Gypsy Breed Standard

BREED STANDARD

General Appearance: The Gypsy Cob is powerful and compact with an overall impression of intelligence, kindness, strength and agility. Proportioned and balanced with medium to heavy bone and well muscled. Mane and tail are thick and luxurious. Abundant feather drapes from knee to ground. A proper cob often displays a beard, mustache and a forelock extending past the tip of its muzzle.

Head: Head expressive and proportioned to body. Ears well set and not too large, balanced to size. Eyes large, open and alert with good ocular bone structure. Jaws clearly defined, ample width between jaws, making adequate room for larynx and muscle attachments. Jaws larger and more muscled on stallions. Nose straight profile and level bite

Neck, Withers & Shoulders: Neck balanced, generously muscled and arched. Clean, open throatlatch. Neck ties in well at the shoulder. Shoulders deep, powerful and well sloped. Withers medium height and well muscled

Body & Legs: Back supple, flexible, short and compact with ample muscle and longer underline. Ribs well sprung and deep heart girth. Hindquarters very generous, smooth, broad and rounded across the croup with long hip well coupled to powerful hocks. Legs set well under body with adequate space between front and hind legs. Leg bone flat with strong tendons. Good separation between tendon and bone. Feather starts at the knees and hocks, running down front and back of legs and covering the hooves. Joints must be solid with correctly sloped pasterns. Hooves must be well shaped with strong hoof walls and adequate frog.

Temperament & Movement: Overall appearance of a strong and willing partner that works harmoniously with its handler. Willing, confident and offering its best with little encouragement. Sensible, steady, and eager to please. A steady forward walk with impulsion. Ground covering trot with a slight flick of feather at the point of extension.

SECTION A - under 14.2 hands

SECTION B - 14.2 hands and over

SECTION C - Cross bred needs to be 1/2 gypsy