The Gypsy Cob was developed by the Romany people, better known as Gypsies, of Great Britain and Ireland and, as one Gypsy said, is the horse born from “the
dream inside my head”. The Gypsy people have had horses for as long as their culture has been in existence but the horse we recognize today, as the Gypsy’s Cob, has only emerged within the past century. The horses were used in nearly every aspect of the Gypsy’s life, from pulling the colorful wagons that were the Gypsy’s homes, to pulling the smaller wagon’s used for work. The Gypsy’s Cob has always been their means of travel, their means of employment and their greatest source of pride.
Traveling the roads and often cared for by children, it was essential that the horses be both strong and kind with a willing disposition. They also had to be of a hardy nature, sound and easily kept, as there were no special provisions made for food or shelter. They lived on the vacant land and grass strips found next to the road. The Romany take great pride in the horses they breed and use themselves. And while the traveling people have now settled into more modern housing, you can still find the horse-drawn vardo on the roads, here and there.
With less need for the larger, draft type of horse, the Romany now prefer a smaller cob or pony type with an active and speedy trot and while these horses are not used for working, the Gypsies love to “flash” them in front of onlookers. The larger cobs are still kept for use as wagon horses and are often used by non-Gypsy families as the great all around horse. Many are used as safe and sane mounts for the novice and most riding schools and trekking centers use these kind and willing partners.
Easily recognized, these sturdy little horses come in nearly all colors and most have pinto markings. They also have amazing amounts of hair. Thick manes that typically fall below the shoulder and tails that drag the ground are only the beginning. The crowning glory on a good Gypsy Cob is the abundance of silky feather. Though there is a broad spectrum in size, the average Gypsy Cob stands between 14 and 15 hands.
For years, the Gypsy Cob has suffered from a certain lack of appreciation from within the mainstream equestrian society. Recently, however, the Gypsy Cob has developed an enthusiastic following throughout Europe and North America and have even made their way to Australia. The beauty of these horses is surpassed only by their gentle and intelligent nature making them now highly sought after outside the Romany culture. Originally bred to pull the caravans, they excel at driving but are now being used for nearly all riding disciplines, too.
Coming from a culture that, traditionally, has not kept written records, the best bloodlines were all kept and recorded only in memory. Horses with names like The Lob Eared Horse, The Kent Horse and The Roadsweeper being considered the greats of the breed. Generations of breeding have been handed down father to son without the aid of accepted means of documentation. With the now widespread popularity of the breed, crossing not only international borders but also cultural boundaries, it became imperative that proper parentage verification be administered and documented. DNA testing has been established to form a modern data bank and many people have worked countless hours to ensure the colorful history and a bright future is preserved for this wonderful breed.
-excerpt from Gypsy & Drum Horse Association
