Can cobs do dressage?

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jacksmum

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Having had three horses fail the vet now, all of which were TB's i have been looking at different kinds of ponies and have seen some really nice cobs advertised.
So can cobs do dressage? And how high do you think they could go?
This isn't a pick on cobs post i am genuinely interested in peoples stories.
Thankies :)
 
Yes, I know one competing successfully at elementary level (affiliated) at the moment . Usually getting scores in the high 60's, and has done well at National Championships too.
 
I think it depends on the horses nature not the breed. I'm looking to buy a horse shortly mainly for dressage too so have been looking around.. there are some lovely cobs that are used by their owners primarily for dressage. Personally, I don't think there is a problem, but it's what you think that matters! :)
 
Without a doubt!!!! Ive qualified a coloured cob for the regionals and an ex boss of ine has a pure irish draught and he competes and wipes the floor woth the competition at advanced level- amaaaazing!! just need good training!
 
I was told by a judge that my cob could go to elementary level.

Unfortunately I find it boring, so never found out!

Doing a prelim (not me riding) -
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Tooo B***dy right they can... I had one Welsh D working at prix st george and competing at medium... Cobs do a fab test... just watch out for unaffiliated judges who don't know their Bum from their arm joint cos you may get some dodgy marks...

Blitz
 
depends on what level you want to compete at.

if you want to be competitive at affiliated Elem or above i would chose something built a bit more athletic.

shall i don my tin hat now?
 
yup - one at our yard just reached Advanced Medium and has more to give still BUT
I do echo the comment about some judges and their own prejeudices. This particular cob is no longer taken to a well known dressage centre near us as he gets awful marks, yet he can compete at the same level at other affiliated centres and do well. Oh he is coloured which I suppose doesn't help!

No seriously, so he won't show the most amazing medium work - but shows a real change, but collections, changes etc he finds easy. He is actually only 15.1 but when ridden looks considerably bigger..

There is a really good dressage rider/judge in Surrey called Mark Ruddock - ages ago I went to see a lecture demonstration and the majority were not "dressage" horses. So he showed medium on a straight ISH (ID x TB mix), advanced medium on a shire x tb and also a gelderlander - bred for driving!
 
:)
jacksmum said:
Having had three horses fail the vet now, all of which were TB's i have been looking at different kinds of ponies and have seen some really nice cobs advertised.
So can cobs do dressage? And how high do you think they could go?
This isn't a pick on cobs post i am genuinely interested in peoples stories.
Thankies :)
Click to expand...

Of course they can :) Was told by a dressage instructor that every horse is capable of going up to Medium dressage with the right training! :)
 
blitzandbobs any pics of your welshie?

OP I can see the advantages of having a non cob at the higher levels... imo welshies are a bit inbetween as they tend to be a little flashier (though then occasionally less correct :rolleyes:) than perhaps another type of cob
 
ester said:
blitzandbobs any pics of your welshie?

OP I can see the advantages of having a non cob at the higher levels... imo welshies are a bit inbetween as they tend to be a little flashier (though then occasionally less correct :rolleyes:) than perhaps another type of cob
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Ummm not uploadable at present but I'll get some put on for you at some point over the weekend... he was competing before digital... (I'm old)

Blitz
 
I think any horse with the right training and attitude can 'do' dressage.

I know of several natives (mostly Welsh D's) and traditionals that compete up to medium level at affiliated competitions. Many of these beat the pants off the warmbloods :D

BD is defintely the way to go as the judges are less prejudiced against non-warmbloods that local RC level (well in my area anyway) :rolleyes:
 
ester said:
thanks :) would love to see him :)
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Ditto esters comments!! Always like to see a Welsh doing a spot of dressage :D I don't personally count a Welsh Cob as a Cob type, like ester says they are flasher than say an irish cob or gypsy cob etc...having said that, there is no reason a cob couldn't do well :)
 
Have a look at some Welsh Cobs. You will find them up to 15.2 and they ride big. I had a Welsh Sec D for 12 years and he was fab at dressage.

He couldnt do it when I bought him at 10 years old...but even at that age a bit of positive schooling and a good attitude and we did some lovely dressage.

Also with a Welsh D you will find there is so much they are good at...the truest allrounder if you ask me.

They are also good do-ers so no need for loads of rugs and tonnes of feed in the winter like the TBs and WBs.

I have a young traditional boy that I hope to bring on to do some dressage in the next few years....he might have to loose his feathers by then though as they are driving me mad already!
 
no seriously it would....... I bet a WB wouldn't feel it necessary to spook, find (if you look really hard) something terrifying... stop half way through your 10m trot circle and have a poo ... necessitating a large pony club kick part way through your elem test.

not trying to put you off OP honest ;) :)
 
ester said:
no seriously it would....... I bet a WB wouldn't feel it necessary to spook, find (if you look really hard) something terrifying... stop half way through your 10m trot circle and have a poo ... necessitating a large pony club kick part way through your elem test.

not trying to put you off OP honest ;) :)
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Haha sounds just like Shadow!! They are so entertaining!

We hacked today, only a short one that we've done LOADS of times. On the way back all is well until from the side of the road jumps 5 KILLER BREZZE BLOCKS stacked up!! I swear he is getting worse the older he gets :rolleyes:
 
F is def worse at 17 than he was at 12 so you have a long way to go...

though tbf he did almost deal with the swimmers in the river tonight..... he thinks triathletes are very odd :)
 
ester said:
no seriously it would....... I bet a WB wouldn't feel it necessary to spook, find (if you look really hard) something terrifying... stop half way through your 10m trot circle and have a poo ... necessitating a large pony club kick part way through your elem test.

not trying to put you off OP honest ;) :)
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LOL... totally ignore the tractor/lorry/plastic bag truck about 6 inches away then spook at a small leaf in the hedge full of small leaves...

Ahhhh Welshies... I'm not sure why I love em but I do... But my Mum says I can't have another one (I'm in my 30s and I'm still scared of my Mum)

Blitz
 
blitz if I want a quiet life we go down the A38 with all the pubs and the car wash etc etc, give me a double decker and air brakes over a funny coloured flower any day..... and omg, someone just dared to be having a convo in their garden next to our field the other day ;) ...
will follow the recycling men round......
but spook at all the boxes :D
 
My Irish cob is on loan to my friend who is doing amazingly well at dressage - ok. ok its not Olympia but she's winning everything at prelim and doing brilliantly at novice and her instructor is desperate for her to move up to elementary this summer.

She's had three separate judges come up to her at different shows asking about her breeding (my mare, not my friend :D) and raving about her ability.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying she's going to international level and may not progress beyond elementary but they are both having a lot of fun and getting just rewards for the work their putting in.

Here's a wee link to the latest novice (I think or it might have been prelim) Scottish Farmer finals in March.

http://www.youtube.com/user/minxiemare#p/a/u/0/fOTWXUSshgc

And a photo of my 12 year old god daughter on her way to winning her first dressage on Storm :D

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Too right they can!! I have two friends that both sucessfully compete cobs. Wasn't there a lady in a magazine that rode a lovely coloured cod called Wesley? I think he got injured but before that he was doing really well at dressage!!
 
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