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 Brightwater Midnight Oil, Photo courtesy of TriColby Photography |
AGHS 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." Size: Gypsy Cobs can be any size and may be of the pony, cob or horse variety. Generally speaking gypsy cobs range between 13 -15.1 hands. General Appearance: The over all appearance of a Gypsy Cob should give the impression of intelligence, kindness, strength and soundness. They should be of good bone, either medium weight to heavy weight, be well muscled, with a sturdy body, kind expression and abundant hair. Head: The head should be sweet, more refined than a shire might have and in proportion to the overall body, with broad forehead, generous jaw, square muzzle and even bite. The nose should be flat and tapered, a slightly roman nose is acceptable if it goes with the horses over all look. A heavy roman nose is discouraged. The ears should be inproportion to the head and not too large. The eyes should be large and set well apart with an intelligent, kind expression. Neck: The neck should be slightly arched, well muscled, clean through the throat, not too short and tie in well at the shoulder and withers. Chest: The chest should be broad and powerful with well sprung ribs. Shoulders: The shoulders should be deep, powerful and well sloped. Withers: The withers should be well rounded not high and fine, ie hardly noticeable. Back: The back should be short coupled with ample muscle sloping slightly upwards towards the croup and be in proportion to overall body. Body: The barrel should be deep with well sprung ribs and a solid covering of muscle. The flank should be as deep as the girth. Legs: The legs should be set well under the body, straight, clean and with plenty of dense, flat bone, with medium well-shaped hooves capable of carrying the frame without stress. Hocks should be broad and clean with the modified closer hock set of a pulling horse, but not as close as the modern draft horse. Hindquarters: The hindquarters should be heavy with a well rounded, muscled croup tieing into powerful hips. Slab sided or severely sloping hindquarters is not acceptable. Hair: The mane and tail should be thick and luxuriant. The tail should not be set to low and double manes are common but not required. Abundant leg feathering should start 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 aceptable but most important the feather should cover the hooves all the way around. Colour: Gypsy Cobs may be either solid or coloured. Blue eyes are acceptable. Disposition: The Gypsy Cob should be, above all else, a kind and willing partner. It should display an intelligent character and docile temperament. |