Cob trainers only - part one

I have discovered the jointed bit problem. I have put him in a hanging cheek Mullen that has a pronounced curve and he seems to really like it :)

I tried a French and a lozenge bit but he fought them both.

One thing he ain't is dim. !!!!
 
I have to admit that I would never train with treats before for fear of producing a pocket mugger. But it really works with a cob, doesn't it :D ????

I established from the floor that there is no lack of flexibility in his neck or shoulders. He ate cubes from his girth. Then I got on and taught him leg yield for the first time and he was very good for a first effort. Then I halted him, put my hand on his elbow with cubes in, gave a rein aid on that side and said 'give' and he snaked his head round and ate them. I did that on the other side once as well. Then I walked off, and when he set, I turned him a little and said 'give' and he did!!!!! Well that was easy :) :) :) I finished with the food again, and called it quits since he'd been such a good boy.

Thanks for the tips everyone :)

It would have taken you three weeks to teach a dumb blood !

Interesting comments about bits. Mine came with tack which included a bridle with a jointed snaffle with a peanut. She was utterly vile in it, holding onto the left hand side of it and doing an excellent impression of a banana. Wolf teeth removed and a tidy up I put her in a happy mouth straight bar loose ring. She was more even in my hand but very gobby. I am not a fan of strapping mouths down but did try a flash strap with mixed results. Moved on to a fulmer which helped the steering but she remained gobby.

At the moment she is in a metal mullen mouth pelham with an elastic curb, ridden on the top rein with the curb rarely making contact. She is reasonable in it and quieter in her mouth, but it seems a bit extreme for a horse that does not pull and is certainly not strong. I want to make a start doing a little low key dressage with her this summer but am at a loss as to which bit is going to suit her.
 
Adorable Alice try a rubber straight bar they're only ten pounds to buy, dressage legal and flex around the mouth if pulled ie there's nothing to set against. Happy mouth straight bar bits aren't the same, mine turned into a headshaker the minute I picked up a light contact in one. Or try the snaffle version of your pelham.
 
Many of the myler bits would also be suitable as they 'lock ' into place and don't collapse on themselves. My old cob used to appreciate a change of bit every couple of months too. Just a thought :-)
 
Many of the myler bits would also be suitable as they 'lock ' into place and don't collapse on themselves. My old cob used to appreciate a change of bit every couple of months too. Just a thought :-)


Both my cob mare, appy and tb go well in this

http://www.shiresequestrian.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=809&cat=572&page=1



Tho I have had to upgrade to the gag version for the appy as he has regressed from 19 to 2 this month!!! Lol you can also get a plain metal version for dressage.
 
You have to have really good hands but all my fleshy mouthed ponies are most comfortable in a waterford. Trouble is it isnt dressage legal I think they like it because is softly curves round their fat tongues
 
*** Just wanted to add... Whatever you do, do not underestimate the intelligence of the cob. They do a great job at looking a bit dim but actually they know exactly what they should be doing."

:D love it and spot on. :D
 
You mention he’s bum high and ask if you should back off the ridden work. I’m kind of hoping that’s a joke question coming from you – he's growing, he’s even more unbalanced, he’s weak. Why would anyone continue to ride a croup high baby horse that is so obviously growing.
 
I have found a way to get the cob girl bending her neck, removing the collection of vegetation and rubbish from her super abundant mane :D She has been turning to see what I am doing;. I have explained that she cannot pull off the Keith Richards look, as there is rather too much of her :D
 
I have found a way to get the cob girl bending her neck, removing the collection of vegetation and rubbish from her super abundant mane :D She has been turning to see what I am doing;. I have explained that she cannot pull off the Keith Richards look, as there is rather too much of her :D

Are you sure she wasn't hoping to eat the vegetation after you removed it?

My old cob is the only horse I've ever known who would be galloping along and manage to grab a mouthful of the nearest plant as he passed :eek3:
 
Are you sure she wasn't hoping to eat the vegetation after you removed it?

My old cob is the only horse I've ever known who would be galloping along and manage to grab a mouthful of the nearest plant as he passed :eek3:
It could be that she was saving it for later, but I am not sure that she would leave a calorie
in case it escaped! :D
 
Thanks OP for brilliant topic. This has been really interesting reading, some very funny comments that are spot on!

I have a young cob who is a bit plank-like too. I'm thinking of trying a fulmer snaffle (loose ring) as I thought the added movement of the loose ring might help if he set himself against the bit which has happened a couple of times. He doesn't seem to mind at all about the joint. He's been in a french link with cheeks but can feel a bit "solid" which is why I'm considering the fulmer. I don't want to over-bit him and had been wondering what other options I might try.

Compared to my other youngster (an Arab, so chalk and cheese ha ha!) he feels wooden and heavy but he is also very bright and willing and I'm hoping to have a lot of fun with him in the future.

So, this is a long-winded BIG thank you to OP and all who've replied. W&W
 
You mention he’s bum high and ask if you should back off the ridden work. I’m kind of hoping that’s a joke question coming from you – he's growing, he’s even more unbalanced, he’s weak. Why would anyone continue to ride a croup high baby horse that is so obviously growing.

So that he does not get fat and get laminitis.

Because he seems to be thoroughly enjoying himself doing some work for me.

So that he gets the right habits before he gets wise or strong enough to really throw his weight around.

Because he is strong and well grown and up to a lot more than I weigh, just bum high temporarily in a spring spurt.

Because I'm doing very big circles in mostly walk and trot, not training for a dressage competition. It's not hard work for him in any way that I can tell.

Because lots of cobs stay bum high all their lives and I could wait for him to level up and still not be riding in twenty years time :)

Because everyone I know rides through the bum high stage on their young non cobs and none of them seem to have any later issues because of it. I've done several before, myself.
 
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Progress is spectacular :)

He will walk trot and canter large circles and leg yields. All that in a dozen sessions, none of them longer than twenty five minutes. What a star!
 
Thanks for this thread CP, it's good reading. People often underestimate cobs. My big man Joe gave me the lightest and most engaged rides I've experienced to date. (When he was in the right mood of course, which tended to be when he was a bit furious that I had the cheek to ask him to work!). I have no photos of this, there's never a camera about when you need it... but here he is.
Ridingbarebackpad.jpg

P9210034.jpg
 
He was quite a character. Bit of a legend for deciding to leave if put under too much pressure. Under saddle, on-line, push him too far and he was gone. He would just tip that head away, followed by that massive neck and shoulder, and hurtle off. I had to give up riding him on roads. He's escaped from the best (that's Steve Halfpenny in the photo!). It meant that asking for engagement was an exercise in fine balancing, but when he gave it he was spectacular with his mane and feathers flying. I just loved him.
 
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