Spotting sparkle
COBS, of all horses, seem to be hardest to spot in the raw. Being a type rather than a breed, their pedigree rarely assures the buyer how a young cob will shape up. And the fact that many of the world’s star cobs have been the result of an accidental mating, spotted in a field or tethered by a verge, makes the quest all the more exciting. In any competition, horse star quality is imperative. But finding hidden sparkle in a young, hairy or scrawny horse demands uncanny instinct.
Showman Wayne Thorneycroft has a knack for turning rough diamonds into champions. His big-winning coloured cob, Makers Jar Of Hearts (Lance), was found at Ballinasloe fair.
“I spotted him tied by a tow rope to a tree,” says Wayne. “He had a certain look about him that made me think he could be a show horse. We managed to separate him from the other horses and saw him
