Alice100
Well-Known Member
Mine can be very sensitive, playful, spooky, difficult at times. I know they are quite late to mature, im just wondering what other peoples are like, and if they grow up...ever! 
8 year old welsh cob - what is yours like??
- Thread starter Alice100
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dollymix
Well-Known Member
Mine is getting more diva-ish as she gets older! I always said she had an old head on young shoulders as a youngster as she was brilliant to hack and would bravely pass most things without batting an eyelid. In fact I used to joke that in the wild she wouldn't last ten minutes as if she saw a lion she would trot up to him to say hello! However she is much more 'perceptive' now about possible danger...be it a leaf blowing in the wind or a sheep grazing by the top end of the school haha!
Up until she was 6 she was only ever ridden by me (VERY occasionally by a friend in the school) but she went out on loan or was shared by different riders for the past couple of years and I have noticed the spookiness since she has come back/I have taken her back on soley. Whether that means she learnt to get away with certain behaviour (she is the sort to take a mile if you give her a inch) or that she actually is just getting more cautious with age, who knows? I wish she could talk!
She is very friendly - adores people! Far more than horses! When you go to catch her from the field she gallops up neighing her head off like a scene from Black Beauty!
She can be tempestuous though and I call her a diva or a L'Oreal girl (she thinks she is worth it!). She also knows her own strength and can be bargy if she is allowed. I love her to bits though and wouldn't have her any other way!
Up until she was 6 she was only ever ridden by me (VERY occasionally by a friend in the school) but she went out on loan or was shared by different riders for the past couple of years and I have noticed the spookiness since she has come back/I have taken her back on soley. Whether that means she learnt to get away with certain behaviour (she is the sort to take a mile if you give her a inch) or that she actually is just getting more cautious with age, who knows? I wish she could talk!
She is very friendly - adores people! Far more than horses! When you go to catch her from the field she gallops up neighing her head off like a scene from Black Beauty!
She can be tempestuous though and I call her a diva or a L'Oreal girl (she thinks she is worth it!). She also knows her own strength and can be bargy if she is allowed. I love her to bits though and wouldn't have her any other way!
NeverSayNever
Well-Known Member
mine is 9 and agree with Dollymix! She was 6 when i got her and was really quiet to hack out by herself and didnt have much stamina - she would conk out cantering half way up a hill. Now however she is so much more physically developed and strong that she has endless stamina (i cant tire her!) and keeps her fitness doing nothing eek. She is also a LOT more lit up to hack out and is definitely worse in the winter months. It took me until last summer to get her balanced enough to canter a 20m circle properly and we are still working on getting that canter more balanced so she can slow down and it becomes more adjustable. Love her though, even if at time she is infuriating!
Lottiedots
Well-Known Member
Mines nearly 20 now, still spooky, still playful, very friendly, still goes from lip hanging dope on a rope to complete nut case! He is such a character. We didn't get a decent canter out of him until he was 10! His teens were def his best years, but worth waiting for.
Annagain
Well-Known Member
Mine 'grew up' at 17! Until then he wouldn't keep rugs on, was a nightmare to load, would have days where he decided he wouldn't be caught and spent a lot of time on his back legs. He was bolshy, arrogant, stupidly excitable, bold, confident, 100% totally and utterly trustworthy and would try his heart out for you...if he liked you. If he didn't, God help you 
. When he grew up (virtually overnight) he kept his rugs on, loaded like a dream and stopped rearing. The rest never changed
. 3 weeks before he died (unexpectedly, aged 27) we went for a quiet walk around the block and he decided he wanted to canter it all instead
. 9 years on I still miss him every day.
. When he grew up (virtually overnight) he kept his rugs on, loaded like a dream and stopped rearing. The rest never changed. 3 weeks before he died (unexpectedly, aged 27) we went for a quiet walk around the block and he decided he wanted to canter it all instead. 9 years on I still miss him every day.
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yannialice
Well-Known Member
Mine is 5 and the cuddliest boy going! Great to hack in company but hell on his own. I am hoping this will improve as he is really babyish just now. Rubbish in school....2steps forward 3 steps back!!!!! But improves if you do it daily......lovely though!
