A variation on "do people look down on cob owners"?

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FinellaGlen

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Namely, do you think some people look down on the owners of placid natured horses if they themselves own a horse with a more difficult nature? I have owned/loaned 5 horses over the years which have ranged from sweet-natured to demons but I have to say that I am a lot happier dealing with the sweet ones.

I did have a horse who bit and kicked a few people (myself included once or twice) but I was never scared of it, more irritated really because the behaviour stemmed from trying to assert his dominance not through fear. Now I have a lovely natured little mare and I realise how happy it makes me not to have to worry about dodging flying feet or worrying that she will bite an innocent passerby when she is in her stable. For me nice-natured horses are the best but a comment I overheard recently at another yard made me think that some people seem to regard owning a difficult horse as a badge of honour and I can't understand that.
 
sadly i think alot of people do i am extreamly proud that i managed to fine a horse as placid as izzy but a few people i no always talk about how difficult their horses are in an almost boastful way and on a number of occasions i have seen people wind their horses up to that they look they they are controling a really wild horse
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I like horse with character and MANNERS!!

I really dont get on with fidgety horses, those that wont stand when you want to get on etc!

Give me a nice nature any day!!
 
Yes, I think people with the less easy horses think they are superior riders to be able to 'control their beasts' than the poor 'inferior' rider who has to ride something quiet and push-button.
 
I know someone like that, and it infuriates me!

At the end of the day having a well behaved horse should be a good thing, but so many stupid people feel like they have to have a monster or somethng so dangerous that only they can cope with it.

Very very sad people!
 
I got told today to get out the way when a cob owner did up her girth because it would try to bite anything within reach. I did as she said and got out the way and yes it did react with snapping teeth, luckily at her, not me.
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I have one wild, naughty cob and one safe, sensible cob. It is a relieve to get on the safe, sensible one after I had a bad ride on the naughty one. I do get people who don't think that cobs can be anything but ploddy, laid back things and think I can't ride anything else.
 
I don't much care what they're like...I'll ride anything pretty much (unless it's suicidal). On the ground I won't be bitten, kicked, barged or trampled, ever.
But all horses have their good points and bad points.
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Yeh, I have a very laid back TB who spends 23 hours a day sleeping or eating and one hour kindly putting up with carting my fat ass either round the fields or round the school. He/we get laughed at because he sleeps so much. The other day we hacked in a big group and for the first time ever he got bright and thats when others admired him!!! Not me though I like my quiet sleepy horse.
I never admire a poorly behaved horse, I also get so angry when I cant warm up because of some wild horse kicking and causing mayhem in the colecting ring. There is one show ground I go to that has a very small warm up and every time there is this man who can not sit one side of his horses and he upsets all the others because his horses just launch and rear all over the place. I ended up grumping at him the last time and told him to get it under control or get out.
By the way I also cant stand loose dogs.
 
Sadly I think there are some people who think having difficult horses makes them better riders, when the real truth is it's probably their incompetence that makes the horse what it is.

Let them look down their noses, I bet they don't enjoy being horse owners anywhere near as much as people who take pride in their well behaved horses, be them cobs or otherwise.
 
I generally have far more respect for people with well mannered animals than those with bad mannered ones whatever the breed. We have a lady at ours with a couple of TB's. She watlzes in with them, they're spinning and fidgeting and stressing and she has a real air of being better than the rest of us with our quiet, well mannered cobs. I really think she thinks we're all in awe of her when actually we're thinking 'what the hell?!!'.. Makes me giggle
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Glad that so many of you agree with me. I feel that I am very lucky to have such a well-mannered horse. Her previous owner did a great job with her and I don't intend to spoil that good work.
 
Same - but particularly as I have backed and/or rebacked my horses myself, and most of their behaviour therefore is down to how well I've trained them. I expect my horse and cob to behave with perfect manners and consideration, and come down on them like a ton of bricks when they dont. I would be very embarrassed if they behaved badly. It reflects on me!
 
All our horses are placid, we often buy the wound up and on edge, but no or minimal hardfeed and 24 hour turn out calms them down no end. I love it when they have a stupidly fizzy horse, that they nearly fall off of, but when it comes down to it ours are fitter ,get better results, have a horse that is a joy to be around and leave at the box and save a tonne on hard feed.
 
i get a bit annoyed when people with very safe horses try to convince you their ancient 14hh cob has the temperment of a 4yo TB and must go infront on hacks, ridden in a harsh bit ect, but other then that, having a nice, well-mannered horse is a compliment to the owner!

of course, my 'sweetypie' has been lame for the last 3 weeks, and with nothing to do (he's turned out during the day because box rest would drive him mad) is becoming a terror! if you try to open the gate to the field he's there in a flash and trying to escape
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and he literally just drags me along if he wants to go anywhere. he's a fat, lame appaloosa (6 years old and not the brightest button in the box), but can walk like racehorse when he wants to. it's very embaressing o_o
 
I am sooooo jealous of you people with lovely gentle creatures, mine is horrible, she has never been treated badly; we have had her from birth. She just seems to have personal space issues.

