Hermits Traditional & Spotted Cobs
Hermits Angelina about to leave for the USA has early
riding training as young Jack Butterfield shows his Father
John how to ride a horse.
Andrew, Sandra, John, Diane & Jack Butterfield
Andrew, John & Jack Butterfield
Hermits Traditional and Spotted Cobs
My husband Andrew started breeding traditional cobs over 45 years ago. He always had a passion for coloured horses and loved going to all the gypsy horse fairs. In those days the traditional gypsy cob was often taller,finer boned with less feather and was used as a wagon horse. Over the years the present day cob has been developed, it is now much stockier,heavier boned and with a wealth of feather and mane. Now more of a show horse than a work horse but still has great strength if needed. After starting out as a passionate hobby our stud is now a family buisness with my husband Andrew, myself Sandra, our son John, his wife Diane and now new recruit baby Jack.Our cobs have been bred selectively for many years,they are true to type with good conformation,heavy bone and feather,small heads and wonderful temperaments. This also applies to our traditional spotted cobs which we started to breed around 20 years ago.The spotted cob has proved much more difficult to breed as they are very rare and have a very small gene pool. Our cobs are not bred from appoloosas but from old lines of the British Spotted Pony which has been in Britain for many centuries.
We have had great difficulty in keeping bone, feather and coat pattern together as these can be bred out in one cross.Conformation,bone and feather have been more important to us and should never be compromised for the coat pattern alone.Coat patterns can come in many forms including roans,fewspots,blankets and leopards of all colours. Breeding spotted cobs is very intresting but at the same time can be frustrating as the spotted gene is very complex and you dont always produce the coat pattern you desire.
Our horses have been a lifetimes commitment and we are dedicated to constantley improving these wonderful and truly addictive horses.
The Butterfield men with stallion Duke
