Why shouldn't the Irish Cob be a breed?

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SpruceRI

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Apart from the fact that most don't come with record of breeding I feel it's a shame that they aren't a registered breed like the Welsh Cob or any other.

People have mentioned that indiscriminate breeding of 'scabby' horses such as the ones found at Jamie Grays' Amersham place were the result of money making breeding simply for the meat market, but these horses have as much of a role to play as riding horses as do all other breeds.

Irish cobs / vanners, whatever you call them actually are fantastic family ponies for adults and children, young or old, driving, showing, jumping, hunting and in the Riding School.

If the government were to ever ban 'indiscrimate breeding' (not that I think they ever could) then this country would miss out hugely on these wonderful horses and ponies.

They're easy to keep, generally obliging weight carriers who live out on a budget and don't suffer for it.
 
You raise a very good point. I myself own an irish cob and hes sucessfully competed in showing and dressage, as well as having fun cross country and showjumping. I find him to be the best horse i've had, he also competes with disabled riders.

I can sort of see the reason why they are not established as a breed rather than a type, I think this is mainly on the basic that the breeding can sometimes be so unknown it can't be traced. Whereas with the Welsh Cob there are some very well established breeding lines.

But definately big up the Irish cobs
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I think they should be recognised too
 
i was gonna say basically the same as u noggin, because they are a mix of breed and origin they could not be traced so therefore u couldn't prove if u had an irish cob or not if u see what i mean lol!!

i think they are fab riding horses, most of the horses i learnt to ride on we irish cobs
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We have 5 irish cobs on the yard at the moment, and they are all totally different in looks and conformation. They are basically a mix of several breeds. I can't see how they could ever become a "breed" in their own right.

However, show cobs are nearly all from Ireland, so in that respect they have their own "type".
 
Well mine are down as Irish cobs on there passports. Though if we are being picky Gypsy is technically a Gypsy Vanner.
I don't see why they can't be a breed, if you go back far enough the welsh cobs have arab in them. Lots of breeds have something else in them in the background.
 
My Liri is an irish cob x and she's the best horse I've ever had. I was a nervous wreck when I got her after my last two nutters, and she has given me back alot (although not all yet) of my confidence.
 
There is far too much snobbery in the horse world.
My horses show how good they are by what they do, I take great delight in my gypsy/irish/pikey cobs going out and doing what other peoples "posh" horses can't/won't do !
 
I have a lovely Irish show cob! Don't know if he should be classed as a breed as I haven't a clue what his breeding is but there's certainly some Clydesdale in there and he is from Ireland.

I had a prob last year at a local show as I wanted to take him in the cob showing class but he is too big, it's limited to 15.1. Was told to go in the show hunter class ( I didn't want to jump ) so that was the only other option open to me, then told by the judge that he was not suitable so was placed down the line. When I came out of the ring the judge said he should have been in the cob class arrrrgghhhhh!!

Then several people came up to me and said that if they had to do a days hunting they would have much preferred to go out on my cob than the 'faffy' TB type that won the class!

My horse certainly turns heads when ever we go out (or did as he is on box rest at the moment) and he has what you'd call presence even to the point of non horsey people commenting on him.

I went to a county show last summer, to watch not compete, and was obviously interested in the show cob class and they all were of a definite type even if the colours were varied.

I didn't set out to get a cob when looking for my horse, I always saw myself with a TB type something lighter and I suppose it was a bit of snobbery! But my chap has certainly changed my opinion of cobs, then again he obviously has some 'good' breeding somewhere along the line as, I think anyway, he is put together really well and carries himself well too.

Don't think this answers your question but I do agree that they are a type that is certainly distinguishable from other sorts.
 
Perhaps the problem might reside in encouraging the Irish breeders of Irish cobs (which I used to know as tinkers' horses) to organise parentage, let alone keep documentary records of it?
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Yes totally agree it's frustrating for me as I would love to find out my horse's parentage and exactly where in Ireland he came from.

Saddler thinks there is Thoroughbred in there somewhere due to him having what she calls TB withers, and long legs but with plenty of bone. He has well defined legs not 'thick'. Although he is bay he is classed as bay roan and has the white stockings and bits of white on his belly of a Clydesdale, certainly has the temperament of a TB!! but can be as dopey as anything especially with the kids!

He is not what you'd call a gypsy cob or a vanner although there's another 'hairy' cob at my yard which you would describe more as a gypsy cob, much smaller and stockier and completely laid back you couldn't get two more different personalities if you tried although they have similar markings!
 
That's what the gypsy pikey irish cob looks like at my yard except his model comes in bay!! I just want to cuddle him every time I see him though! His owner thinks I am bonkers!! Ok so I am but who cares!!!! Yours is just as cuddly looking too!! Oh I am cracking up now time for bed I think!!!
 
Yeah cheers! night night!! P.S. fancy sending me some down my cupboards are bare!! Due to the cost of owning a bloody horse!!!!!
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Oh but shouldn't it be Irish Whiskey??
 
I quite agree my little irish bloke can open any type of gate even if I have to let go of his reins and use both my arms to lift it up in front of him, something we are becoming very accomplished at!!! You should see him do a dressage test as well with his feathers flying
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. My friends cob came first in his first test.
 
But the horses that came from Spindles Farm may very well have looked like any from the website you quoted.

Condition, a good bath and a trim and most cobs look amazing. Some of Amershams probably did once in their life
 
Funnily enough when my cob came to me he was so scabby he actually looked like a rescue case. He is described as cob but he has such a big head and small eyes everyone said i was mad and shouldnt i get a decent horse??? decent?? How dare they.... Snobby horse people really get on my tits sometimes! The best behaved horse in the world. He scrubbed up lovely with a lot of love and TLC. 13 years on, and now he is 18 and he is still great

Id give the spindles farm horses a home anyday especially if they was a 'scabby cob'!
 
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But the horses that came from Spindles Farm may very well have looked like any from the website you quoted.

Condition, a good bath and a trim and most cobs look amazing. Some of Amershams probably did once in their life

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i'd doubt that very much.
 
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There is far too much snobbery in the horse world.
My horses show how good they are by what they do, I take great delight in my gypsy/irish/pikey cobs going out and doing what other peoples "posh" horses can't/won't do !

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There has always been and will always be snobbery in the horse world I had my first coloured when they were classed as common and unwanted by most now it seems they make extra money for being coloured, I guess fashions change but for me I love my pikey horse and wouldn't swap her for anything but in the vanner world she would not be as heavily feathered as the top horses so there would be snobbery there too
 
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