Cob Shopping... Ireland?

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winchester

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I am looking for my next coloured show horse and would quite a fancy a show cob!

Has anyone been to Ireland successfully when looking for a cob and found anything nice?

Did you attend sales or just visit various yards?

Has anybody got any good contacts over there? know of any sales coming up?
 
i would avoid it, not trying to start an argument. But when my horse came over from ireland, she had already had a foal and driven for several years (she was 6) she was terrible to handle in all respects. she is now 14 and is suffering the consequences of her hard life, arthritis and ringbone all of which was caused by hard work and trauma to the joints when she was younger.
Dont get me wrong, there are some good dealers in ireland but they work their horses differently over there.
so for me its a no no but im sure others have had a better experience, just be careful where you get your horsey! :)
 
Wow not a great way to avoid an argument wattamus!!

Winchester what are you looking for? Age etc?
Please don't be put off coming over.
Once you know where to go you are sure to find an unpolished diamond!
 
as i said im sure that there are plenty of good horses and dealers in Ireland but i do know a few horses that have come over from Ireland and have been knocked about a bit. But as i said im sure there are plenty of nice unspoilt horses x
 
:eek: Dear god Wattamus, what a massive sweeping generalisation to make. :eek:

OP- Try donedeal.ie. It is one of the best used websites here, with hundreds of horses going on it every week. As with any website with cheap advertising there can be a lot of crap but you will find some nice cobs too.

What are you looking for? Size, age, type, colour etc?
 
I said "I" wouldnt, and i gave my experience for my explanation. As i have said several times not all dealers are like this and you can get very good horses, it's like it is anywhere in the world but because of my past experience i would never do it.
 
A friend is an equine agent in Ireland. I don't know how much she charges, but I can put you in touch if you like. I think if you go over there, you may not find the right horse on your own or people may see you coming and take the piss.

There are fabulous coloureds over here in the UK. My mate just bought a 6 year old ISH coloured, 16.3, very green, but gorgeous from a dealer in Essex. Absolutely fab.

If you want any contacts, let me know. :)
 
I have a piebald cob from Ireland, the one in my signature. He is well manered and wasn't broken till 4, I bought him just backed.
Lots of dealers ship loads over as they are so cheap with the poor economy, so you may noy have to go to Ireland to get one.

Mine hasn't a bad bone in his body but he's cheeky as hell, and constantly pushes the boundaries, but he's 5 so goes with the territory :D
 
We've just bought this boy in Ireland to produce so they are out there. Doesn't tick the cob box but coloured, well marked and unspoilt.

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wattamus said:
I said "I" wouldnt, and i gave my experience for my explanation. As i have said several times not all dealers are like this and you can get very good horses, it's like it is anywhere in the world but because of my past experience i would never do it.
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Then you are missing out on some very good horses, I'm surprised you will ever be able to buy another one since there are bad apples where ever you go.

OP, good luck. You should be able to get one for a good price but don't go in expecting to get a very good horse for nothing.
 
would agree with looking on donedeal website. In the summer I bought a fabulous pony off there (to add to the one we bought in the connemara pony sales). I am thrilled with both ponies. They are 4 and 1 at least had done more as a 3 yr old than he probably would have done over here, but having seen a lot of life he is super-calm and an absolute delight to be around.
 
Thank you for all of your replies... i am a coloured fanatic and my aim is to get to Horse of the year show...

I bought my last too boys from a sale in Holland - little skinny scraggy things but got them both to hoys after alot of time and effort ! The sale is no longer so looking for other options...

This is Crispy when i bought him as a 3yo...
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This was him 2 years later...
crispy2.jpg


This is Chester when i first got him as a yearling...
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and this is him about 4 years later..
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As you can see i like a project..... and would quite like a cob... but dont know where to start looking - and i have never had a cob before!

OK i want to show so ideally would like 15h - 16h
must be coloured - honest - dont like too much white
ideally broken (even if it is just sat on and walked about)
Mare or Gelding..
Nice movement
Show cob - so hogged no hairys
ideally not too expensive (£3,000 tops if possible)

Am i asking for the impossible?

(i am having my ancient old broodmare put down on monday - so feeling really down about things - so trying to stay positive looking for a new project) Thank you so much for all your help xxxxxx
 
I don't understand why people have to be so rude to Wattamus. That is his or her experience which she is entitled to share surely? Had that happened to me then I would have felt the same way.

We bought a horse from Gerty Tynan at irishsportequine.com and were delighted. Did everything it said on the tin and a lot more. Worth a call to her if nothing else, don't go by the website as it is frequently out of date and she has lots more there not on the site anyway.
 
ISHmad said:
I don't understand why people have to be so rude to Wattamus. That is his or her experience which she is entitled to share surely? Had that happened to me then I would have felt the same way.
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I quite agree. I've had two horses from Ireland and whilst both are very dear to me and I would never part with them, they have both got health problems which have cost me a great deal of money even though both horses were bought as youngsters. These problems are "likely" to have been caused by too much work too early.

I wouldn't be put off buying another horse from Ireland as long as I knew the seller and a thorough history of the horse but I would have a good look in this country first.
 
Ive just bought a fabulous heavyweight show cob, will make 15.1 (possibly bigger but hoping not as would exceed the class) from HorseQuest.

£2,500 3 years, broken but not done much. Show potential, all-round lovely person and has a great character! Well marked (including a heart on his bum) with black tail, always a bonus.

Good luck with your search!
 
 
I dont know where you are based but if in the south there are several coloureds/cobs on NFED at the moment. Ref. 66340 could be worth looking at she fits all your criteria as far as you can tell in an ad.
 
When shopping for a Cob, you need to see them first in person, check them over and if possible ride them, don't by of the internet from a photo!. It does not matter if it is in the UK or Ireland, there are good and bad everywhere, but in saying this the best Cobs do come from Ireland, and the best areas to do your research are Killkenny, Tippeary, and Kerry. The breeders/trainers are excellent and good stock comes from these areas. Always check their bloodlines and paper work, and if you have any doubth leave it. It will be worth it in the long hall.
 
H&H did a fab article earlier in the year where one reporter went to Ireland and shadowed someone looking for show horses - it was really interesting. Sorry I can't remember which edition it was in.

I think you may struggle to find a top level (or potential) show cob at the sales as they are few and far between. Although I have always felt that Cavan is more 'showing' orientated than Goresbridge. I have see some nice hunter types at Cavan.

Many are found just sat out in the field and can be a real steal if you know what your looking for, and what I love about Ireland is that everything is for sale, at a price :)

I am a massive ISH fan, I have several on my yard and whilst he is not a cob, this boy came from Goresbridge and has been placed every time out as a 4 and 5 year old :)

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