The Welsh Cob Standard
Aptly described as "the best ride and drive animal in the World", the Welsh Cob has been evolved throughout many centuries for his courage, tractability and powers of endurance. The general character is the embodiment of strength, hardiness and agility.
Welsh Cob Character
The Welsh Cob breed possesses a dynamic personality. They are smart, mischievous, willing, lively, curious, present, active, loyal, and they enjoy people. Their general character is described as strong, hardy and active, with pony character and as much substance as possible.
Physical Characteristics
Click the labels below to learn what to look for in the physical characteristics of the Welsh Cob breed
American Breed Description
Breed Description: “Exceeding 13.2 hands high with no upper limit. General Character: Strong, hardy and active, with pony character and as much substance as possible. Color: Any color. Head: Full of quality and pony character. A coarse head and Roman nose are most objectionable. Eyes: Bold, prominent and set widely apart. Ears: Neat and well-set. Neck: Lengthy and well-carried. Moderately lean in the case of mares, but inclined to be cresty in the case of mature stallions. Shoulders: Strong but well laid back.
Breed Description: “Exceeding 13.2 hands high with no upper limit. General Character: Strong, hardy and active, with pony character and as much substance as possible. Color: Any color. Head: Full of quality and pony character. A coarse head and Roman nose are most objectionable. Eyes: Bold, prominent and set widely apart. Ears: Neat and well-set. Neck: Lengthy and well-carried. Moderately lean in the case of mares, but inclined to be cresty in the case of mature stallions. Shoulders: Strong but well laid back. Forelegs: Set square and not tied in at the elbows. Long, strong forearms. Knees well-developed with an abundance of bone below them. Pasterns of proportionate slope and length. Feet well shaped. Hooves dense.
When in the rough, a moderate quantity of silky feather is not objected to but coarse, wiry hair is a definite objection. Middlepiece: Back and loins muscular, strong and well-coupled. Deep through the heart and well ribbed up. Hindquarters: Lengthy and strong. Ragged or drooping quarters are objectionable. Tail well set on. Hind Legs: Second thighs, strong and muscular. Hocks large, flat and clean, with points prominent, turning neither inward nor outward. The hind legs must not be too bent and the hock not set behind a line falling from the point of the quarter to the fetlock joint. Pasterns of proportionate slope and length. Feet well-shaped, hooves dense. Action: Free, true and forcible. The knee should be bent and the whole foreleg should be extended straight from the shoulder and as far forward as possible in the trot. Hocks flexed under the body with straight and powerful leverage”
Source – (WPCSA: Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America: https://wpcsa.org/start/section-d-Welsh-cob/)
UK Breed Description
The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of the UK states it a little differently, but the requirements are essentially the same. “The general character is the embodiment of strength, hardiness and agility. the head shows great quality with Pony character: bold prominent eyes, a broad forehead and neat, well set ears.
The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of the UK states it a little differently, but the requirements are essentially the same:
“The general character is the embodiment of strength, hardiness and agility. the head shows great quality with Pony character: bold prominent eyes, a broad forehead and neat, well set ears. The body must be deep, on strong limbs with good “hard wearing” joints and an abundance of flat bone. Action must be straight, free and forceful, the knees should be bent and then the whole foreleg extended from the shoulders as far as possible in all paces, with the hocks well flexed, producing powerful leverage.”
Source – WPCS: http://wpcs.uk.com/breed_information/section_c_d/
Captain Howson, Secretary of the WPCS 1928-1948
Captain Howson wrote: “As the very name implies, a Welsh Cob must be a short-legged animal of Herculean strength. In build it is distinctly the dual-purpose ride and drive type, combining quality activity, and a spirited yet kindly temperament with a subtle ‘personality’ entirely its own. It may be anything from under 14 to something over 15 hands in height and shows much pony character all over, but especially about the head and forehand and in the silky forelock, mane and heel tufts…
Written by Captain Howson, who was the secretary of the WPCS from 1928 to 1948. “As the very name implies, a Welsh Cob must be a short-legged animal of Herculean strength. In build it is distinctly the dual-purpose ride and drive type, combining quality activity, and a spirited yet kindly temperament with a subtle ‘personality’ entirely its own. It may be anything from under 14 to something over 15 hands in height and shows much pony character all over, but especially about the head and forehand and in the silky forelock, mane and heel tufts.
Viewed from the front a Cob should display some width of chest and from behind the thighs must be extremely powerful and full-a split-up silty looking cob is an abomination. It must walk quickly and collectively and its trotting paces must be very forceful, free and fast, with every joint in use. It must get away in front with full play on the shoulders, knees well up, with forelegs straightened out and feet brought lightly to the ground, without the slightest tendency to drop upon the heels. The hocks must be flexed vigorously and the hind legs switched electrically beneath the body in order to support the weight, give proper balance, and provide propulsive power. The action should be straight and true all round, although a few exceptionally fast trotters are inclined to go a trifle wide behind.”
The Welsh Cob History
The Welsh Cob standard is largely defined from the history of the breed.
The Welsh Cobs were birthed and evolved from the Section A Welsh Mountain Pony. In the 18th and 19th centuries, outcrosses to Norfolk Roadsters, Hackneys, Arabians, some English Shires, and possibly others resulted in the modern Cob. Cobs were employed as riding horses for the British Cavalry, reliable mounts for traveling doctors, farmers, and other working people, as well as carriage, cart, cab, and wagon animals in the cities.