Parnell's Irish Cobs • Ft. Collins, Colorado

The Traditional Irish Cob.

For hundreds of years, these sturdy, hard-working horses pulled the wagons and flat-carts of the gypsy people throughout Europe, Ireland and Great Britain. The Romany, or Travelers, as they prefer to be called, bred a horse that could pull a wagon all day, then baby-sit the children placed on its back in the evening. The wealth of the Romany traveled as they did – on the hoof.

Commonly referred to by a variety of names, including Gypsy Cobs, Gypsy Horses, Gypsy Vanners, Romany horses, Tinker horses, and hairy coloured cobs, they are renowned for their extremely docile nature, endurance, weight-pulling ability and extraordinary good looks! A trademark of these horses is the extreme length and thickness of mane and tail, as well as the extravagant "feathering" on their legs. The Travelers did not maintain written breeding records of their horses, as they consider the looks and performance of a horse to be far more important than its pedigree. However, you can be certain that the lineage of their most prized Gypsy horses is an integral part of their rich oral history.

The Travelers have bred these compact and colorful draft horses in the British Isles for more than 300 years, although the exact origins and breeds that went into making today’s Gypsy horse remain shrouded in mystery. It is obvious that some of the cold-bloods such as Shire or Clydesdale were used as starting material, and the size was gradually brought down through breeding with pony stock such as Dale or Fells. Some claim that Fresians and thoroughbreds have been blended in over the years, but the exact mix of the Gypsy horse remains a delightful mystery.

Ranging in size from 14.2 to 15.2 hands, Gypsy Cobs are gaining in popularity with horse owners who want a horse that is not only handsome, but very easy to get along with, and very easy to feed. Although there are many variants of the colored cob, the most favored colors among the Travelers are piebald (black & white) and skewbald (brown & white). It has been claimed that the English Army is at least partially responsible for the flashy colors of today’s Gypsy horses: during the 19th and early 20th century, the English Army had the right to seize any horse and pay the owner £5. As the Army only wanted blacks and bays for the cavalry, the Travelers quickly determined that the Army would leave their piebald horses alone! Lots of hair, lots of color and lots of style, combined with an extraordinary placid disposition have secured these colorful horses a huge, and growing, fan club within the equine world.

BREEDING PHILOSOPHY

Our goal is to breed the finest traditional Irish Cobs by carefully matching broodmares and stallions in terms of color and conformation. We believe that it is equally important to maintain the well deserved reputation for being hard-working horses with gentle dispositions. At Parnell’s Irish Cobs we are committed to breeding quality Irish Cobs, that excel in type and conformation, but also work in harness and under saddle.

WHY A GYPSY COB?
by Cindy Reich, M.S.

For generations the gypsies bred a small useful horse that was gentle enough for children to handle, but sturdy and flashy enough to pull a wagon or buggy and look good doing it.

Function, temperament, flash and personality were selectively bred for, resulting in a small, useful horse that is intelligent, personable, but most importantly, docile and forgiving. This uniquely quiet and willing attitude makes them a horse that is remarkably easy to train. Traits like bucking, kicking, etc. found in hot-blooded horses are not part of a gypsy cob’s make-up. Horses that showed any bad manners or temperament problems were immediately culled from the gypsy’s breeding program. They simply wouldn’t tolerate bad temperaments or bad manners.

This makes the Gypsy cob a perfect starter horse—for seniors who want to handle horses that aren’t physically challenging, or for adults that may have always wanted a horse, but weren’t sure they could handle a larger, more hot-blooded horse. The gypsy cob’s size, 14hh to 15hh, is ideal for riding or driving. They are strong and stout enough to carry adults, and agile and flashy for those who prefer to get their horse kicks from the seat of a wagon or buggy. Driving has become increasingly popular in recent years for those who have physical problems that prevent them from riding, but still want to work horses on some level. For those with a competitive spirit, there are many types of driving competitions from obstacle course driving to simple arena classes at local or regional shows. There are many driving clubs around the country who offer a way to network with other drivers, go on outings or just trade training tips and advice. Driving is what the gypsy cob was originally bred for and is something they love to do.

If riding is something you prefer, the gypsy cob gives a wonderful riding experience. Their sturdy conformation, wide short backs and high action make them both comfortable and dramatic under saddle. In Ireland and England, they are used often for field hunting, point-to-point races and fox hunting, as they will go all day and are not put off by jumping ditches or going cross country. Many Americans get their first introduction to gypsy cobs when going riding in Ireland or England through a riding stable. Most riding stables keep a few gypsy cobs around for inexperienced riders—because they are so willing and easy to ride.

In the U.S., gypsy cobs have become equally proficient in western riding disciplines and a gypsy cob recently won a working cow horse event against quarter horses! Gypsy cobs are also excelling in the Dressage arena where their naturally high movement and abundance of hair really make them stand out! Judges sometimes have difficulty believing a smaller horse can move so well, but the gypsy cob is winning converts in Dressage all around the country. Of course, their willing attitude and compliance to their rider’s commands also gain high marks—inside the ring and out!!

Gypsy cobs make excellent children’s horses. Their smaller height makes them less intimidating and again, their placid and willing disposition makes them easy for children to work with. Many riding programs for the handicapped are finding out that gypsy cobs make ideal partners for their clients and form lasting friendships with all who work with them. No surprise, considering that these horses evolved from living with families on a constant day to day basis within the camp.

If you always wanted a horse but were afraid to take the plunge, consider getting to know a Gypsy cob. Once you have spent some time around one, you will be hooked, just as we have been. These are one of the most loving and unique horse breeds you will ever encounter. Let the Gypsies take you away to places you’ve never dreamed of!