Drum Horse Breed Standard
Author: The Traditional Cob Registry
VISUAL APPEARANCE
The Drum Horse is a powerful, imposing-looking horse, with ample muscle and bone, that is big enough, and therefore visually impressive enough, to be the feature (‘stand-out’) horse carrying drums in a parade or display, usually with other horses. One of the characteristics of the Drum Horse is leg feathering that also falls over the front of the hoof.
HEIGHT
Above 163 (cm) - From 16 hands
ORIGINAL DRUM HORSE BREEDS
The original breeds used by the Mounted Band of Household Cavalry within the British Army consisted of horses from Ireland (ROI) and the United Kingdom (UK):
- IRISH COB - Ireland (ROI)
- SHIRE - England (UK)
- CLYDESDALE - Scotland (UK)
To be considered an original Drum Horse breed, the breed must originate from Ireland or the United Kingdom. While other breeds may have similar visual appearances and height, only breeds from these regions that meet the specific criteria can be classified as an original Drum Horse.
ORIGINAL DRUM HORSE CROSS-BREEDS
The following cross-breeds are recognised combinations from Ireland (ROI) and the United Kingdom (UK):
- IRISH COB X SHIRE - (ROI & UK)
- IRISH COB X CLYDESDALE - (ROI & UK)
- SHIRE X CLYDESDALE - (UK)
- GYPSY COB X SHIRE - (UK)
- GYPSY COB X CLYDESDALE - (UK)
While the Gypsy Cob (also known as Traditional Gypsy Cob) is used in Drum Horse cross-breeding (Gypsy x Shire or Clydesdale), it cannot be considered a Drum Horse or Classic Drum Horse on its own due to its height limitations. The maximum height of a Gypsy Cob is 15.2 hands, which falls below the required height standards for Drum Horses.
IRISH COB DRUM HORSE
Because this Drum Horse Breed Standard was authored by the Traditional Cob Registry in Ireland, it was authored for a Drum Horse that is an Irish Cob Drum Horse. The Irish Cob Breed Standard was authored for the Irish Cob Studbook, which was officially recognised in Ireland on 16th July 1996.
Irish Cob Breed Standard and Breed History
CROSS BREEDING
Selected Shire and Clydesdale stallions and mares can take part in the Irish Cob Drum Horse and Irish Cob Classic Drum Horse cross-breeding programme.
THE DRUM HORSE
(Irish Cob Drum Horse)
The Drum Horse is a Large Irish Cob (15.3 hands to 16.2 hands) that is not under 16 hands, or a Part-Bred Irish Cob (Irish Cob x Shire or Clydesdale) that is not under 16 hands, and that is therefore big enough (as well as visually impressive enough) to carry a set of drums smaller than the kettle drums used by the Mounted Band of Household Cavalry within the British Army.
THE CLASSIC DRUM HORSE
(Irish Cob Classic Drum Horse)
The Classic Drum Horse is an Oversize Irish Cob (16.3 hands and over), or a Part-Bred Irish Cob (Irish Cob x Shire or Clydesdale) that is 16.3 hands or over, and that is therefore big enough (as well as visually impressive enough) to carry a set of kettle drums used by the Mounted Band of Household Cavalry within the British Army.
 CLASSIC DRUM HORSE, |
 CLASSIC DRUM HORSEThis image shows an Oversize (16.3 or over) heavy boned (and therefore heavy feathered) Irish Cob being paraded by the Mounted Band of Household Cavalry within the British Army. |
 IRISH COBThis image shows a heavy boned (and therefore heavy feathered) Irish Cob working in Dublin City, Ireland during the 1980s. |
HISTORY OF DRUM HORSES FROM IRELAND
WAR HORSES
Countless horses used in World War I were either big Irish Cobs or big Part-Bred Irish Cobs that were exported from Ireland to England as war horses. However, because Irish Cobs and Part-Bred Irish Cobs can be coloured (piebald and skewbald), and because coloured (piebald or skewbald) horses were not wanted as war horses, any coloured (piebald or skewbald) Irish Cobs or Part-Bred Irish Cobs were left behind in Ireland.
Countless horses also used in World War I were Irish Draught Horses (original heavy boned type) and Part-Bred Irish Draught Horses (Irish Draught Horse x Irish Cob x Shire x Clydesdale) that were exported from Ireland to England as war horses.
PARADE HORSES
Almost all of the Classic Drum Horses that were originally used by the Mounted Band of Household Cavalry within the British Army. were coloured (piebald or skewbald) Oversize (from 16.3 hands) Irish Cobs, or coloured (piebald or skewbald) Part-Bred Irish Cobs (Irish Cob x Shire or Clydesdale) that were imported to England (UK) from Ireland (ROI) as parade horses.