Tinkers are a breed of horses that received official status only two decades ago. Today, Irish Cob is famous all over the world. This squat, powerful and tightly knocked horse is valued among horse breeders. The breed is especially popular in the USA and Canada. An Irish one costs 20 times more than an ordinary stallion.
Historical data about the breed
Tinker is a hybrid of gypsy and Irish breeds. Officially, the breed is called the Gypsy harness. But in Germany and Holland these small horses are called tinkers. And in the UK they call it gypsies, but the word sounds with a touch of neglect. In Ireland they are called "cob." Translated from English, “cob” is a small strong horse.
Literally from English "tinker" is translated as "tinker". This craft was common among Romanian gypsies who moved to England.
In the UK, gypsies, well-known horse connoisseurs, have been living for about 600 years. Since that time, a new breed has arisen - it was formed from local and Roma horses.
In the veins of the Irish cobas flows the blood of hardy gypsy horses that their owners have never spoiled. Gypsies always appreciated horses, but could never provide them with adequate nutrition, veterinary care and proper care. Even horseshoes for most gypsy horses were a luxury. The difficulties that these horses experienced, in the end, had a good effect on the breed of the breed later bred - Irish kobes turned out to be hardy, unpretentious and not prone to disease.
Roma did not engage in any special selection, and did not record anything documented, so there is no exact data on the ancestors of the rocks. It is assumed that blood flows in the blood of tinkers:
- highlands;
- klesdedesal;
- Shires
- Welsh cob and others.
The final formation of the breed took place in the late 40s. of the last century, but it received official status only in 1996. Cushti Bok stallion was recognized as the ancestor of the breed. Gypsy draft horses - this is the official name. The breed has today several pedigree books and is very popular among horse lovers.
Height and weight
Irish cob is low, its growth is 1.35-1.6 m. There are no strict standards for the growth of tinkers. Due to such a wide run in growth, tinkers distinguish 3 groups (according to the American classification):
- classic Gypsy - 1.43-1.55 m;
- Mini Gypsy - below 1.43 m;
- Grand Gypsy - above 1.55 m.
The mass of individuals can also be in a wide range - from 240 to 700 kg.
Exterior and other specifications
All tinkers, regardless of suit, size and weight, have a strong physique. They have a massive body, strong, wide and muscular. The back is straight.
Other exterior details:
- The head is a little rough, the profile is hunchbacked, the ears are large.
- The neck is thick, beautifully curved.
- Under the lower jaw is a beard.
- The withers are low, the shoulders are strong, steep.
- The legs are decorated with friezes. The hooves are powerful, durable. Possible X-shaped posture of the hind limbs. Such a set of legs is considered a minus in other breeds, while tinkers do not.
- The mane, bangs and tail are luxurious, thick.
Friezes - a dense hairline on the horse's legs. The name arose due to the breed of horses of the same name. These brushes adorn the horse and protect its legs in the cold season.
Suit
The breed is distinguished by pinto - a dark background with white spots. Also there are individuals forelock, roan, and black. Irish cob distinguishes between three types of piebaldness:
- Overo. The second name is “chintz”. It is characterized by the presence of asymmetric white spots scattered throughout the body. But usually these areas do not go beyond the line conditionally drawn along the back - from the tail to the withers. At least one limb is dark. It happens that all four limbs are dark in color. The tail is not motley.
- Tobiano. The legs are usually white. One side or both of a dark color. On the front of the body are oval and round spots, they cover the body from chest to neck. Tail - two colors. The head is dark, but there are white spots - for example, an “asterisk” on the forehead.
- Tovero. The combination of overo and tobiano. Tovero appears after the crossing of a variety of individuals, when not a single sign of the parents became dominant.
Gypsy harnesses have not only multi-colored nap, but also skin - they are gray under a dark nap, and pink under a light nap.
Character and disposition
Gypsy horses have a very calm disposition. These horses remain calm with any stimuli. Phlegmatic cobs, even if desired, are difficult to stir. Due to their super calm character, tinkers are ideal horses for beginner riders.
Lifestyle & Habitat
Tinkers are unpretentious and undemanding - thanks to gypsy blood. The ancestors of the Irish cob, tempered by a nomadic gypsy life, transmitted to their descendants an outstanding ability to survive.
Lacking stables, a proper diet, and veterinary services, Roma horses acquired rare endurance and the ability to survive under any circumstances. Having taken the “endurance” gene from their ancestors, tinkers became universal horses - they can adapt to almost any living conditions and climate.
Maintenance and care
Since tinkers are not demanding of the conditions of detention - due to the unpretentiousness inherited from horses belonging to the Gypsies, the owners themselves determine the conditions of detention. Everyone’s business is to create comfortable conditions for their pets. Typically, tinkers are kept under conditions standard for thoroughbred horses:
- well-ventilated stable;
- clean and bright room;
- stable heating is not required.
The hardest part about keeping Irish cobs is maintaining their splendor. The owner has to take care of the mane, tail and friezes of the horse all the time - they are very thick, sometimes even curl. To make the animal look presentable, the hair needs to be washed and gently combed. More tips for tinker care:
- Special attention should be paid to the hooves and nostrils - they need to be washed and cleaned after each walk. After a walk, hooves are cleaned with a special hook. Washed hooves must be well dried - so that microbes do not appear.
- Humidity in the stall - at least 80%.
- The stall should be perfectly clean. Before cleaning, you need to bring the horse to the street. The floor is washed with water and cleaning products. When the floor is dry, lay the hay. Hay litter is changed every day.
