The Irish Cob Society Ltd Stud Book

(Stud Book of the Origin of the Breed)

PRINCIPLES

1. Objectives of organizations approved to maintain an Irish Cob Stud Book.

To protect, preserve and improve the Irish Cob breed, in it’s traditional form and type, as a native Irish breed through the following means.

-          By inspecting animals with a view to entry into the Supplementary Section of the Stud Book.

-          By inspecting stallions, entered in the Main Section and Supplementary Section of the Stud Book, with a view to approving suitable stallions for inclusion in the Selective Breeding Programme.

-          By holding shows and events, with a view to promoting the Irish Cob breed on the home and foreign markets.

2.  Breeding objectives.

To preserve and protect the Irish Cob breed in it’s traditional form and type, as a small, compact, powerful, yet agile working horse (a cold blood).  The Irish Cob is classified as a working draught horse (as opposed to the carriage horse, which may be clean legged – warm blood type).   The Irish Cob breed is classified as a working draught horse, so as to ensure that the breed is never allowed to become light of bone, which would also have the effect of losing one of the breeds renowned characteristics, the leg feathering.  Although described as a ‘draught’ type animal, breeding organizations shall ensure that the Irish Cob breed also remains a dual purpose animal, by retaining the docile character attributed to the cold blood breeds, while retaining the breed’s agile and versatile capabilities, which are ideally suited to a number of leisure riding pursuits.

3.  Characteristics of the Breed.

THE IRISH COB BREED STANDARD

GENERAL APPEARANCE - The Irish Cob is compact and powerful, ample both in muscle and bone, yet, with an ability to perform as a good all-purpose animal.  Some Irish Cobs tend to be more “stocky” than others.  The Irish Cob is well balanced and proportioned, standing straight and square and offering an imposing appearance.
TOPLINE - The head, which should be held proudly should be carried on a powerful and arched, well “set on”, neck.  The neck should appear to “carry on” through good withers and to finish at the start of the back (this feature should be particularly evident in stallions).  The back which should be short and straight should slope gently upwards to a well muscled croup (the back bone/spine or the hip bones should not be apparent).  The croup, which is quite high and generous should have both croup muscles well defined, the top of the quarters being exceptionally well muscled, broad and ample.  The angle of the spine from the croup to the tail should slope gently downwards and should not be exaggerated, this allows for a high, well “set on”, tail and contributes to good well rounded quarters.
BONE - Irish Cobs are from medium weight to heavy weight, (Some allowance in bone measurement can be made for mares and geldings only).
IN MOTION  – Irish Cobs with their unique action, luxuriant hair and feathering and the large range of colours available, combine to present a beautiful and varied sight to see when turned out at their best, particularly when in motion.
TEMPERAMENT - The Irish Cob should possess a docile and willing nature, with a friendly disposition towards humans and other animal species.  Displays of aggressive and threatening behaviour such as ears back, kicking, biting, rearing and not being under control of the handler, will result in expulsion from Approval Inspection and the Show Ring.

HEIGHT – Under 170 cms. 

HEAD - should be straight, handsome and in proportion to the rest of the horse.  The forehead should be broad and the muzzle, jaw and cheek should be generous. 

MOUTH - should have a level bite.

EYES – should be quite bold, open and set well apart.

EARS - should be neat and well set on.

NECK - should be compact, but not too short and should be generously muscled including the crest (stallion’s necks should be particularly well muscled and crested).

SHOULDERS - should be ample, powerful and sloping.

WITHERS - should be of average protrusion or height and should be encased in plenty of muscle and flesh.

CHEST - should be powerful, well muscled and not too broad or narrow.

BACK - should be short, straight, well covered in muscle and flesh and slope gently upwards towards the croup.

HINDQUARTERS AND HIND LEGS – The hindquarters should be very generous, well rounded, broad and powerful with a well muscled high croup. The second thigh should also be very generous, quite long and well coupled to good straight powerful hocks.  The hind legs should be well boned and muscled.

BODY - should be short and compact with ribs well sprung to barrel shape.

FORELEGS - should be powerful and not too short.  There should be a good length of well muscled forearm and generously boned shins.

KNEES AND HOCKS - should be well developed and of generous dimensions but should be in balance with the proportions of the horse. 

FETLOCK JOINTS - should match the other joints in power, size and build. 

PASTERNS - should also be of sufficient bone and not too long (straight or over angled pasterns are a fault).

HOOVES - should be well shaped, neat and of a size capable of carrying the frame of the horse without stress.

