Can it be done?

cobsarefab

cobsarefab

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Hi all,
So I've been asked a lot lately "what are you going to do with your girl?" We are a few weeks away from riding and I know what I'd really like to do with her, I'd like to do endurance. Her stamina is improving all the time and when i used to ride I loved to spend the longest time in the saddle I possibly could. Am I mad to have that as an end goal? I seem to have a lot of stuff used by endurance riders already because I find it safer/more comfortable. I've heard it's mostly arabs, does anyone know anyone who's done endurance with a cob?
 
Of course - particularly at lower levels, you will see all manner of horses out doing endurance. You might also enjoy TREC and it would be a very good starting to point for you as there's a lot of training the horse to be sensible and tackle day to day situations like gates, low hanging branches and things.
 
Cobs PM me tomorrow and I will send you a link to some online in hand and ridden TREC stuff. Would be really good fun for you both to do. And of course she can do endurance! A good cob will go forever, they just need a little bit more work to get them truly fit.
 
Any horse can do endurance I have seen Cobs, Dales, Thoroughbreds and Halflingers if you visit the Endurance GB website you will see which group covers your area, drop them an e-mail I am sure they will give you some more information. A lot of groups hold training rides, events over the winter months so will give you an idea of endurance.
 
Yes absolutely. Also depending whereabouts you are in the country have a look at Sport Endurance they have some wonderful rides.
Again all types of horses out there !
 
yep i do endurance the odd time and there are a load of cobs on it. It's lovely to see super fit forward cobs and they look like they love it. I started doing a bit on a cob cross pony, and it was easy enough to build up the fitness, all rides here offer varying loop lengths, so i just built it up over a few months
 
I was talking to my farrier about this as I was really interested in it as a goal for me and my mare, he said cobs weren't suitable for endurance so i'm so glad you have asked the question CAF!

Can't wait to see how you progress, I have been quietly following your journey as I too am a first time horse owner (I am 25) of a cob who wasn't really sold as described albeit she was rideable. We have had a few hairy moments and at times I felt like I didn't have a clue. I am on a small DIY livery yard, there are just 3 of us, both the other women are older and have been a great help. Me and Spirit have been together just over a year now and feel like we have both come on leaps and bounds and can't wait to see how our progress continues.
 
yes cobs can do endurance I know of a cob who successfully finished 100 miles at Cirencester a few years ago.
 
Thanks for all the words of encouragement. It's making me feel like we really can do this. We've been jogging up and down the hill in the yards drive and she's got quite sweaty. She's being clipped later this week so hopefully less sweat after that :D
 
I took my fit hunting cob to an early season low-level ride some years ago. Admittedly she was hunting fit and it was over country she knew well - she trounced everything else!!

It will take time to really build up fitness obviously but don't see why not - there's plenty doing it. Also take time to school her well, a well balanced horse will be able to move 'well within themselves' and deal with the workload.
 
I don't do endurance, but my highland is generally endurance fit - he was doing 2-4 hours hacking a day at CR speeds all summer (to be fit for other sports). He is also sweating after fairly light work at the moment as he's not clipped. It's just that sort of weather!

Getting a horse fit - really fit - takes a lot of time and commitment, but when it's fit, it's fit - whether it's a cob, a TB or anything in between. I reckon it takes a bit more time, effort and dedication to get something cold blooded horse fit - you can't rely on adrenaline to keep them running, for one thing - but it's perfectly doable.
 
Of course cobs can :-D

It's a question of setting achievable aims. If you want to ride at mad speeds over flat courses, then a cob possibly isn't the right breed for you. However if you want to explore the countryside, ride up big hills in all weathers, and embrace the concept of 'to finish is to win' then your cob will stand you in good stead. It is no accident that the further north you travel, the more cob and native types you see on the circuit.

The beautiful thing about endurance is that you can take what you want from it and set your own goals.

Give it a go, you won't regret it. Feel free to pm me if you want a chat.
 
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