Knock out cob wins heavyweight crown

A beautiful cob horse from Laois had heads turning as she strode majestically around the Virginia Show rings with her feathered legs flowing like a pair of white flares.

Ledonna took the accolade of Champion heavyweight horse, having already claimed the cob class.

"Everything she's went to she's won," said owner Padraic Whelan from The Heat, outside Portlaoise as he received the red rosette. "Now she hasn't went to too many. Cob shows aren't that common unfortunately. They're only starting to become a thing at agricultural shows, which is great, obviously because we breed them and it's lovely to have somewhere to go with them."

Asked what he likes about cobs he opts for temperament.

"Temperament is number one. I don't know I just love them, there's nothing more I can say, they're first class."

The drawback to keeping cobs is the amount of minding they require to look their best.

"I spent about three and a half hours washing her yesterday. To keep the feather on the legs is very hard to do because in damp conditions, bad soil type, that will burn off and it takes from them entirely. So it takes a huge effort to keep all that feather on - in the winter time we will house all of them to make sure no feather comes off," he explains.

He bought Ledonna about four years ago and of all the horses Padraic has ever minded, Ledonna is amongst his finest.

"If she's not the best, shes up there."

Judge Christy Tully marvelled at Ledonna's confirmation.

"Confirmation is 100%," said the Roscommon man. "She's well turned, plenty of hair, shows herself well - a good mover. She's true to type, and she's well marked.

"I'd like to own her myself," echoing the thoughts of everyone else watching on.