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Images and facts about a bread
Irish Cob Documentary



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The Coloured Irish Cob probably has as many names as colors. Most of them lack a certain respect to the Travelling Community who originally bred these kind of horses. So they are called Tinker, Gypsy Vanners or Gypsy Horses often.

Coloured Cobs have a stout exteriour. They are strong built cold bloods. Originally they where mostly meant to pull a heavy cart. The Irish Cob Society classifies them as a "working draught horse". They are of calm character. They do not "freak out" when a tractor is pulling out on the lane. Anyway, their character is much more consistent than a throughbreeds appears. The Coloured Cob is said to be the only horse bread that takes a second look and does no take to flight immediately if a dangerous situation arises. And then decides whether to stand it. What other horse could you handle with ease in pitch darkness or in heavy fog? Well, except their larger relatives, the Shire or Drum Horses ...

Cobs do not have to be black and white ...

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Gelding Ballycummisk Seamus, bread near Dublin, now owned by S. Kohlmeier, Kassel, Germany

The Coloured Cob comes in many sizes and colors. They reach from approximately 13 to 16 hands height. They come from extra stout to almost crossbred exteriour. Colors stretch from roan, brown with white or black socks, black splashed, Blagdon to piebald and skewbald black and white patched or white with brown socks or even grey or light brown Palomino like or chestnut. You name it ... that is why they are called Coloured.

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Mare Bella of Bantry, bread in the Cork Mountains near Bantry by Mr. Kingerly, now owned by H. Klüver, Ballycummisk, West Cork

There are strong ambitions by several associations to sort out the Irish Cobs into definitions and stud books and more. Such as the ICS Netherland, the Irish Cob Society Belgie, ICS Ltd. in Ireland. In the past the original breeders did not register or bother to follow these organisations. They needed not to do. They judged the actual horse by its properties according the task to serve and their budged instead. Today this is far from pulling a cart on the very most occasions. Use from family horse to show horse seems to be the Irish Cobs future. Especially small Cobs with compact exteriour, plenty of colours and most ever seen feather around the bonds, proud flying long mane and tail are held as show pony and as a status symbol probalby.

But this ICS Netherlands registered fellow obviously is for reproduction

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Stallion Little Robert, bread by Robert Pütz's Cashelane Stud, Durrus, Eire, now owned by A. Collins, Rosscarberry, West Cork







Photos by Hartmut Klüver
Canon EOS 50D, Lens EF 70-210 USM

All Rights Reserved - mail me if you would like to use my photos

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