Cobs v TB's

I have a cob who thinks she is a TB, does that count? LOL

I think it depends on the horse tbh- I've know of slow, mad and perfect cobs and TBs but the quitest, most wonderful horses I have ever had the pleasure of sitting on have been TBs.

TBH though I really dont have a "type" of horse I like. Some TBs I love, some I dont, same for all breeds really. I'm not fussy LOL.
 
They can be suitable for a novice as well though Dubs.
Do you remember this 15hh 5yo bay gelding I had?
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He went to a 14 yo girl coming off poinies. He wasnt the quietest either (her mother, 'is he being strong'. Her, 'no but hes quite goey' whizzing around the field wanging over barrells!), but utterly trustworthy.
I have several which I would quite happily put someone who had never ridden before on, and take them out for a hack.
 
I love both......my last horse was TB and was fantastic as a hacker 150% traffic proof and looked like a "Lloyds" black horse,but sadly a real headache with her legs.........and my current horse is my middle weight cob and his
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as well as a hacker.......just alot more robust,so I give 10 out of 10 for both!
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I have a lovely cob who i trusted 100%
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I would trust him with the most nervous person to handle or ride. UNTIL a few months ago when he started to spook at everything. Barge people and tank off up the road with or without me. He has gone back to his usual laid back self again now. So have to say that cobs are not always happy hackers. But i wouldn't part with him for the world
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Depends totally on what sort of happy hacking you want to do surely...
I'm a happy hacker. Pretty much all I do is walk though and have the occasional canter or pop over a log. For me my well mannered cob is just perfect for the job.
Some happy hackers want to canter, gallop and jump more than walk. For them a cob may not be up to the speed and stamina.
I think alot of people assume happy hackers just want to plod but this isn't always the case. To me a happy hacker is someone who wants to own a horse but not compete. That doesn't necessarily mean they need a plod which I suppose is what cob's are often classed as. My cob, however, is a sharp as a pin. Well mannered but certainly not anyone's ride..
IMO a TB is just as capable of being a happy hacker as a cob. They just generally do different jobs..
 
I know what you mean. I have always gone for the proper Irish cobs, believing them to be suitable for me as I am not the most confident of riders these days but tbh the ones I have owned have been bolshy, stubborn and strong-willed - as you say. I'm sure my friend's ex-racehorse would actually suit me more as he is very obedient, quiet and goes on the bit! LOL. Nothing seems to worry him at all. I could well be converted next time I buy.
 
I would suggest that it is the temprament of the horse you are looking for in a Happy Hacker. You want something that will hack out by itself in the heaviest of traffic and pass anything en route.

There are a number of horses and ponies that will have this sort of temprament and to exclude any pony, cob or horse by virtue of it's breeding would be a mistake.

You just want something that will be totally relaxed in this sort of environment.

I am a great believer in people buying a horse that will fit in to the environment you intend keeping it in. No point buying a horse that is not traffic proof if your yard is on a busy road.

Too many people buy a horse because of it's appearance or breeding rather than it's temprament..............
 
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the quietest horse i have ever had was TB chestnut mare

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Snap! Same here.
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And here!!!
 
It definitely does depend on the horse, as iv had some really quiet cobs and mad TB's, but generally id rather a TB. my Cinzari is a TB x Quarter horse and hes quiet but has enough OOOOMPH in him to outrun the younger horses any day! (hes 16).

i prefer the conformation and look of a TB to a cob as i dont really like the stocky, ploddy look to be quite honest, yet my friend will totally disagree with me as she much prefers cobs.

Personal preference i think it really comes down to?
 
As others have said, depends on the individual. My old loan cob was fantastic to hack out, took it all in his stride and was never silly (well unless he saw cows then a different matter).

However, my TB is a nightmare to hack out, is not trustworthy whatsoever, he will spin, rear and head for home if anything bigger than a car goes past. He is generally very spooky whilst out hacking even if out with 100% happy hackers.
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I knew this when I took him on and was prepared to minimise road work and head for as many bridlepaths as possible but its something that I will work on.
 
Oh absolutely!
I was just clarifying the point, as posters seemed to be mentioning novice rides, and that wasn't my question, though I'm now tempted to make a post asking opinions on the suitability of TB's for novice riders.
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I've said elsewhere on this thread, that one of the best horses I have ever owned, was a TB chestnut mare - possibly the worst stereotype you could think of.
I sold her on to a total novice, and she taught him loads, then when he wanted something with a bit more fire, he passed her on to a novice teenage girl, (and bought a cob type
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).
I think that is why I am so keen to sing the TB's praises - particularly the ex-racers like her.
 
