Another boring "what weight can my cob carry" thread - sorry!

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LBS78

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I *know* at present I am too heavy for my cob to carry. I have sat on him about 5 times since I bought him 14 months ago, for no longer than 10 minutes a time.
But it's my NY's resolution to shift some lard and finally ride him in summer 2015. So give me a goal weight to aim for (including tack - 14lbs)!
He is 14.3hh, weighs 485kg according to weight tape, 16 years old. Hacks out twice a week with a lighter jockey, but is not fit. I am a 5 foot 6, pretty novice-y rider, my balance isn't great but I'm not the sack of spuds I used to be.
I bought him for gentle hacking, and plodding about with. I probably should have bought bigger but I fell in love with him, and that was that, he was coming home with me. My height isn't an issue, surprisingly, but I am definitely too heavy for him at the moment. Don't make me tell you what I weigh...
BTW, when I bought my boy he was 570kgs. I *know* he's overweight, and it's a work in progress. Thanks in advance!

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Pearlsacarolsinger said:
He is lovely and built like a tank.
I imagine that he could easily carry a 14st rider on gentle hacks, especially if your lighter rider could get him a bit fitter.
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Thank you!
I didn't think he could carry as much as that. I'm used to riding 16 hand horses at the riding school, and he feels so tiny to me, like I could crush him (yes, I know how stupid that sounds...).
 
Not sure why you bought him if not to ride him, I suggest you start long reining him 45 mins per day. Most o/weght people can lose 2lbs per week. Stop eating chips, bread and processed food :) , no alcohol or coca cola.
The weight he can carry is related to his cannon bone, for 12stone he should be 8.5 inches
 
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What a great looking lad you have there - I think around the 12st mark but probably could be more if you are just walking, you don't have massive hills, and as he gets fitter.
 
Bonkers2 said:
Not sure why you bought him if not to ride him, I suggest you start long reining him 45 mins per day. Most o/weght people can lose 2lbs per week. Stop eating chips, bread and processed food :) , no alcohol or coca cola.
The weight is related to bone, for 12stone he should be 8.5 inches
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Thanks, that advice will save me the WeightWatchers weekly fee ;-)
 
limestonelil said:
What a great looking lad you have there - I think around the 12st mark but probably could be more if you are just walking, you don't have massive hills, and as he gets fitter.
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I was thinking around 12 stone - so with tack, boots, helmet etc, I was guessing around 10 st 7lb on the scales in my socks. It's nice to know he could probably carry more once he's fitter, though. Thanks everyone!
 
I would think 13 stone without any difficulty, its not height that is the decider but bone, fitness and conformation. Friend has 13.1 Shetland x cob which is truly built like a tank, vet recently commented it should be ridden (friend thought she was currently too heavy) vet said "I would ride it and I am 14 stone!" Not saying that is right or wrong but food for thought
 
Should carry 14 stone without bother. Easiest thing is to ride him and see if he tires a lot more quickly than with the other rider, though if he does all he probably needs is a bit more fitness.
 
I would be disappointed if anyone thought he could only carry 12st. Look at his structure, short cannon and forearm, deep and wide through the chest. The second thigh looks weak due to lack of work. If you really set about him and got him feeling good in himself, ie, clip him, get the feather and heavy mane off him, he would soon find work easier and get fitter.

Do some sideways in the school to get him supple and stepping under himself, try not to let him plough along on his forehand and you will soon have a rather nice cob to enjoy in the spring and summer. He will be fine with 14st as a hack and ridden correctly. He is not built to gallop or jump but you can learn a lot on him and when the time is right and he has done his job, you will be ready to move on to a sportier model.

Show cobs split the weight at 14st. A light weight will carry up to 14st and a heavyweight over 14st. Both types will be 15.1 max. The measurement of the bone beneath the knee will guide you his ability to carry weight. Your cob is a vanner and would traditionally have been used to ride and drive. Here is an example of another vanner, similar to yours. She is 14.3 and immensely strong both in terms of what she can pull and what she can carry.

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LBS78 said:
I was thinking around 12 stone - so with tack, boots, helmet etc, I was guessing around 10 st 7lb on the scales in my socks. It's nice to know he could probably carry more once he's fitter, though. Thanks everyone!
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I meant that you could be 12 stone! Plus tack.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I would be disappointed if anyone thought he could only carry 12st. Look at his structure, short cannon and forearm, deep and wide through the chest. The second thigh looks weak due to lack of work. If you really set about him and got him feeling good in himself, ie, clip him, get the feather and heavy mane off him, he would soon find work easier and get fitter.

Do some sideways in the school to get him supple and stepping under himself, try not to let him plough along on his forehand and you will soon have a rather nice cob to enjoy in the spring and summer. He will be fine with 14st as a hack and ridden correctly. He is not built to gallop or jump but you can learn a lot on him and when the time is right and he has done his job, you will be ready to move on to a sportier model.