LEG HAIR/FEATHERING - Leg hair/feathering is a characteristic and decorative feature of the Irish Cob breed.  This is especially prominent in the heavier Irish Cobs.  However, the amount of leg hair/feathering present may vary considerably, particularly in the case of medium weight Irish Cobs.   Leg hair/feathering, should at the very least, fall from the back of the knees and hocks, down to a thick covering of hair/feathers on the heels.  Leg hair/feathering should also fall over the front of the hoof, from at least the coronet.
MANE AND TAIL - The mane and tail should be luxuriant and capable of growing to a substantial length.

MOVEMENT – Movement should appear sound and free from obvious hereditary defects.  COLOUR – The following colours are considered most typical.

	All solid colours including black, bay, brown, chestnut, palomino, grey and roan.
	All solid colours including black, bay, brown, chestnut, palomino, grey and roan, which contain white body markings.

White body markings are measured in percentages and exclude the head, legs and underbelly.

	Irish Cobs which have white body markings are described as COLOURED.
	Irish Cobs which have white markings on the underbelly are described as SPLASHED or BLAGDON.

4.  Division of the Stud Book and conditions for entering the Stud Book.

The Stud Book is comprised of a Main Section and a Supplementary Section.

CONDITIONS FOR ENTERING THE ICS STUD BOOK

To qualify for entry into the Main Section of the Stud Book an animal must:-

Have both parents entered in the Main Section.

The following breeds are included in a cross breeding programme approved by the ICS.

The Irish Piebald and Skewbald, the Skewbald and Piebald, Irish Sport Horse, the Gypsy Cob, the Coloured Horse, the Tinker.  The ICS reserves the right to include additional breeds in the cross breeding programme.  Animals seeking inclusion in the cross breeding programme must be inspected for conformation with the Irish Cob Breed Standard.  The inspection procedure will be the same as for animals seeking registration in the Supplementary Section.  All animals included in the cross breeding programme will be entered in the Main Basic Register.

	Have both parents entered in the Supplementary Section.
	Be identified as a foal at foot in accordance with the rules of the stud book, which

should at least require the covering certificate. Where an animal has not been identified as a

foal at foot, a declared dam must be verified through DNA analysis.  Where there is no

covering certificate, a declared sire must be verified through DNA analysis.

Progeny with both parents entered in the Supplementary Section, or one parent in the Supplementary Section and one parent in the Main Section are eligible for entry into the Main Section.

Males entered in the Main Basic Register, having reached the age of two years, are eligible for inspection with a view to approval and upgrading to the Main Elite Stallion Class.

Males which fail to be approved - following inspection, shall remain in the Main Basic Register, but shall continue to be eligible to seek approval and upgrading to the Main Elite Stallion Class.


To qualify for entry into the Supplementary Section of the Stud Book an animal must:-

	Be identified in accordance with the Stud Book Rules.
	Be judged to conform to the Breed Standard at inspection by the organization.
	Have a minimum performance which includes an inspection by a qualified veterinary surgeon to check for obvious hereditary defects and faults and normal movement.

Males entered in Supplementary Basic Register, having reached the age of two years, are eligible for inspection with a view to approval and upgrading to the Supplementary Elite Stallion Class.

Males which fail to be approved - following inspection, shall remain in the Supplementary Basic Register, but shall continue to be eligible to seek approval and upgrading to the Supplementary Elite Stallion Class.

5.   The system for recording pedigree.

	Where a sire is declared and there is no covering certificate signed by the stallion owner, the sire must be verified through DNA analysis.
	Where a dam is declared and there is no Veterinary verification of the foal having been identified at the foot of the declared dam, the dam must be verified through DNA analysis.
	Where pedigree is verified by DNA analysis, the DNA Laboratory profile number of all DNA samples, must be recorded on the Stud Book Administration Database.
	All Main Elite stallions and Supplementary Elite stallions must be DNA typed.

6.   The system of identifying Irish Cobs entered in the Stud Book.

	Identity documents shall be issued in respect of all equidae entered in the Stud Book.
	The Certificate of Origin and the Identity Markings Certificate shall be included in the identity document.
	Unique Equine Life Numbers shall be issued in respect of all equidae entered in Irish Cob Stud Books.  For information relating to the UELN refer to www.ueln.net
	Animals must be named.  Registered names shall not be duplicated within the stud book.
	Horses can be mircrochipped. Where a microchip has been inserted in an animal, the microchip number should be recorded on the identity document.

7.  Lineages entered in one or more other stud-books, where necessary.

Irish Cobs entered in an approved Irish Cob Stud Book are entitled to entry into the equivalent section and class of any other approved Irish Cob Stud Book.

8.  Non-discriminatory treatment of breeders.

Organizations shall not discriminate against breeders.  Animals which conform with the requirements of Commission Decision 96/78/EC are eligible and entitled to registration in the ICS Irish Cob Stud Book.