The Gypsy Cob Breed Standard

 

“The Traditional Gypsy Horse will have heavy, flat bone. His body must be comparatively short. He will have a thick neck and a sloping shoulder, which should tie in well down his back. He should have a wide and powerful chest. His hindquarters should be round and large. He should sport a very thick mane and tail. His feet should be covered with a profuse amount of long hair or feather. This should start behind the knee or hock and fall to the ground and be on both the front and back of the leg. Feather can be noted as curly, woolly or straight and silky within the breed. Many prefer straight, silky feather but it is not usually demanded. What is demanded is that there is 'profuse Feather' which covers the hoof.”

 

The Gypsy Cob will be

• Of any size and may be of the pony, cob or horse variety.

• Generally between 13 and 15.2 hands but heights either side of this are equally acceptable.

 

 

Size

 

The overall appearance of a Gypsy Cob should

• Give an impression of intelligence, kindness, strength and soundness.

• Be of good bone, either medium or heavy weight.

• Be well muscled, with a sturdy compact body, and abundant mane, tail and feather.

 

General Appearance

 

Head

 

The head should

• Be neat, noble and expressive; a sweet head, meaning without coarseness.

• Be in proportion to the overall body.

• Have a generous jaw, even bite and rounded cheek bone.

• Have a good width between the nostrils.

• Have a straight profile (a heavy roman nose or overly dished profile is discouraged).

• Have ears which are neat, well-set, in proportion to the head and not too large.

 

 

Neck

 

The neck should be

• Clean through the throat with a slightly deeper throat latch that lighter breeds.

• Slightly arched, more prominent in stallions.

• Strong and well muscled.

• Not too short, in proportion to back length

• Tied in well at the shoulder and withers

 

 

Shoulders and Withers

 

The shoulders should be

• Deep, well laid back and sloping.

• Powerful with well developed muscles.

 

The withers should be

• Well covered and rounded.

• Level with the croup.

 

 

Chest and Body

 

The chest should

• Be well muscled, broad and powerful, allowing for a large lung/heart cavity.

• Have the muscle along the bottom of the chest appearing as an inverted "V" shape as it ties into the forearm.

 

The barrel should

• Be deep with well sprung ribs.

• Have a solid covering of muscle.

• Have a flank as deep as the girth.

 

Back

 

The back should

• Be short coupled, broad and strongly supported.

• Have ample muscle sloping slightly upwards towards the croup.

• Have a short, wide and strongly muscled loin.

• Be in proportion to the rest of the overall body.

 

Legs and Movement

 

The legs should

• Be well set under the body.

• Be straight, clean with plenty of dense, flat bone and well defined joints.

• Have hocks which should be broad and clean with the modified closer hock-set of a pulling horse, but not as close as the modern draft type.

• Have a pastern angle which matches the angle of the shoulder.

• Have medium sized, round shaped hooves capable of carrying the frame without stress.

• Well developed frogs, hard strong hooves and wide heels.

• Show a stride which is correct, supple and powerful, showing good impulsion from behind. It should be effortless in appearance.

 

Hindquarters

 

The hindquarters should

• Be well set under the body.

• Be straight, clean with plenty of dense, flat bone and well defined joints.

• Have hocks which should be broad and clean with the modified closer hock-set of a pulling horse, but not as close as the modern draft type.

• Have a pastern angle which matches the angle of the shoulder.

• Have medium sized, round shaped hooves capable of carrying the frame without stress.

• Well developed frogs, hard strong hooves and wide heels.

• Show a stride which is correct, supple and powerful, showing good impulsion from behind. It should be effortless in appearance.

 

 

Hair

 

The hair should

• Be thick and luxuriant in the mane (Double manes are common but not required).

• Contain a forelock which is full and long.

• Have abundant leg feathering, starting at the knee and hock, and run down the front and back of the leg (though silky, straight feather is preferred, curly or wavy is acceptable).

• Most importantly, have feather which covers the hooves all the way around.

• Be abundant in the tail.

• Often include a beard, whiskers and muzzle hairs(moustache).

 

 

Colour

 

Gypsy Cobs come in a large variety of colour.

• All colour, markings and patterns are acceptable.

• All eye colours are accepted.

 

Gender

 

Stallions must portray the male characteristics of the breed including

• Presence, a "look at me" attitude.

• Curiosity

• Muscling and pride while being controllable and willing.

• An arched, well crested neck.

• Two fully descended, normally shaped testicles from 3 years of age.

 

Mares must reflect the feminine qualities of the breed, being

• Easy going, sensible and willing. The disposition of the mare is critical when raising her foal.

• Perhaps slightly longer in the back than males.

• Perhaps slightly longer in the ears than stallions whose ears are usually shorter and shapelier.

 

Disposition

 

The Gypsy Cob should, above all else,

• Be a strong, kind and willing partner; loyal and eager to please

• Display a very intelligent character.

• Be manageable, mannerly and respectful.

• Be alert, confident and courageous

• Display a docile temperament, tractable nature and sensible disposition with a genuine sociable outlook.