Cobs - when do they grow up physically and mentally?

[Cocorules]

In a few other posts recently I have noticed people saying their cobs did not stop growing until really quite late. At what age did your cob stop growing? Also does anyone think cobs take longer to mature mentally or is it just the way they come across?

I have a cob x tb - definitely more cob than tb in every way. If I hadn't seen her with her tb mum I would never believe she had any tb in her.

She is very sweet and is really popular with other horses, she responds really well to praise but needs clear boundaries. If you ask for something new and doesn't get it - she either just stands there or if she really switches off just does what she would rather do. However once she has got it she gets it properly and does it properly forever more. She loves new experiences but has no patience for anything she thinks is boring. Cobs seem to react and learn differently to non-cobs. I would be interested in what other people think.

 

[brown tack]

I used to have a sec d and my RI used to say that they are fully mature at 6-7. Don't know if this true or not, but I suppose I'd think of a 6year old having it's first proper showing season and but 7 it should know it's job.

 

[blitznbobs]

Depending on their breeding they mature physically at different ages. My 8 year old cob is just becoming mature physically.

Mentally I'm not sure they ever grow up! They are definitely more pony like than horses and I've never had a cob that doesn't play the fool. All the 'horses' I've had are a lot easier and more straight forward to school... but most of the cobs seem to think ... RIGHT I've learnt how to do that now lets think of a way NOT to do it...

BnBx

 

[BonneMaman]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=472796

Take a look at the above link - I posted the same question elsewhere and it seems like they don't stop growing until 6/7 generally - no idea about the brains!

 

[Ella19]

my 7 year old connie x ?id/?highland/?heinz57 is cob like and is just starting to mature now. She had a growing spurt last winter and is just bulking up again now. Mentally we've just clicked on schooling, rhythm and behaving (well most of the time!). She also just started being able to hold herself in a outline.

 

[Old Bat]

Depends on the breeding, on average, physically about 6-8 years, mentally, about 23.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

My l/w cob had to go on loan rising six. When I had him back exactly one year later, he'd grown an inch of bone - his brushing boots no longer do up!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf
^ Please read, it's very informative.

Ranger is not mature, as I said, as a 2 1/2 year old. This is not because Ranger is a 'slow maturing' individual, or because he comes from a 'slow maturing' breed. There is no such thing. Let me repeat that: no horse on Earth, of any breed, at any time, is or has ever been mature before the age of six (plus or minus six months). So, for example, the quarter horse is not an 'early maturing breed' - and neither is the arabiana 'slow maturing' breed.

The article is talking about skeletal maturity. Of course, a horse can continue to 'fill out' or muscle up after this age, but his bones wont grow any more.

 

[Mince Pie]

My boy is part heavy - I think Shire - I bought him at 5 when he was 13.2hh and he didn't stop growing until he was about 8 when he grew 2 inches and filled out enough so his rugs didn't drown him!

He has the shire temperament so has always been a laid back boy although a bit spooky.

 

[rockysmum]

My boy was about 8 when he matured physically, god he was beautiful then.

As for mentally, in his case never. He's 35 now and still thinks he's a two year old. Still has his strops, nothing has ever really changed. He is a bit more cuddly now, that happened at about 28 I think.

 

[Fosterdown]

my boy has taken till he is 10 to really grow up, he was soooo spooky when I got him and he is still scared of things he has seen a million times, but he is ready to work in the school and use his body now in a way that he was just not able to before, my IDX is 8 and I would say he is mature and coming into his own now.

 

[FairyLights]

my cob yearling has an old head on young shoulders. he's like a well schooled and well behaved 2 year old to "do". I believe horses mature physically around 4 years old and their spines mature at 8 years old. [read that somewhere,cant think where.]

 

[**Vanner**]

My boy was about 8 when he matured physically, god he was beautiful then.

Is he the one in your sig?

My boy is 5 and still changing shape all the time. He was about 14.3 at a push when I bought him at 3 and a half and he's easily 15.1 now!

As for mentally I can't imagine any time soon!

 

[Kallibear]

They will grow until they're 5 or 6 at least. They finish maturing (muscle) at about 8. Their backs are the very last thing that finish so, whilst their LEGS might be up to a fair amount of work at 4 or 5 yrs old, they're not ready to be sat on for long periods of time until they're at least 6. Which is why you see so many poorly muscled and developed backs

My 4.5yr old cob is definitly still growing. He's still going to go up a little bit (yey!) and will def fill out across his chest. His back has lengethened 2 full inches since last year!!!!!! This time last year a 16" saddle was too long for him. He can now take a 17" saddle with a little room to spare. Phew!

 

[Mrs B]

Really not being funny here, but it's a bit like blokes: longer than you'd expect.

 

[Fiagai]

I have a cob (tbx)- he is 11 going on one and a half.....

Brillant at what he likes doing - attempts his hardest to get out of everything else and could think you out of a box!

 

[Tinseltoes]

My cobby stopped growing at 7,hes now 9 and filled out lovely. Matured personality wise too.lol lol