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The Gypsy Cob in AustraliaMost people are aware the Gypsy Cob originated with the Gypsy (Romani) people who used them as working horses pull their wagons. What is not commonly known, is that the type of animal we associate with the Gypsy Cob today, emerged very recently.

story and photos supplied by the Australasian Gypsy Cob Society

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The Gypsy Cob HistoryWhile the Romani have always used a mix of draft (Clydesdale and Shire) and pony breeds (Fells and Dales) to draw their wagons before the Second World War, you were far more likely to see horses of the type pictured below than our stereotypical modern cob.

During the First World War the British government requisitioned horses nationwide with their owners given little choice or recompense. The only horses that were not taken were pintos (known in the UK as skewbalds and piebalds) because their coloured coats made an easy target in a charge. The Romani were quick to take this characteristic very seriously, and by the start of the Second World War the vast majority of their horses were pintos, which allowed them to keep their wagon horses and therefore their livelihoods and method of transport.

For the travelling Romani families, a strong dependable

and calm horse was indispensable. Their

horses were a mix of draft and pony

breeds.

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Lord Callum of the Owlish FortressWhen Conformation Counts

Gypsy Cob

Reg’d APSB 75016 and AGHS14.3hh + 15hh

Strong flat boneShort compact backThick arched neck,Small pony head Strong wide chest

Fees: $950 live cover (terms)$750 Frozen A.I + Vet fees

Expression of Interest - For Sale

Lineage:Lord Callum of the Owlish Fortress (imp)Dam – Bryony Vegilin v.cSire – Lord Cameron of the Owlish Fortress (Elite Champion ICS.NL)

Lord Camerons parentage: Sire- Raven van Gipsy Spirit Dam- Damara Vegilin v.c

Wattlelane Stables, 206 Kin Kin Rd Gympie QLDp. 0404 882461 e. wattlelanestables@hotmail.com

✓✓✓✓✓

www.watt le lanestables.com Photo

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www.mane-tail-feather.commane-tail-feather@hotmail.com

Find it at your local saddlery or online. Trade enquiries welcome!

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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.

Size:The Gypsy can be of any size and may be of the pony, cob or horse variety. Generally speaking gypsy cobs range between 12 and 15.2 hands.

General Appearance:The overall appearance of a Gypsy Cob should give the impression of intelligence, kindness, strength and soundness. They should be of good bone, either medium or 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 a broad forehead, generous jaw, square muzzle and even bite.

The nose should be flat or tapered, a slightly roman nose is acceptable if it goes with the horses overall look. A heavy roman nose is discouraged. The ears should be in proportion 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.

The Gypsy Cob Breed Standard

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It is this very adaptation to circumstance that brought about the cob as we know it today. Moving into modern times the ‘travelling’ Romani and Gypsy people began to settle, and caravans began to replace the wagons. When it became obvious that they no longer needed a horse capable of consistent heavy work they realised that it was also no longer necessary to have a horse quite so large.

The introduction of these smaller, pinto cobs began to garner outside interest in the early 1980’s and soon there was a market for these quiet, willing partners - as riding horses and companion ponies.

This trend surged through the 1990’s and into the 2000’s and with the Gypsy Cob’s introduction to the United States, the population of Gypsy Cobs in England likewise exploded.

Combining the international demand with the lack of need for a wagon horse, the smaller cob became cemented in the type - along with the established pinto colouring and the emerging importance placed on abundant feather, mane and tail.

This is how we have today reached the breed standard you will find on the following pages, which in turn follows the established international conventions.

After the First World War, the Romani bred the coloured coats we associate with the Gypsy Cob today, to prevent the government from requisitioning their horses for the army.

and BREED SPECIAL andBREED SPECIAL

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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, i.e. 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 draught horse.

Hindquarters: The hindquarters should be heavy with a well-rounded, muscled croup tying into powerful hips. Slab sided or severely sloping hindquarters are not acceptable.

Colour: Gypsy Cobs may be either solid or coloured. Blue eyes are acceptable.