- Tinkers need to be cleaned and combed every day. For combing use two combs - hard and soft. They clean the horse, starting from the head, and gradually move to the back.
- On a walk, it is better to braid a mane into braids, and to dissolve it at night. Hairstyles can be changed, but each time the hair must be thoroughly combed.
- 2-3 times a week, you need to wash your mane, tail and luxurious friezes, using special shampoo and conditioners that give hard hair shine and softness.
- Every six months, the horse should be examined by a veterinarian - for prevention.
- Every day - training, physical activity or just a walk.
Diet
Gypsy horses ate pasture, suffered from heat and cold, and their descendants cost fabulous money. Therefore, their owners take seriously the nutrition of these horses. When compiling a menu for cobs, they are repelled from the general norms of feeding and animal activity. In order to maintain the strength and energy of horses, in the summer they must be walked on pastures where they can eat green grass.
The appearance and health status of the animal depends on the balanced diet. Without fail, horses must receive vitamins B, C, D, as well as calcium along with food.
In addition to hay, the following should be included in the diet of Irish cob:
- cereals - oats, barley, corn, etc .;
- carrots and beets;
- potatoes;
- meadow grasses;
- concentrates.
Horses sweat actively, which leads to a violation of the water-salt balance. To restore it, the horse should use table salt daily - 30 g each.
What else you need to know about the nutrition of tinkers:
- As a treat, horses can be given a few pieces of sugar or bread crumbs.
- It is forbidden to feed horses with spoiled, moldy food and poisonous herbs.
- The horses are thrice drunk three times a day. In the heat, the number of drinks increases to 5-6 times.
- You cannot drink horses immediately after a walk or training. You have to wait an hour or two.
- Horses need to be phased from one feeding system to another.
- Tinkers are fed 5 times a day. The number of feeds depends on the horse’s lifestyle and activity.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Although the gypsy draft breed is only two decades old, it has already gained popularity in Europe and the United States. This is one of the most expensive breeds in the world. Irish cobs are full of virtues for which breeders, horse breeders and simply horse fans love and value them:
- Outer beauty. Just look at the photos of tinkers to appreciate their magnificent exterior. In their appearance, horse connoisseurs can easily distinguish between the features of shire and glue-gadgets. Kobes are extremely elegant, in appearance - spilled plush toys. Such horses evoke positive emotions, it is pleasant to ride them, they look great in harnesses.
- Exclusive. The number of Irish cob is limited. The owners of these horses are the lucky owners of a rare horse to be proud of.
- The softness of the gait. Tinker walks make them ideal for horseback riding.
- Calm It is extremely difficult to get tinkers out of yourself. The horse is ideal for riding saddles.
- Low content requirements - stables, climate, feeding. It is difficult to find a breed that would be so expensive and at the same time as unpretentious as Irish kobes. The simplest feed and awning instead of the stable is enough for these horses.
Gypsy draft breeds have disadvantages, but compared to numerous advantages, they all look insignificant:
- Unsuitable for speed sports. In dressage, tinkers show themselves quite well, but at the races they can not show good results.
- High price. The breed is very popular. And this popularity is growing. The livestock is not numerous. Under such conditions, the cost of tinkers is very high. Not everyone can afford such a horse.
Areas of use for horses
Tinkers are a universal breed. Scopes of application:
- Like draft power. Koby look great in a harness.
- Horseback riding. Suitable for learning. Favorable circumstances - soft gait and calm disposition. On such horses, you can easily teach riding a child - they will never create dangerous situations, they will not buckle and they will not bear.
- Hippotherapy. Good-natured tinkers are great for treating various ailments. This technique is gaining popularity today, and it is tinkers, with their good disposition, that are ideal for this purpose. Hippotherapy is recommended, in particular, for autists, people with impaired motor functions, and patients with neurosis.
- Moral support for horses. At hippodromes they are led out to accompany horses on their way to the start. Calm tinkers have a calming effect on nervous horses.
- Nurses. Because of their calm disposition, tinker mares are often trusted to feed foals from purebred horses.
Tinkers in the modern world
Tinkers have much in common with friezes. They are similar in appearance, are also expensive, and most importantly - they are used in approximately the same way. Both breeds are so beautiful that they are more decorative, although they have good driving qualities. For the beauty of these horses you have to pay not only tens of thousands of dollars, but also time - handsome men need regular maintenance of their mane, tail, friezes.
Tinkers, like the Frisians, are used to entertain tourists - they are invited to ride in a carriage or in a saddle. True, tinkers should not be allowed into the natural environment - after walking, the horses' hair is clogged with plants, thorns and other garbage. After going to nature, tinkers have to be combed out for a long time and carefully.
The average cost of a gypsy harness
Tinkers are especially in demand in the USA. And even the high cost can not shake their popularity. The minimum cost of a stallion is $ 10,000, the maximum is $ 25,000. For comparison, the cost of an ordinary thoroughbred horse is $ 1,000. In Europe, they ask from 6 to 9 thousand euros for tinkers, about the same as asking for them in Russia.
Interesting Facts
Irish kob is interesting not only externally, many interesting facts are associated with this breed:
- Tinkers often have magpie eyes. So called eyes, in the light or white flowering of the iris.
- Tinkers are shaggy, because among their ancestors are shires, who transmitted this feature to them.
- A gypsy harness combines the head of a Welsh cob and the agility of a hakne with the legs of a clay maker and a shire.
Those who want to learn horse riding without risking their health, and at the same time get a beautiful horse without any pretense of super grooming, definitely need a tinker. The point is small - lay out a tidy sum for the Irish handsome.
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