Norman Cob Horse

The Normandy in France has long been renown for its horse breeding. The ancestors of the modern Norman Cob were bred at the historic stud of Saint Lô. The Norman Cob was named after the English Cob and was developed as a distinct breed at the beginning of the 20th century when breeders distinguished their half-bred horses as riding horses, especially for the army, and those of sturdier built as draught horses. In the La Manche region the heavier Norman Cob became even more popular as a work horse than the Percheron. Over the years selected breeding has produced a sturdier, muscular horse to better cope with the work required, however the Norman Cob does not have the massive statue of true heavy horses. The tail of the Norman Cob is still traditionally docked depriving the horse of a vital means of protection against flies. Over the centuries this mutilation was carried out for some ritual purpures, to prevent the tail from getting entangled with the harness and equipment as well as for fashion reasons.