Tinker horse breed: description, history of origin and photo

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Tinker remains one of the most interesting breeds of horses today. Sometimes these beauties are also called Irish kobs. Tinkers belong to the group of draft horses and are very popular in the world.

A bit of history

The Tinker horse, like many other draft horses, was bred by folk selection. For the first time such horses began to be kept in Ireland. In the 15th century, nomadic gypsies arrived in this country in large numbers. Of course, they brought their horses with them. Gypsy horses, since they were never pampered, were very hardy and unpretentious.

Over time, in Ireland, these horses began to cross with the locals. As a result, an unpretentious tinker was bred. Since the gypsies are a nomadic people, almost all breeds of horses bred at that time in Ireland took part in the creation of this variety. For example, Welsh ponies of all kinds can be considered the ancestors of tinkers: Highlands, Fells, Dales and, of course, Shires.

For a long time this gypsy horse breed was unrecognized. It was officially registered only in 1996. The breed standards were then determined by the exterior of a stallion named Kushti Bok, who has since been considered its founder.

General description of Tinker horses

What do these unusual horses look like? Tinker is not a riding horse, but a draft horse. Therefore, it does not differ in too graceful body shapes. Tinkers are medium in size. Their head is massive and rough, with a beard. The profile of these horses is humpbacked, and the bangs and mane are very thick.

The features of this breed, among other things, include:

• short and strong neck;
• short and straight back;
• powerful shoulders;
• strong muscular croup.

You can recognize these horses, among other things, by thick friezes on the hooves, which start from the hocks and reach almost to the ground (photos of Tinker horses are presented in the article). As you can see, these shaggy handsome men actually look very impressive.

Color

Irish nobility once treated tinkers with contempt because of their piebald colors. The military of this country did not want to buy horses that looked like cows. Gypsies, on the contrary, really appreciated just such a color. Pinto horses, including tinkers, usually have strictly individual colors. Therefore, in the event of theft, such a horse in the market would always be easy to identify.

Three color types of Tinker horses are currently recognized:

• overo;
• tobiano;
• Tovero.

An interesting feature of the representatives of this breed, among other things, is the fact that their skin in those areas where the wool is dyed white is always pink. In addition to piebald tinkers, there are also spotted, black and roan.

Height and weight

The sizes of tinkers, as already mentioned, are average. At the same time, a feature of the breed is that its representatives can vary greatly in growth. At the withers, horses of this variety can have from 135 to 160 cm.

The horses of this breed differ quite a lot in weight. Body weight of tinkers can range from 240-700 kg.

Horse personality

The history of the origin of the Tinker horse breed is very old and interesting. These horses were brought out, as we found out, by the gypsies. And they are valued by breeders and horse lovers not only for unpretentiousness and endurance. The undoubted advantages of this breed include the calm, and often even phlegmatic nature of its representatives. Tinker horses are obedient and kind, they love their owners and treat all animals in the courtyard well, including other horses.

Mares of this breed are very good mothers. They have a lot of milk, and foals are always supervised.

Gypsy horses of the Tinker breed are often kept by breeders of elite riding horses. Of course, such animals cannot take part in horse races. But they are sometimes used as riding, although they do not develop too much speed in running. Contain tinker breedersracehorses with a different purpose.

At stud farms, mares of this breed are given elite riding foals. Their parents often do not have a complaisant disposition. Therefore, it is believed that calm tinkers in the process of education (as they say, with mother's milk) have a very beneficial effect on elite youngsters.

The main purpose of the breed

Tinkers are used in farms, of course, most often as draft horses. That is, for the transportation of various kinds of goods. Tinker horses are also in great demand in the tourism business. These horses look unusually impressive. Therefore, they are often harnessed to pleasure carts for tourists at various resorts.

In some cases, as already mentioned, tinkers can also be used as riding horses. The advantages of these horses, among other things, include a soft comfortable gait. At a gallop, such horses, unfortunately, get tired very quickly, but at the same time they can easily overcome various obstacles. The ditches and ditches of these horses, for example, are not intimidating at all.

Where else is used

In Europe and America, these horses can often be found in riding clubs. They are used here mainly for teaching beginners. A feature of the character of the horse of the Tinker breed is some phlegm. The nature of these horses is calm, and the movements are smooth and comfortable. Therefore, these horses are just perfect for teaching beginners to ride.

How much do they cost and can I buy in Russia

Supports this breed todayIrish Cob Association. This breed is very spectacular, fashionable and quite in demand. However, tinkers have gained their popularity relatively recently. Therefore, such foals are currently very expensive. Abroad, those who want to get such a beautiful and interesting horse will have to pay at least 10-25 thousand dollars for a thoroughbred little tinker. The amount is, of course, huge.

In Russia, a horse of this breed is currently quite difficult to find. However, some breeders still sell such foals. For example, tinkers in our country are bred in Karelia. Foals of this breed are brought to Russia from Holland, Ireland and England. In the Russian Federation, the cost of adult horses of the Tinker breed starts at about 350 thousand rubles.

How to care

These horses are very unpretentious in keeping. Even a novice amateur can take care of a tinker. The premises for these beauties are equipped the same as for any other draft. The same applies to the diet of horses of this breed.

The only thing about tinker grooming is that the owner will have to pay some attention to their thick bangs, mane and friezes. The hair of these horses should be periodically washed with shampoo and a special conditioner, then combed thoroughly. Tinker manes are usually braided before going out.

Also, the owner of such a horse must necessarily monitor the condition of his hooves. Gypsies had never shoed their horses before. So the hooves of tinkers are strong. Butowners of such horses, of course, still need to use the services of a farrier.

Interesting facts

Tinkers are a truly unique and rather unusual breed. This is evidenced by various interesting facts about her:

1. The name of the breed did not appear by chance. That is how in Ireland the owners of these horses were once dismissively called - gypsies. At the moment, the word "tinker" is not used in this country. These horses are called kobs here.
2. Some representatives of this breed have the so-called magpie eyes. That is, their iris is devoid of pigment.
3. Very often breed horses are confused with shires. Indeed, they are very similar in appearance. But shires are still bulkier and more powerful horses. In addition, piebald coloration is rare for them.

It is also interesting that the gypsy draft horse of the Tinker breed is very often used to subdue the evil Arabian horses. Often, these short, phlegmatic handsome men even escort them to the starting pits on their own.