Irish Cob

What if you enter a show with an Irish Cob, but there is no other pure class? Where would it go? Also pony is totally locked out for this one.

That's tricky because Cobs come in different types.

Currently OMHPS has "Cob" (under British Draft)-- but the British Show Horse Assoc'n recognizes 3 different Cob types: light, heavyweight and Maxi. A maxi Cob will look significantly different from a light-type Cob, but all three are utility/all-purpose riding type horses in the UK.
[Source: http://britishshowhorse.org/bsha-rule-book.asp]

Then there's "Irish Cob" -- for some reason, the OMHPS has it lumped with Vanner/Tinker (under Driving/Carriage). Again, this is vague because Irish Cob is specific to Ireland and can refer to an all-purpose, 'cobby-type' (translation = stout & compact build) utility horse of indeterminate breeding. Cobs are usually shown with a hogged mane/banged tail. (and sometimes are roman nosed). They're more along the lines of heavy-hunter type, rather than draft or carriage. The North Light Horses (now defunct) makes a very nice Irish Cob.
SEE ALSO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cob_(horse)

Lumping Vanner/Tinker with Irish Cob is a bit of a stretch, I think (and confusing).

GYPSY VANNER is another confusing term altogether. Depending what part of the world you're from, they're also known as Gypsy Horse/Gypsy Cob (Ireland/UK), Gypsy Vanner (USA), or Tinker horse (Europe).So, if you want to enter your Irish Cob, I guess it depends what you're entry looks like (and depending how the show is set up by the show host).

Last edited by appaloosa, Tuesday, April 6, 2021 7:57 PM

Technically this one is a Gypsy Vanner, but since that term is being fazed out, its now Irish Cob (so confusing!!!). This model is a micro Offerman so, I really don't know where to stick him.

It's not just for some random reason, Irish Cobs are the same thing as Gypsy Vanners, Gypsy Cobs, Tinker Cobs, Irish Tinker etc. Official Irish studbook: https://www.horsesportireland.ie/breeding/irish-cob-studbook/

The traditional name for them as per their original historic breed developers in Ireland was Irish Cob (confusingly, that was also just a general type. Often they also just called them "cobs," too), and the name Gypsy Vanner was made up by a couple in the US who imported the first few over there. In Ireland, they are more officially known as the Irish Cob and are indeed the same thing. When the first breed registries started popping up in the late 90s/early 2000s, they used just as many names (for example, the first two were the Irish Cob Society and Gyspy Vanner Horse Society, founded two years apart, referring to the same horse).

They are pretty confusing as a breed in general with all the names they have! I think it is somewhat of a regional thing, as well. Through most of Europe, they are Irish Cobs or Tinkers. In the US and parts of UK including AUS/NZ, they are Gypsy Cobs/Vanners. But, as SelectArcane mentioned, the latter name is being phased out by many due to it using a derogatory term, especially considering that it was used in a name not made up by the origins. Regardless, these days they all refer to the same thing and that is why they are called as such on here.

As for the where do they go - that's a show host's choice. As far as I've experienced, many shows put them under carriage/driving since that is what they were solely bred for originally, but some also put them under UK/Euro draft due to their look and type despite the size, or they just put them under Other Pure.