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Definition of a Type There are various types of
horse or pony
that are not breeds, but do have specific characteristics. A "type" is
a horse or pony that is suitable for a particular job, but can in fact
be of any breed. For example, a hack can be any well-proportioned horse
with quality, often with a high degree of Thoroughbred blood. Similarly
a hunter can be any horse that hunts, although they do uniformly need
the qualities of stamina and bravery. Often when assessing a horse, it
is quite straightforward to say what type it is without knowing its
specific breed.
THE COB There are two breeds of the cob, the
Welsh Cob and
the Norman Cob, but there is also a type of horse called a cob, and
they mainly come from Ireland and England. These types do not have a
set breeding pattern, and can be produced by various crosses; they do,
however, have similar charcteristics. The cob is easily spotted and
there are classes at many of the top shows in England specifically for
the cob, divided into lightweight, heavyweight and working cob.
Generally, a cob is the result of an Irish Draft cross, although some
cobs are pure Irish Draft, some are bred from Welsh Cobs, and some are
derived from a heavy horse crossed with a Thoroughbred or Cleveland
Bay. This type displays an attractive face and short, arched necks.
THE HACK A hack is a supremely elegant type of
showhorse. The
majority of hacks are actually Thoroughbreds, or Thoroughbreds crossed
with Anglo-Arabs, and are therefore mostly hot-blooded. However, a hack
must not show overly Arabian characteristics, which are frowned on the
ring. They are generally between 14.2 hh and 15.3 hh, and can be any
solid color. The hack is the epitome of good breeding, perfect
conformation and manners—the aristocrat of the equine world.
There are different show classes for modern show
hacks. The show
hack can be displayed individually or in pairs, which is particularly
impressive. The hacks are expected to show walk, trot, and canter, an
individual demonstration, and to be ridden by the judge.
THE HUNTER Hunters vary quite considerably in
appearance but
they do all need common characteristics such as stamina, athletic
ability, courage, and sense. It is widely considered that many of the
best hunters are produced in Ireland. They are likely to be Irish Draft
crossed with Thoroughbred or Cleveland Bay and may even have some pony
blood. Hunters vary from region to region depending on the countryside
in which they are ridden. In largely flat, grassy areas the hunter
needs to have a lighter proportion of Thoroughbred. In areas of heavy
clay ground, or rough land, more of a half-breed is required.
A hunter needs to be a good weight; that is he needs
to have plenty
of bone and be strong and sturdy. He also needs to be built for speed
and should have powerful hindquarters. A major criterion for a hunter
is stamina. They work load can be is considerable, when bearing in mind
the long days and fast galloping that go with hunting.
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