KNOWING THE NAME OF SOMETHING IS NOT THE SAME AS KNOWING SOMETHING
Observe the two photos of horses below. How would you describe the two different body types? How does your view match the horse- man’s adjectives utilized in identifying the Cob horse? What is a Cob? “It can be both a breed and a type of horse.” “A cob is stocky, sturdy & robust with a handsome and noble head.” – Taken From What Really Is a Cob? by Anna Bowen What really is a cob? ( whickr.com ) Where does the word “cob” come from? The etymology of the word “cob” appears to be from late Mid- dle English. It meant a strong man or a strong leader, and it seems the underlying sense of the word was to imply a strong, sturdy, and rounded shape. This is perhaps why a round loaf of bread is also known as a “cob” and where the word “cobblestone” also comes from. What does it mean with respect to horses? “As you might expect from the origin of the word, a cob is ‘strong’ and ‘rounded.’ A cob is simply a type of horse that has a sturdy build, strong bones, large joints, and generally stout appearance. They can be any size, but traditionally, they have been thought of as a small horse; above pony height. This differentiates them from sturdy ponies and larger draft horses with a similar build.” What is a cob? - Good Horse ( good-horse.com ) The Irish Cob - History & Information About the Irish Cob: “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. General appearance including topline relates to animals in good condition.” Irish Cob, its origin, description and details of the irish cobi ( irishhorsesociety.com ) “The Norman Cob is a breed of mid-sized, light draft horses that hail from the French province of Normandy. Even though it has been selectively bred to produce general subgroups within the breed that are characterized by different heights and weights, it has
left: Cobby; right: Not Cobby; Illustrations by Darle Heck
a great degree of similarity with a Thoroughbred in terms of its conformation. It has an elegant appearance, with a short back and an overall square profile.” Norman Cob Horse Info, Origin, History, Pictures ( horsebreedspictures.com ) Although it is not necessary to compare the cobby Scottish Terrier and the racy Irish Terrier, perhaps we can now clearly dif- ferentiate the cobby dog within the breed itself as preferred in our standard. Above are two illustrations. As a judge, which would you seek in your evaluation as being cobby? The illustrations are of the general outline as first viewed in the judging process. True determination of the cobby dog requires appraisal from the front for proper width as well as from the top of the dog. VARMINTY It has been stated that if all the Terrier breeds were lined up behind a fence, and all you could see were the heads, you should be able to determine which breed is which by the head alone. Given this statement, it is the unique characteristics of the Scot- tish Terrier head that conveys the impression as described in the standard as having a “very special, keen, piercing, varminty, expression” that typifies his bold, confident nature. What are the anatomical specifics that define the unique Scottish Terrier head and how does it differ from other Ter- rier heads? In the paragraphs that follow, the structures that are essential are discussed. We have chosen to infuse this article from our experiences as a breeder, exhibitor, and judge. The accompanying illustration provides an image surrounded by many of the standard and historical descriptors. It is a “look” that is somewhat difficult to find. However, “When you see it, you know it.” It is the dog that looks at—and through—you with all the strength and confidence of his being, and the one that exudes the belief that he is better than you. The Scottish Terrier head is heavily weighted in the stan- dard. While it is only one component of the totality of the dog, it is often one of the first parts viewed after assessing the balance and outline (cobby). The ability of our breed to “look down his nose at you” both figuratively and structurally con- veys the attitude and totality of his indomitable spirit. This does not occur if the underlying structure is not correct. Thus, I will speak of each of the components as well as clarifying some possible misconceptions. Scottish Terrier heads are not narrow . Rather, they are of medium width which gives the impression of narrowness due to the cleanness of skull and length of head in proportion to the overall length and size of the dog. Averages do not work here, as each specimen may vary in size. A bitch head might be more refined than a dog head, yet both are equally correct. A com- mon misconception is that our “Diehard” head is lean or narrow. This is incorrect and certainly could create a commonality with other breeds within our Group, and more importantly, affect the necessary balance and strength the Scot needs to accomplish his
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2022 | 257
Powered by FlippingBook