Buying a Top Cob

Gleeful Imp

Gleeful Imp

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Now, don't get me wrong, I adore my George and wouldn't swap him for the world, but I cannot stop the itch to add to our equine family and if I did, it would only be for a cracking cob to go County showing and working cob before I get too old. My intention (don't tell OH) is to buy a 3 year old in a couple of years and hide him down the yard. :D:D:D:D

OH relies on current long working hours and not enough time to ******* to keep this urge in check. Don't forget I also have 2 retired ones .....

He is now desperately trying to close down our joint account after I informed him that Hercules is for sale

http://www.horsequest.co.uk/2/horses-for-sale/5/cobs/166/cobs-show-cobs - 3rd one down

So what do you think? Are top cobs worth this kind of money? TBH my
OH thought he was much cheaper than he expected. I know what I think but be interested in your views.

I will have to restrict any urges at the moment - luckily, I've no idea if he'd suit an amateur or if he's tricky, and I couldn't find that £13k I lost down the back of the settee theother week. ;)
 
If it makes you happy,buy it!
It if makes YOU happy, OH will be happy....
Personally,I would buy the black one with white legs,looks fun X 20!
But then again, I know nothing about cobs,or indeed, showing,so ignore everything I have said...;-))
 
My opinion is you only live once and if it means a lot to you then do anything to get it. Me personally, I would get more out of doing one myself but we have just born a part trained show jumper so I can do more as mine is lame. I am so lucky oh just goes along with it and if it's reasonable and he agrees then we always find the money.
 
Ooh wow, I was in cob heaven. Hercules is gorgeous. With regard to prices, I am not a showing expert so couldnt advise with any conviction. However, I do know that good cobs command high prices as there is such a high demand for them. From personal experience, my daughter was invited to hunt with a shire pack about 3 years ago. She went with a friend who was selling her horse to someone who hunted with that particular pack. She took my cob - who is actually the spit image of the black 4 year old 14.2hh cob/hunter called Nelly down the page a bit. He is 14.3hh, medium weight, very, very handsome, well schooled, good jumper, bit of a star really, except he knows his own strength and is bolshy. He is also a fab hunter. At 15 years of age I was approached by a lady who had been out that day on her cob, and had been admiring him etc. She gave me her phone number and offered me £8K for him just to put him on her lorry and take him home then and there. I have to say I was flattered. I paid £2.5K for him when he was 11. He is now nearly 18, still full of life and growing old discgracefully. Nope, I didnt take her up, her is with me for life.

If you have to do it then do it. He is very, very gorgeous.
 
I like it... although me personally would never buy a proven show horse!!!

Especially one like him, as it's a bit like with Totilas they develop a fan club and a following and people will only ever be comparing you and him to his pervious rider ect :)

xxx
 
Must admit he is a very smart cob! If I had that sort of money I know what my show season would be like this year!

I do like your plan though.....it is amazing how easy it is to hide a little cob, especially if it is a baby cob..........
 
I used to work for someone who showed cobs and I have to say, they were sharper than most TBs I've sat on!! I'm a hunter gal myself. ;)
 
Foxford - I know what you mean! My coloured in my sig was once a quite well known HOYS cob but was also suitable for an amateur (although he certainly had his quirks), some of the top cobs can be really tricky!

Hence the buy a baby with a level head, and aim for amateur and SFAS, but my head has always been turned by young Mr. Hercules! At least he's not local ... and he'll be snapped up ....and I haven't got the time right now......

Talking Self Out Of More Horses!
 
Its really interesting to hear that a lot of top cobs are sharp, as people tend to assume they are docile plods, which I know to my cost is not true. I do feel they are very under-rated little horses, and most can turn their hoof to most jobs. OK, you probably wont ride around Badminton on one, and its unlikely that a top rider would choose one to partner them on their journey to Grand Prix, but they are very versatile little horses. My cob was bought from a riding school and I was sold as they put it 'A perfect first horse'. Hmm, I think not. He is a safe as houses to hack and school, but my god is he a right little handful. The comment regarding sharpness is interesting. After I bought him, I did a bit of research about him. He had been with one particular riding school for several years, after being spotted in a field. Apparently he was sharp, nippy and for some odd reason, did not like going into the arena during the day, which earned him the nickname 'The night rider'. He's been allowed to know his own strength and can be a proper bolshy handful.

Oddly enough the riding school work seemed to calm him down., but first horse he really is not. I did do some local showing with him, but at 14.3hh on his passport and 14.2 with the measuring stick on a quiet day, he really is not big enough to do well any higher, but at local level we notched up a few wins and some championships as well.

I have to say I do like your boy with the blaze, as the only thing I would change with my horse is his height, and possibly his age - 18, so we can enjoy more time together.
 
My friend bought one last year for £4k, HOYS, RIHS etc etc. I was screaming, noooooo leave well alone, hes too cheap, got to be something wrong etc but she adores him, hes a total gentleman and shes having a ball. He isnt the easiest horse though, hes certainly not a plod and nears a good hour to work in before his class. This is the reason the show producer told her they were selling him cheaply as he took just too long when they had a lorry load to show.
I suppose only time will tell but so far he hasnt put a foot wrong.
 
Cobs like that definately are worth the money, but you would be better off buying something more 'rough' as a 3/4yo, much cheaper and you'll be behind what made it good! I know who Hercules came from previously, she would definately be able to source more if you were looking for one! Sometimes best to go through a professional, who will be able to see something potentially top qual in the rough.
 
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