Common conformation faults:While the conformation traits described above are the ideal, no horse is perfect! Gypsy Cob breeders continue selecting their horses to avoid the most common conformation faults which include:

A big coarse head, a long weak ewe-neck, too steep a shoulder, a long weak back and long shallow bottom line; a steep croup; short steep pasterns; straight hocks and small feet.

beacon rough and tumbleGypsy Cob 3yr old (IRE) Import

Stallion Reg: ICS, AGHS Sire: Son of Tumbleweed. Grand Sire: Tumbleweed

Dam: Beacon EbonyThe only bay Sabino and Splash in Australia

Currently Standing at: 14hhFirst season standing in Australia

Beacon Rough and Tumble has ascertained elite stallion status in Ireland and is a shining example of a True Gypsy Cob. Showing excellent conformation, bone and feather. He has the sweetest head and a temperament to match, recently broken to saddle and ridden by children. He has his � rst crop of foals on the ground this year and has passed onall of his impressive attributes. If you are wanting a true Gypsy Stallion for your mare this year please contact: Stacie and Richard at beaconstudcobs@hotmail.com or call 0498 048726 and 0400 506365Available for: live hand service, frozen and chilled. Breeding to purebreds by Negotiation. Part and other breeds welcome. Discounts for Pony Club and Riding Club members

2012 Service Fee: $1,800 inc gst* LFG* Agistment, vet fee’s and semen transportation is not included in price

Photo’s taken by Katy Driver

and BREED SPECIAL andBREED SPECIAL

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Gypsy Cobs in AustraliaThe beauty of these horses is surpassed only by their gentle and intelligent nature making them highly sought after. Gypsy Cobs were introduced to Australia in 2004, and now you will find a number of breeders of both purebred and part bred Gypsy Cobs in most states with numbers growing rapidly.

With the Gypsy Cob population in Australia now at a high enough level, many shows nationwide are holding Gypsy Cob classes, therefore allowing owners the opportunity to show and compete with their cobs.

People are now discovering the amazing talents of and uses for the Gypsy Cob such as driving, dressage, jumping, western pleasure, showing, pony club and therapy horses. You can find pictures of “Brown Sugar” a Gypsy Cob Stallion jumping 160 cm in Europe by visiting this link: http://www.brown-sugar-gentse-tinkerhoeve.be/32632710.

Up until recently the cost of importing horses has made it prohibitive for many fans of the breed to own a Gypsy Cob. Importation alone costs around $20,000, and this doesn’t include the international vet costs, immunisation, land travel, excess quarantine charges, insurance and registration fees. Exploring the Australian market before embarking on such an expensive exercise can be very rewarding.

There are many sensational bloodlines available in Australia and a comprehensive breeder’s links can be found on the site http://www.mane-tail-feather.com/Links.html.

Gypsy Cob cross breeds have been highly sought after as an alternative option to the expense of purchasing a purebred, whilst generally still having many of the desirable traits such as strength, durability and a willing kind temperament. There are plenty of stallions in Australia to breed mares with.

Australian breeders have been producing some exceptional performance horses/ponies by crossing the Gypsy Cob with Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, Friesians, Stockhorses, Clydesdales, Paints, Welsh Ponies, Quarter Horses and more.

Australian stock are now coming up to riding age and we are starting to see some of these part breeds out competing under saddle.

There are two main societies in Australia that register Gypsy Cobs:

The Australasian Gypsy Horse Society (AGHS) which is dedicated to the pure and part bred Gypsy Cobs and Drum Horses and the Australian Pony Stud Book (APSB).

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The Royal Brisbane Show has 17 Gypsy Cobs entered in classes on the 18th of August 2012 and the AGHS will have a breed display in the horse breeds expo for the full 10 days. As a group of breeders, owners and enthusiasts that are always keen for a chat, they can be found on Facebook at “Gypsy Horses in Australia” or on the chat forum online at www.gha.forumup.com.au.

To find out more about the Gypsy Cobs visit AGHS websitewww.gypsyhorsesociety.com.au

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