Cobs?

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Umbongo

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I have always fancied myself as a more of a TB kind of girl, I've ridden a lot of ex-racers, arab types etc. I usually despise the cobby type horses and if offered to ride one I would usually go for the mental TB type on the yard instead.

However today I rode my friends little cob (Bob the Cob) and he was actually quite nice and forward going....it was nice to ride something a bit sane and wouldn't try to gallop off at the first sight of a tractor.

After some thought I have decided maybe a cobby type would be better for when I go to buy a horse....I have so much experience riding nutters, but tbh I am getting a bit fed up of risking my life for someone else's problem horses all the time...a few times recently I have come close to never being able to ride again.

However I love to go fast (but controlled), love jumping and lots of hacking, fun rides, beach rides etc....and I would love the opportunity to be able to go out on a safe days hunting, local unaffiliated ODE etc.
I am 5 ft 7 with long legs...I usually ride the 15.2ish horses as I am light...but do look rather stupid with my long legs....so maybe a cob would be a better option...more belly to wrap around!

Do any lovely forward going cobs exist? The only few I know are the ones you have to dangle a carrot in front of them to get them to move!
or cob crosses a better option?
 
What about a section D? Im 5'9 and had one years ago. had loads of fun on her. jumped, hunted and, yes, went fast! I didnt look too big for her either!
 
I ride a 15.3hh welsh cob x tb. I'm around 5ft8 (leggy) she has a cobby build so takes up my legs nicely but is forward going like tb's. She is totally sane and sensible and has only had one silly moment (last week) but even then felt pretty safe on her. After my last share horse, who was a tb (he could get extremely silly out on hacks when we met other horses), i vowed never to ride anything with any tb in it!! But flo is the most amazing little horse! I would deffo recomment welsh cob x tb!!
 
yes I had an accident a few weeks ago with a nappy TB mare rearing up and falling over on me on the road in front of a few cars! Luckily I got away with just a buggered up knee....but I have also vowed never to ride a TB again....riding her just isn't worth it....and hacking is meant to be fun!
 
Mine is nearly 15hh, and forward going but not heavy and doesn't pull, you don't need leg to make him go, he fidgets waiting for cars to go by, when out hacking he just wants to get on with it. Steering is done by body weight and legs, you can ride along the same track two days running and gallop it on the first, and walk it on the second without a battle.
 
'Course they do.
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Think of the hunting type cobs. They're no slowpokes.
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I have a forward going cob!!!
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He's not your average 'plod' by any stretch of the imagination! Yet I would say he is safe. He's a real tryer and people pleaser and is really easy to gee up in the school... he's really off your leg and responsive but doesn't do anything silly (90% of the time, although he's only 4 so does have the occasional 'moment')

I haven't done much jumping with him yet but he's loved what he has done and has never said no to anything I've asked (jumping and otherwise). He's such a pleasure... loads himself, stands to be bathed/groomed/fussed, gets on with everyone, has bags of character, hacks, schools, jumps, shows, moves nicely.... he's whatever you want him to be.
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Lol, I feel like I'm doing a sales job!
 
My mum had a fantastic MW 15.2 irish cob, who was forward going, but never strong, hunted (and kept up with the best of them and never refused any jump he was pointed at), SJ, XC and did dressage, safe to hack alone, but well behaved in company a real pleasure to ride and owner, good doer to feed, feet of iron and manners to burn.

When he went up for sale (due to an injury to my mum through work not riding him) we were inundated with calls, and he went for a very good price to a fantastic home.
 
Get the right cob and they're perfect. Always be prepared for a bit too much *coughs* 'personality' though!
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I'd not had a cob before and, whilst he has some issues, (bad start to life - before me! - and a headshaker) I wouldn't change him for the world!

Good brakes, instant off the leg, does everything he's asked, just learning piaffe, hacks alone or anywhere in a line (though likes to be on everyone's right if he can).

He's 15.1hh and I'm 5'8" and don't look underhorsed. He's also ridden by my 6'2" friend - who also looks fine.

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Though I have to add.... I have a 16.3hh IDxTB who is foot and personality perfect with no issues at all. Hunts, shows, X-country, dressage, fun rides - you name it, she's done it. Perfect!!
 
I have a very forward going cob just make sure you look around for one. There are a lot of misconceptions about cobs, mine goes xc, gallops and very sensative and forward going-we even beat some ponies in the 2ft9 jump off so cant be that slow
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go for it, for all the reasons you mentioned
 
QR

I've always been of the opinion that cobs are sluggish, slow etc but recently met a beautiful little cob mare who's just ace tbh

If I was in a position to either have another or was looking for one I'd definately consider one now. I've always had TB's and arabs but she's definately changed my view. I haven't personally ridden her yet but have seen her ridden and she just looks so much, if I was you I'd definately consider one.
 