Show cobs split the weight at 14st. A light weight will carry up to 14st and a heavyweight over 14st. Both types will be 15.1 max. The measurement of the bone beneath the knee will guide you his ability to carry weight. Your cob is a vanner and would traditionally have been used to ride and drive. Here is an example of another vanner, similar to yours. She is 14.3 and immensely strong both in terms of what she can pull and what she can carry.

528.jpg
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Thank you - that's really helpful.
I was only talking today with my YO about taking his feathers off, and generally tarting him up a bit!
My immediate plan is to hire an instructor to help me school him from the ground and fitten him up for spring, and if I've shifted enough pounds I'll then start riding lessons on him towards the summer.
I bought him just because I fell in love with him, he is such a sweet, cheeky little lamb and I couldn't help myself. The last year we have just been mucking about and getting to know each other, getting my confidence back. Now I really want to ride him. He came off a working farm, and I have seen a photo of him when he was fit and he looked lovely - but he was in the field for 18 months before I bought him and went to town on the grass. When I bought him he was VERY overweight, he looked like an overgrown Thelwell; the plan was for us to lose weight together, but while he's done really well, me, well... not so much!
 
he's a lovely chunky chap.

My considerably less chunky 14.2 21 yo welsh cob regularly carries a bit over 13 stone + tack, 6 days a week inc. dressage, 3 hour + hacking and the odd day hunting. I would expect yours to cope with more as per AA. Fwiw I do tend to only school him once a week as don't want to do too much at his age but it does also do him a lot of good by working correctly keeping him both supple and strong - physio last week denied his age as do a lot of people!

(I am also better at his weight management than mine! I was heavier and not so happy riding him then, I am now an awful lot more toned but overall weight in progress- cycling up wiltshire hills to work have not helped my calf size either!)
 
He's absolutely gorgeous - looks just the sort I need for myself. Good luck reaching a goal weight he looks worth it. I have a friends horse to ride if I loose weight (smaller actually and finer) - and I need to loose 3 stone before I would get on him!
 
AdorableAlice said:
I would be disappointed if anyone thought he could only carry 12st. Look at his structure, short cannon and forearm, deep and wide through the chest. The second thigh looks weak due to lack of work. If you really set about him and got him feeling good in himself, ie, clip him, get the feather and heavy mane off him, he would soon find work easier and get fitter.

Do some sideways in the school to get him supple and stepping under himself, try not to let him plough along on his forehand and you will soon have a rather nice cob to enjoy in the spring and summer. He will be fine with 14st as a hack and ridden correctly. He is not built to gallop or jump but you can learn a lot on him and when the time is right and he has done his job, you will be ready to move on to a sportier model.

Show cobs split the weight at 14st. A light weight will carry up to 14st and a heavyweight over 14st. Both types will be 15.1 max. The measurement of the bone beneath the knee will guide you his ability to carry weight. Your cob is a vanner and would traditionally have been used to ride and drive. Here is an example of another vanner, similar to yours. She is 14.3 and immensely strong both in terms of what she can pull and what she can carry.

528.jpg
Click to expand...

And that weight is for a days hunting, not ambling round the lanes! Mines a similar stamp but about 14.1hh hes absolutely fine with 13 stone plus tack. Hes growing, well hopefully! and is very bum high, and also only rising 5. If he ever levels up he wouldnt bat an eyelid at 14 stone plus tack. He is phenomenally strong and has incredibly wide loins and short cannon bones. At the minute his rider is only 10 stone, but thats because hes young and out of proportion. My 15.2hh LW cob who isnt bum high and is fully grown is happy with 15 stone plus tack.
 
He's lovely, looks strongly built too. I'd say he was more than he weight tapes though, my boy is 14.2 and lighter built than yours and on a weigh bridge was 500kg. Back on topic though I think he'd carry 13-14 stone, probably a bit less in harder work.
 
I am not sure what he could carry comfortably but he looks a strong type and I would be very surprised if he had any difficulty with 13st. Must say he is also gorgeous!
 
coloredred said:
He's lovely, looks strongly built too. I'd say he was more than he weight tapes though, my boy is 14.2 and lighter built than yours and on a weigh bridge was 500kg. Back on topic though I think he'd carry 13-14 stone, probably a bit less in harder work.
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You're probably right there. I've been told weight tapes aren't that reliable, I was using it more as a guide to inch loss. When I first got him I couldn't get the two ends of the tape to meet around the biggest part of his belly!
Thank you to everyone for your kind replies, especially the ones who have said how lovely he is - he knows it, by the way, you should see him prancing for the mares in the spring....
 
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