comment that he was not of 'hunter' type….however as he always jumped clear they were forced to place him!

I see no reason you could not enter a traditional cob in a local WH, but a judge may not recognise it as a 'traditional cob', and prefer to see it trimmed and plaited as for the hunting field.

There used to be 'Working Cob' classes at affiliated level i.e. working hunter for cobs, but sadly they no longer exist, and have been replaced by 'Working Show horse' classes, which can have anything from Cobs to Hacks in it……the showing world can be very confusing!!

For what it is worth I also used to show my chap in 'Riding Club' classes as in those they are looking for a good all rounder, that moves well for dressage and can jump, so not dependant on 'type'.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

OP, the BSPA website has a good document on it detailing the differences in type. At low level local showing you'll be fine showing untrimmed but then you do need one that is hairy enough to be a traditional, ie lots of feather, long flowing locks!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Thanks for replying - if I buy one that isn't CHAPS registered can I do that myself, or is that something that the breeder would do? Would it need a CHAPS passport or can it be any agency?

thanks

As someone said, the passport just gets over stamped. Last I looked, it was over forty quid, which is ok if you want to go affiliated, but for county or below, you don't need to worry about CHAPS. The horse in my sig was hogged and trimmed for that inhand class, plaited and tidied up for ridden class.

You could also enter driving type classes.

 

[twobearsarthur]

http://www.theshowring.info/cobs.htm

Here's a super link to the definitions and how show cobs are classed (light/heavy/maxi etc...)

Overstamping of a passport by CHAPS is £18 for members, £22.50 for non members.
You also need to become a showing member which costs £35 and a £7 joining fee.
Most County Shows are affiliated to CHAPS (for HOYS) or BSPA (for RIHS)

CHAPS generally tends to be more Northern based, BSPA more Southern.

Personally I think CHAPS is worth every penny for the CHAPS shows, events, they are so friendly and so much fun, then theres the magazines and social side

In adverts you will find people using Traditional, Native, Vanner, Irish Cob, Cob, Gypsy cob etc to describe a Traditional cob (feathers & flowing manes)

A lot of show cobs now a days are either full or have a lot of Irish Draught blood. It's always said its hard to breed a good show cob and luck plays a big part lol.

Local level Cob classes usually have a mix of traditional and show cobs.

Hope this all helps a bit 😄

 

[Chunkie]

Thanks to everyone for replying, I obviously have a lot to learn and can see that I'll be starting lots of "what do you think of this horse" threads!

 

[blitznbobs]

I laughed when you said you wanted a hairy cos you can't be bothered to do the trimming etc... It takes me less than 15 minutes to turn out my plaited horse for competition and 3 days ( I am not exaggerating ) to get the hairy ready...

 

[conniegirl]

L&M if you hog and trim a proper traditional you will not get a show cob. Traditionals move differently to show cobs, they have less "blood" and are more pony like.

Show cobs tend to be predominantly ID with a little bit of Tb and sometimes a bit of something coloured, or even pure
ID. They tend to be more athletically built than traditionals.

 

[Chunkie]

I laughed when you said you wanted a hairy cos you can't be bothered to do the trimming etc... It takes me less than 15 minutes to turn out my plaited horse for competition and 3 days ( I am not exaggerating ) to get the hairy ready...

But my plaiting is awful!! My last 4 have been Section D's, and ok, I've had to wash a few socks, but it's only from the knee downwards and the manes and tails sort of look after themselves once the shape is there. That's why I'm unsure about what to have next - hairies have so much feather, and so much white, but I've ridden a couple recently and loved them both.

I may have to stick to hacking if I have one

 

[honetpot]

L&M if you hog and trim a proper traditional you will not get a show cob. Traditionals move differently to show cobs, they have less "blood" and are more pony like.

Show cobs tend to be predominantly ID with a little bit of Tb and sometimes a bit of something coloured, or even pure
ID. They tend to be more athletically built than traditionals.

Show cobs whether solid or coloured definitely have to move well, and cover the ground, more like a shorter limbed hunter type. They are also very up to height and huge. I think the problem is the word cob can cover so many types, usually at local shows you will get welsh cobs, gypsy cobs and show cobs types all in the same class and depending on the judge most of the class gets offended.