The Irish Cob Breed Standard
HEIGHT: Under 170 cms.
HEAD: should be straight, handsome and in proportion
to the rest of the horse. The forehead should be broad and the muzzle, jaw and
cheek should be generous.
MOUTH: should have a level bite.
EYES: should be quite bold, open and set well apart.
EARS; should be neat and well set on.
NECK: should be compact, but not too short and should be generously muscled including the crest (stallion’s necks should be particularly well muscled and crested).
SHOULDERS: should be ample, powerful and sloping.
WITHERS: should be of average protrusion or height and should be encased in plenty of muscle and flesh.
CHEST: should be powerful, well muscled and not too broad or narrow.
BACK: should be short, straight, well covered in muscle and flesh and slope gently upwards towards the croup.
HINDQUARTERS AND HIND LEG: The hindquarters should be very generous, well rounded, broad and powerful with a well muscled high croup. The second thigh should also be very generous, quite long and well coupled to good straight powerful hocks. The hind legs should be well boned and muscled.
BODY: should be short and compact with ribs well sprung to barrel shape.
FORELEGS: should be powerful and not too short. There should be a good length of well muscled forearm and generously boned shins.
KNEES AND HOCKS: should be well developed and of generous dimensions but should be in balance with the proportions of the horse.
FETLOCK JOINTS: should match the other joints in power, size and build.
PASTERNS: should also be of sufficient bone and not too long (straight or over angled pasterns are a fault).
HOOVES: should be well shaped, neat and of a size capable of carrying the frame of the horse without stress.
LEG HAIR/FEATHERING:
Leg hair/feathering is a
characteristic and decorative feature of the Irish Cob breed. This is
especially prominent in the heavier Irish Cobs. However, the amount of leg hair/feathering
present may vary considerably, particularly in the case of medium weight Irish
Cobs. Leg hair/feathering, should at the very least, fall from the back of the
knees and hocks, down to a thick covering of hair/feathers on the heels. Leg
hair/feathering should also fall over the front of the hoof, from at least the
coronet.
MANE AND TAIL: The
mane and tail should be luxuriant and capable of growing to a substantial length.
MOVEMENT: Movement
should appear sound and free from obvious hereditary defects.
COLOUR : The following colours are considered most typical:
White body markings are measured in percentages and exclude the head, legs and underbelly.
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