"I also get so angry when I cant warm up because of some wild horse kicking and causing mayhem in the colecting ring."

sorry that would be me too, allthough I do try to warm up away from everyone else!

I love her though and wouldn't change her ever ever ever its just who she is.
 
"I am sooooo jealous of you people with lovely gentle creatures, mine is horrible, she has never been treated badly; we have had her from birth. She just seems to have personal space issues. "

that's mares for you!

Mine's generally very sweet, and he was very neglected... he loves cuddles ect, bit of a greedy boy tjo xD
 
Someone I know looks down on my quiet cobs. She had an ex-racehorse and, if it dared stand still on the yard and look too quiet she used to kick it on and, at the same time, pull on the mouth one rein at a time until it 'livened up'. I made a mistake of riding with her one day and she purposely wound up a horse she was riding until it was looking very confused and scared and she laughed and asked me why he was mis-behaving!! I was appalled at her behaviour and thought she may have the confidence but she had no brain and just made herself look stupid, not a good horsewoman at all. I may have quiet(ish) cobs and not be very brave myself but we are happy and I certainly don't need to big myself up and ruin my horses in the process. How sad
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I think with a very few exceptions the crazy horses arent' usually mad at all.

Wrong feed
lack of turnout
lack of exercise
being wound up by the rider (overdominating them perhaps)
lack of trust in their rider
lack of establishing of the "ground rules"/poor routine/stress.

Give me a well mannered one any time over a tricky one. Our tricky boy's not tricky any more now he knows where things stand (it did take 6 months though)
 
i dont know.
i know people who have downright naughty horses who seem proud of it but act VERY annoyed when your affectionate well behaved one is responsive and obedient whilst they are getting dragged all over the place lol!
my first little pony was the sweetest little mare ever i adored her.she was so well behaved inhand.she could be strong to ride but never ever naughty.
my ish mare is quite hot to handle
i bred her to a very nice man and her filly has talent but shes so lovely to be around its a pleasure!!!
 
I've had a few handfuls in my time; yes they all improved over time but with a lot of hard work and patience. I wouldn't have these types of horses again. I enjoy riding, playing with my lot and without any hassle.....and thats exactly what I have now. I wouldn't go back to the days of having complete nutters around anymore.

Who cares what anyone says about your quiet and well behaved horses - I'll bet they are jealous of you and your horse which is why they say ridiculous things to make themselves feel better. To be frank, anyone who has a naughty horse for any significant length of time, with the horse not improving on it's behaviour, can't be much of a rider, in my opinion. Someone who has a good horse and keeps it as a good horse, is placed much higher in my estimations.
 
That's terrible! I can't stand people like that, I see them at local shows all the time - they are pathetic examples of riders, and they reflect badly on the rest of us too.

I certainly get looked down on, I have an 8 year old cob who is by no means a plod but he's safe (no dirty stops or rearing, just fast!), and we would just be disregarded by all the morons with their professionaly schooled horses that they went on to ruin. The fact that some people decide to buy horses that behave and they can ride without fear for their lives does not make them insufficient riders at all.

When my horse was 6 going on 7 I had a lesson with a nearby professional dressage rider, we were trying to get him going in outline in trot - obviously he had been prepared for it, it wasn't done out of the blue! - we did lots of different things and they didn't work, so she asked if she could have a go. She got on and proceeded to fight with him for about 10 minutes, got off and told me how easy I made him look! He now goes in an outline really happily but it just goes to show how cobs do need good riders, as do placid horses, just not in the same way as mad thoroughbreds. Some people just don't understand that and I would dearly love to stick them on my boy and set them off on an ode!
 
I have a highland who has been with me for nearly 14 years and I trust him completely. The only fault he has is his enormous buck. He does, however, let you know when he is about to explode and can be stopped by me growling at him. My daughter has an ex racer who is a perfect gentleman and so handsome. The others are, a 17 yr old arab gelding, only cut two years ago after stud duties, but an absolute charmer. Then there are the two young rescues who are so gentle and sweet natured. I can't do horses with bad manners.
ets I do think some people look at mannerly horses and think theirs look good prancing and spooking at everything. I don't!
 
I agree that some do think it makes them look better riders, that they can cope with more etc. But I feel proud that my horse is 99% well behaved (he aint perfect but he does
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), listens to me and respects those who handle him.

Thing is though, I do sometimes feel embarrassed that he is not a snorting pulsating eager beast at shows as he was once and deffo got more 'oohs' & 'aahs' from passers by. But that soon passes when I get to laugh at someone else get thrown or tanked off with as their horse has a rocket up its arse
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Yes I can be a biatch
 
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