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the quietest horse i have ever had was TB chestnut mare

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Snap! Same here.
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And here!!!

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Three of us now. Hmmm, I feel a new clique coming on...
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Okay a vote for the chunky monkey's.I have to say that i have never ridden a full tb (that i know of).I have always had the ID or crosses.Although my lad can be a prat at times i feel he is totally safe out hacking.But my friends horse who is i think 3/4 tb can be a complete nightmare and winds my horse up.So again a vote for the biggie's!.
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Your post has just got me thinking (never a good thing!
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I have known TB crosses to be far less straightforward than straight TB's, and just my opinion, but I wouldn't thank you for a TB x warmblood
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Just to add - the horse in that pic is gorgeous!
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Oh, and I had two (approx) 16.2hh geldings by Strong Gale, who were ridden by both novices and my 13 and 14 year old daughters.
Wonderful temperaments, but shite feet...
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I'm very much a TB girl and very much a non-cob girl LOL!! Therefore I would choose a TB over a cob any day of the week and I have met plenty of TB's who are perfect for novice riders and are general all-round good guys
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. Some are nutty but then some cobs are bargy.

A happy hacker is a happy hacker - if they can both do the job then all you need to figure out is whether you like a slight horse or a chunky one.

Personally I'd chose a North American raised QH over and above either of those breeds.
 
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the quietest horse i have ever had was TB chestnut mare

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Snap! Same here.
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And here!!!

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Three of us now. Hmmm, I feel a new clique coming on...
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Well, nearly in the clique, but Boss was perfect happy hacker, chestnut TB, just had extra bits!

Cobs I have found have an insane manner and lull you into false security... can bomb off, nap, buck like a beetch and generally be of their own mind! Cute, keep you on your toes
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TB, can ping but definitley happy hackers if you choose correctly
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Never owned a Thoroughbred, but have ridden one. OMG she was so comfortable with a lovely stride. Such a change from a short choppy cob.

I think any horse, as long as it has the right temperament and exposure to traffic, can be a happy hacker.

Anyone who believes that cobs are simply an introduction to riding for beginner riders and those riders who are more nervy are very much mistaken. My cob happens to be quite safe, but she is not without quirks and is known to jump from one side of the rode to another when she sees a tres scary leaf blowing along the road! Ground handling is not for someone nervous either. Don't get me wrong, she's not a monster, but she's not the dope on a rope that people seem to assume she is just from her breed type.
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TB's can make excellent hacks, and so can cobs. it all comes down to that individual horse's temprement and how well it has been trained at the end of the day. my cob can be as sharp as a TB anyday, but i have known cobs that are total plods.
 
interesting you said that patches - I rode my friends section D and I couldn't ride her - she just felt too short in stride etc!!
 
Hmmm, there are some sporty type horse owners who can look down their nose a bit at cobs because they consider them to be beginners horses rather than the real mcoy, so to speak.
Personally, I believe that if you can ride a cob, you can pretty much ride anything, LOL!
 
Yes you're right Dubs. I've had the comment in the past "When you get a bit more confident will you be upgrading the carthorse for a REAL horse?"

Grrrrrr!!!!!!

Patches may be a safe ride, but she is by no way an easy ride at all. I looked a far more tidy rider on my friend's TB. She was just so easy to get going and get your legs wrapped around. To make Patches work nicely (which I am not that good at I should point out) requires alot of cunning and puff!
 
My TB is the quietest horse to hack out. I hunt him and he has very good brakes even though he was still in racing until ten months ago! And he will go first or last out hunting and stands when they have to - I would say a novice could ride him. In my experience the cobs are less suitable for novice to ride but then we are all being stereotypical arent we! Each and every horse has its own mind and personality. The thing I love about exracehorses is they are very well mannered and will look after you.
 
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Ditto - sorry to cob-lovers everywhere - but I cannot for the life of me see the appeal of them but I don't like clompy horses, like 'em finer and more elegant, shall we say!

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All clompy - Like this???


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Cobs are not ALL clompy!
 
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Ditto - sorry to cob-lovers everywhere - but I cannot for the life of me see the appeal of them but I don't like clompy horses, like 'em finer and more elegant, shall we say!

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All clompy - Like this???


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Cobs are not ALL clompy!

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Now that's a stunning cob! x
 
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