The height should exceed 13.2hh, no upper limit

Aptly described as ‘the best ride and drive animal in the World’, the Welsh Cob has evolved through the centuries and is known for his courage, tractability and powers of endurance.  Cobs embody strength, hardiness and agility, with a wonderful temperament.  The Welsh Cob is a good hunter and a most competent performer in all equine sports. In recent years the cob has had great success in the international driving world.

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WELSH COB STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE

GENERAL CHARACTER

Strong, hardy and active, with pony character and as much substance as possible.

COLOUR

Any colour, expect piebald and skewbald.

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.  Hoofs 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 inwards nor outwards.  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.  Hoofs 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.