Horses in Art Magazine - Art for the Horse Lover

Y Cob Cymraeg - The Welsh Cob

by Debbie Dunbar

"Honey"
Oil on board, 30" x 36"
by Debbie Dunbar
Welsh mare and foal.
Living in the rural heartland of West Wales is a haven for an artist. The people have a deep inbred passion for their horses and their pride in the Welsh Cobs is a constant source of inspiration.

The magnificent Welsh Cob is truly a gift to the equine artist. It has such grace, power and beauty combined and is spectacular to watch in action. These animals are famed for their soundness, versatility, courage and spirit, which makes them a popular outcross to produce modern sport horses.

I admire the diversity of all horse breeds, but I often find myself returning to the free spirit of the cobs. I fancy you get a sense of their history, the strength of their ancestors coming down through the ages. Sometimes they seem to be almost of another world.

The Welsh have a word for this, "Hwyl" (pronounced 'hoyl') There is no direct English for this word, but it broadly translates as passion and spirit. When you see this 'hwyl' you will know, as it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!

Artist Debbie Dunbar and her husband run a small stud of Welsh Cobs and Part Bred Irish Draught Horses, at their farm in West Wales, giving plenty of opportunity to study the details of equine life and interaction.

Bit of History
The Welsh Cob
The Welsh Cob was traditionally used for many purposes, from light draft horse working the land to smart trotter, and versatile driving animal to farmer's hunter. A real all-rounder that was calm and kind in its work but still spirited and handsome between the shafts or ridden. The Welsh Cob is originally descended from the Welsh Mountain Pony, which is recorded in the writings of Julius Caesar.

The Welsh Cob itself became established as a breed in the 15th Century but they are mentioned in the 12th Century as Equi Powis - the Powys Horses or as Rouncies - a hard trotting horse. They were ideal as cavalry mounts and during the First World War many thousands of Cobs were acquired for the war effort.

The famous equestrian artist Lionel Edwards served in the Army Remounts Service and saw hundreds of Welsh Cob mares shipped abroad, never to return. By the end of the 1930's depression and the Second World War, there were only around ten Welsh Cob stallions and twenty-five mares left in the whole stud book, but there was a good demand for harness Csobs in the cities of England pulling milk floats and other trade vehicles.
- Debbie Dunbar

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