What Does Cob Mean In Horses?


When I was looking through a tack store, I noticed that there were several different sizes for tack such as bridles and nosebands. These different sizes included pony, cob, horse, and full. I was thinking to myself, what on earth does cob mean? Is a Cob a type of horse or is it just a size of a horse? It was these questions flitting about my mind that made me want to write this article.

What Does Cob Mean In Horses?

A cob is more of a type of horse than a breed of horse that is more sturdy in build and smaller in height. A cob is more of a type of horse than a breed of the horse though some breeds of horses are always considered cobs. Cobs usually will stand between 14.2 and 15 hands high as horses who are much taller than this usually require bigger-sized tack and are classified as other sizes or types.

Is A Cob A Type Of Horse Or A Size Of Horse?

A cob is both a size and a type of horse.

When looking at tack sizes, the cob size is a tack size that fits smaller horses. In most cases, the Cob size fits horses that are too small for the horse-sized tack but can’t quite fit into the pony-sized tack.

When looking at a type of horse, the cob is identified as a stockier or heavier-built horse type that would fit in between the coldblooded and warmblooded horse types. The cob is a smaller type of horse usually seen standing between 14.2 and 15 hands high on average.

What Horse Breeds Are Considered Cob In Size?

There are so many different breeds that fit the cob-sized tack. Some examples of breeds that might fit into this tack include the:

  • Arabian
  • Gypsy Vanner (or Gypsy Cob)
  • Haflinger
  • Welsh Cob
  • Fell Pony
  • Fjord Pony
  • Barb Horse
  • Norman Cob
  • French Cob
  • Irish Cob
  • Quarter Horses (only sometimes)

These breeds are all breeds that might fit into cob-sized tack.

Just because your horse might fit well into cob sized tack does NOT mean your horse is a cob. Cob horses are heavily built which means that of your Arabian is not a cob even though it might easily fit into cob sized tack.

How Can I Tell If My Horse Is Cob Sized?

One way to tell if your horse is a cob is by looking at its overall size, build, and appearance. Cobs will be a little heavier in build and heavier than most other breeds their size. These horses will also be on the shorter end of the height scale and only stand between 14.2 and 15.2 on average. These horses might also even have feathers on their lower legs and feet.

How Much Weight Can A Cob Carry? Are They Stronger Than Other Horses?

Cob horses, because they are stockier and stronger than other horses, are able to carry a decent amount of weight without issues. These horses and large ponies can comfortably carry around 200 pounds without issues which is more than light horses carrying the same weight.

Are Cob Horses More Expensive Than Other Horses?

Cob horses are extremely desired and popular for their good size, versatility, cuteness, and strength. Because of this, they are in high demand. This is why some cob breeds like the Gypsy Vanner can cost you around $12,500 on average with some of these horses reaching prices over double that.

How Big Are Cob Horses On Average?

Cob horses, on average will stand between 14.2 and 15 hands high. Their smaller height is made up for by their weight which comes in at around 500 to 1,000 pounds.

Hailey Sipila

Horses have been my passion ever since I can remember. At school, I was known as that weird horse girl, and I would read horse encyclopedias for fun. Over the years since those days, I have only learned more. My experiences with horses of a variety of breeds have taught me a lot. Now I want to share what I know with you!

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