RockinRudolph
Well-Known Member
Mine is 10, but you would think he was still a baby. We still have ridiculous days when he spooks at everything and just wants to gallop everywhere like a loon. He tries his hardest not to do what I ask him to do in the school as he knows that I will usually give in before he will, he causes trouble wherever he goes and is such a nightmare to travel that I just don't bother trying to take him places anymore. But he has got bags more character than all the others on the yard put together and despite being bolshy and a pain in the backside (most of the time), I love him for it and wouldn't have him any other way. I keep looking at all the other sensible horses on the yard who are all quiet and patient, and do as they're told - and then I look at mine hoping that one day we might have some kind of normality! I have a feeling it may never happen (had him 8years now and he's yet to grow up) but I secretly don't mind! When everyone else is having sedate hacks around the countryside, we can usually been seen tearing round the fields so fast my eyes are watering (mostly in control!) with the occassional sideways leap when we pass a different colour patch of grass, or a leaf, a rock, etc. - which are all out to get him of course! He's the one knocking over your wheelbarrow, but only when it's full, pulling your hat off when you're mucking out and trying to eat his head collar when you are trying to catch him.
Ah don't ya just love a welsh cob?!
Ah don't ya just love a welsh cob?!
Ruth17
Well-Known Member
Mine is rising 5 so this is interesting. Regarding the canter, Welsh ds were bred to pull carts and carry farmers so not surprising that their trot is great but canter not so. It's the Hackney blood in them!
cob&onion
Well-Known Member
Mine is rising 4 so still a baby!
But i can tell you to ride he is very smart, quick learner, excitable, sharp, spooky!! good boy in traffic though and always has a little zing in his step (i hope he keeps all these traits although he may want to lose the spookiness!!)
In the field he is number 1 boss, loving, playful and likes to stand on things or put things in his mouth and also likes to pull off his numnah with his teeth whilst am tacking him up or always has the reins in his mouth when he is wearing his bridle
But i can tell you to ride he is very smart, quick learner, excitable, sharp, spooky!! good boy in traffic though and always has a little zing in his step (i hope he keeps all these traits although he may want to lose the spookiness!!)
In the field he is number 1 boss, loving, playful and likes to stand on things or put things in his mouth and also likes to pull off his numnah with his teeth whilst am tacking him up or always has the reins in his mouth when he is wearing his bridle
Spottyappy
Well-Known Member
Out of our 4 Welsh cobs, the rising 8 has been the most challenging (although the two foals do go have a while to live up to her reputation!)
She wasn't backed until she was 6, and we then suffered set back after set back meaning she has only been in work something like 9 months in total. She had health issues and many a tantrum along the backing process,too!
However, she is now proving to be the fun mare the welsh have the reputation of being. She happily hacks safely, turns her hoof to dressage, jumping and has had a go at xc. Been placed at county level showing, third being best to date as we are still learning the "art" of showing welshies.
She is the most honest horse I have ever had, and tries her heart out for us. My daughter always says " you can't help but smile when you ride her".
With personality to die for, she is the reason we now seem to be collecting the breed!
She wasn't backed until she was 6, and we then suffered set back after set back meaning she has only been in work something like 9 months in total. She had health issues and many a tantrum along the backing process,too!
However, she is now proving to be the fun mare the welsh have the reputation of being. She happily hacks safely, turns her hoof to dressage, jumping and has had a go at xc. Been placed at county level showing, third being best to date as we are still learning the "art" of showing welshies.
She is the most honest horse I have ever had, and tries her heart out for us. My daughter always says " you can't help but smile when you ride her".
With personality to die for, she is the reason we now seem to be collecting the breed!
SaffronWelshDragon
Well-Known Member
My girl is 20, got her when she was 7. She was always good to hack, i trust her unquestionable she has never even hinted a buck. I know she would never ever try to hurt me. However, she is getting more divaish, as she's older she thinks she knows best (mainly when hacking). To be honest i think personality / craziness wise she's hardly changed. Rode down to our newly marked grass arena with her cantering sideways and passaging all over the place because the was horse hacking in the field next door. 10 mins later got 'calm and obedient' on my online dressage test lol!
eahotson
Well-Known Member
Bought mine aged 9 to help me recover my nerve after a sharp and spooky Highland.He has been an absolute sweatheart.Heloed me and others with their nerve.Good little jumper and we are now trying a bit of westernHe is about 14 now.