The Traditional Cob Registry in the UK (Referencing TGCA)

The Traditional Cob Registry (TCR) is an independent registry and show club based in Ireland. TCR in the UK (TCR UK) promotes TCR registration and the holding of TCR showing classes in the UK.

Traditional Cobs

Traditional Cobs (with or without pedigree) can be registered online with TCR as Breed: Traditional Cob, Irish Cob, Traditional Gypsy Cob, Gypsy Cob, Stepping Cob, or Mini Cob (Mini Gypsy Cob).

Part Breds 

Part Breds (with or without pedigree) can be registered online with TCR as Breed: Part Bred (Traditional Cob x another breed), Friesian (Traditional Cob x Friesian) or Drum Horse (Traditional Cob x Clydesdale or Shire).

Showing classes

• Traditional Cob

  This class stays is judges as one group for Irish Cobs, Gypsy Cobs, and Irish Cobs x Gypsy Cobs with at least 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places.

• Traditional Cob (Irish & Gypsy)

  This class is judges as one group for Irish Cobs, Gypsy Cobs, and Irish Cobs x Gypsy Cobs with at least 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. However, the judge can award a best in class and reserve best in class Traditional Cob (Irish Cob), a best in class and reserve best in class Traditional Cob (Gypsy Cobs) and a best in class and a reserve best in class Traditional Cob (Irish Cob/Gypsy Cob).

• Stepping Cob

  This class is judged as one group for Stepping Cobs.

• Mini Cob

  This class is judges as one group for Mini Cobs (Mini Gypsy Cobs).

• Part Bred

  This class is judged as one group for Traditional Cobs x another breed.

• Tradian

  This class is judged as one group for Traditional Cobs x Friesian.

• Drum Horse

  This class is judged as one group for Traditional Cobs x Clydesdale or Shire.

Colour

TCR has combined showing classes for coloured and solid Traditional Cobs, and separate showing classes for coloured and solid Traditional Cobs.

Mane and tail

Although Traditional Cobs can be shown in TCR in-hand classes with their mane removed, Traditional Cobs must have their full leg feather to be shown in TCR in-hand classes. Traditional Cobs can have their mane and/or leg feathering removed if shown in TCR ridden classes, unless they are TCR ridden classes that specify full leg feathering and/or full mane as a requirement.

Passports

Because TCR is independent, TCR does not issue passports. A Traditional Cob or Part Bred that is in the UK must therefore have at least a basic identification passport before it can be registered with TCR. Once a Traditional Cob or Part Bred is registered with TCR, its TCR digital registration profile – including its breed (breed identity), pedigree (if provided) and PSSM test result and/or colour gene test result (if provided) – will be linked to its passport (legal identity) by its microchip number. Digital registration (breed identity) and digital passports (legal identity) are the way of the future, and TCR digital registration (breed identity) is already there.

The Traditional Gypsy Cob Association

In 2005 the Traditional Gypsy Cob Studbook was founded by the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association (TGCA) in Engalnd in the UK. In 2012 (after the Gypsy Cob Society lost its approval as the Approved Mother Gypsy Cob Studbook for Gypsy Cobs in the EU) TGCA was approved by to maintain the Traditional Gypsy Cob Studbook as the Mother Traditional Gypsy Cob Studbook for Traditional Gypsy Cobs in the EU.

Having regard to the fact that the Irish Cob Studbook (the original Traditional Cob studbook) was officially recognised in Ireland in July 1996, and that ICS was approved in July 1998 to maintain it as the Approved Irish Cob Mother Studbook for Irish Cobs in the EU, the only reason TGCA could be approved in 2012 to maintain the Traditional Gypsy Cob Studbook as the Mother Traditional Gypsy Cob Studbook for Traditional Gypsy Cobs in the EU is because the Irish Cob and Traditional Gypsy Cob are different, and therefore have different breed standards. The Gypsy Cob is a unique Traditional Cob breed type that was developed in England over decades through selective breeding of Traditional Cobs from Ireland.

However, since the UK left the EU in 2020, TGCA has no longer been approved to maintain the Traditional Gypsy Cob Studbook as the Mother Traditional Gypsy Cob Studbook for Traditional Gypsy Cobs in the EU. What this means is that from 2020, TGCA has only been approved to issue passports for Traditional Gypsy Cobs that are in the UK. Since 2020, TGCA has therefore been operating in the EU as an independent (non-passport issuing) registry the same as the Traditional Cob Registry (TCR). Although TCR is in Ireland (which is still in the EU), because TCR is a completely independent registry, TCR can operate in any country (including the UK) as an independent (non-passport issuing) registry. 

Registry status

Except for the fact that TGCA is approved to issue passports for Traditional Gypsy Cobs that are in the UK, TGCA and TCR have the same legal status as independent (non-passport issuing) registries.

Showing status

Because approval does not include approval to hold showing classes, TGCA and TCR have the same right to hold showing classes in any country.