There are also lots of inbetweens to consider. Like already said IDxTB or a sane warmblood (like mine) I have had Welsh Cobs but to be honest prefer something a little less cobby to look at. Coloured and show cobs do nothing for me at all.
I also wanted something sane and sensible but found there was plenty of choice without having a cob
 
souful - you say that about cobs, but my girl has been likened to a minature warmblood! She's so fine in the leg and is just well put together. Rides like a horse aswell.....I think they're all different.

I always had TB's/WB etc and was very 'anti' cob. Then I found this little lady!
 
I prefer to go for the horse, not the breed! My HW 16hh cob is a lot more forward going and easy to ride than my LW 15.2hh WB! Find something you like to ride and ignore the breed!
 
I have a 14.2hh Coloured cob (not one in siggy) and he was broken in may, since then he's hunted done Le Trec, Jumps anything..... goes for mad gallops on the stubble, pretty much totally bombproof.... and is so nice to handle and cuddle too!!
I too used to go for the Mental horses..... never again though!
 
I ride a stunning chestnut cob for some friends of mine, he is really really special. He's forward going (especially out hunting!!), his schooling is coming along nicely as he's only 7, has a cracking jump and is very very honest. Possibly one of the nicest horses I've had the privelage to ride. He has a lot of presence even when stood in the field, out on the hunting field he is stunning and we have high hopes for showing him next year.

If you can find a good cob they are absolutely cracking horses
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I used to ride a brilliant Welsh Section D stallion, he was very forward going, did everything and was completely sane.
I'm 5'9'' and was perhaps a little too big for him, (Think he was about 15.1hh) but he took up my leg and we had loads of fun.
It depends on the type of D you get though, there are still plenty of ploddy ones about. My old boss (who owned the stallion I used to ride) breeds good riding types - www.cwm-meudwy.com - if you want to see the bloodlines.
Sure he'll appreciate the plug! lol
I've got a nutty warmblood youngster now and miss the days of having a sane cob!
 
i have felt for a long time that more people would be having more fun with a cob type but end up getting a bit sold on the i have to have a warm blood or tb etc to be able to do what i want.........i cant do dressage or jump on a cob

they are fun to ride, mostly cheap to keep ok there are some exceptions
 
I dont know about proper cobs, but Welsh D's are fantastic. Most of them are forward going. I sold my Welsh D earlier this year but I had the most fun on him than any other horse Ive ever had. They have SO much character and are a real joy to ride (they have attitude, but as long as you keep tabs on it it can be very enjoyable!). Mine was 15.2hh and won at pretty much everything (showing, WHP, dressage, SJ etc.). They are extremely versatile. BTW, my other horse is a Luso x TB so Im also more like you in that I like my slightly more buzzy types
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my girl would be perfect for you. She is dales x tb but try telling her she has native blood! she is often described as a tb in a cobs coat. She looks like she wouldnt go anywhere fast but boy can she shift!
 
You ought to meet my sons cob - talk about deceptive appearances!
He's a Fresian x cob & has the "look at me" of a fresian & the build of a very chunky cob. He's also extremely hairy (mane is 1m long and very thick). Whenever he goes out jumping there is always someone making a comment like "surely that that isn't competing in this class" - & that's usually in his warm up class! He has won SJ at 3' & Hunter Trials at 90cm and been on PC teams. He has even XC schooled over some of the Novice jumps at Keysoe.
 
Are there careful, sensible and unflappable TBs who need legging on to get a decent pace? I am sure there are...


So why shouldn't there be cobs which "break the stereotype"?

I think some of the sonbbery and ideas that cobs are all ploddy and unresponsive stems from the views of the upper classes held up until quite recently. Anything cobby is a slow, hard working, pauper's horse which I can't be seen on... anything what has thoroughbred blood is a true horse and only they are worthy of my riding them!

Well... as a pauper ...I prefer something with enough shoulder that I feel like I am riding a horse, not just a backbone, whether that be a chunky TB or a cob the width of Wales! If they can do what I ask of them then I see it as a bonus!
 
It is not "belly" - most cobs are very well "sprung".
It is "the rib cage" not the belly which takes up the leg length -and Robert Oliver is (I would think), six feet tall.
Also, a Cob (unless you are talking Welsh Section D) is a Type and not a Breed - so lots of variations of the Hogged or Hairy type.
However, I have had a couple who could really rattle and jump 4'6" without blinking. Point and shoot jobs out hunting.
Some cobs are really stuffy and tied in at the shoulder but if you find one who can, then they really can gallop.
Also, they will jump most upright fences but not being able to spread their back legs as much as a TB (due to their conformation), they will struggle with a big hedge with a ditch in front.
I just love a decent Hogged Cob but cannot bear to look at a "Hairy Mary" let alone sit on one.
Each to their own (before you HM's start slating me).
Please PM me with your Mobile # if you would like a couple of pics of a "proper" Cob.
 
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