Connie vs Gypsy cob?

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Kacey88

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Hello everyone.

I'm starting my horse search in a few weeks time having my lost my beloved mare in January. I'm so excited! There are so many coming up for sale here in Ireland and I am putting together short lists etc. Basically I want something easy going for hacking, maybe a spot of dressage. I am into showing though so he/she would have to fit into a certain class which is more difficult over here (less classes.)

So given that I am short and light, I am thinking of connies and small coloured gypsy cobs. Show cob type might be a bit much for me.

Pros/cons of each? Are connies more likely to last longer?
 
If you want to jump, a connemara or con x would be my choice, more athletic. gypsy cobs arent the greatest of jumpers, you dont see many of them in 1m+ classes but theres plenty of connies jump 1.20. I think you should look around though, see what catches your eye.
 
You see I'm not really that into jumping because I lost my confidence with it a long time ago. But then maybe with the right horse I would enjoy it again?

I like both types to look at to be honest and have been to a few sales to compare. I will probably view both because at the end of the day its down to the individual horse. But am weighing up cons and pros of each type.

I don't want to buy something too "ploddy" then I want to do more and should have gone with a connie if you know what I mean!
 
Try both and go for the horse you get on best with, without concentrating too much on the breed, would be my advice. Although, I do love a hairy cob as you know. I wouldn't discount the solid colours either, there's some beautiful, quality ones about and they are getting noticed in the ring nowadays with more class options :)
 
Don't pick a breed. There's plenty within your height range without needing to be either one. Go for temperament and suitability.

My gypsy coblet jumps just fine (qualified for eland lodge finals again), comes home with ribbons dressage and showing (not that I do much showing), hacks anywhere, goes anywhere(like today, tied up at pub for lunch!) is completely easy going but well schooled, drives too!

Doesn't mean every gypsy cob does the same though just like every Connie won't be doing the same as every other Connie. �� go for level of training, conformation and temperament ��
 
Clare85 said:
Try both and go for the horse you get on best with, without concentrating too much on the breed, would be my advice. Although, I do love a hairy cob as you know. I wouldn't discount the solid colours either, there's some beautiful, quality ones about and they are getting noticed in the ring nowadays with more class options :)
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That's very true. Believe me, I have my eye on a few black cobs, I know of at least one class I could do and hopefully you are right and they get more popular :)
 
Sparkles said:
Don't pick a breed. There's plenty within your height range without needing to be either one. Go for temperament and suitability.

My gypsy coblet jumps just fine (qualified for eland lodge finals again), comes home with ribbons dressage and showing (not that I do much showing), hacks anywhere, goes anywhere(like today, tied up at pub for lunch!) is completely easy going but well schooled, drives too!

Doesn't mean every gypsy cob does the same though just like every Connie won't be doing the same as every other Connie. �� go for level of training, conformation and temperament ��
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Well your partnership would make many of us fancy a cob, he is fab! I know what you mean though. And if I jumped what you do I would more than happy with that!
 
Sparkles said:
Don't pick a breed. There's plenty within your height range without needing to be either one. Go for temperament and suitability.

My gypsy coblet jumps just fine (qualified for eland lodge finals again), comes home with ribbons dressage and showing (not that I do much showing), hacks anywhere, goes anywhere(like today, tied up at pub for lunch!) is completely easy going but well schooled, drives too!

Doesn't mean every gypsy cob does the same though just like every Connie won't be doing the same as every other Connie. �� go for level of training, conformation and temperament ��
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Good advice. Go for temperament and not breed.

Don't think all Traddie cobs are easy, they're not! (have got one!!!), and the bigger, heavier cobs like this can soon learn to use their very bulk against you if they've the mind. Firm handling from the ground upwards is the only way to deal with them. Or Connie's either, as someone else has said they can be sharp.

I'm looking for a horse too ATM: have had one on trial, came yesterday, going back to the owner as soon as we can arrange transport :( It was a traddie cob, lovely when I rode it at the yard where I saw it, came off the lorry like it had lived here a hundred years. BUT, and just a word of advice here - having had the most unpleasant hack I've ever had in my life on a horse that was committed to tanking at hunting pace on the road this afternoon, I should really have asked some questions about just WHY it had both a martingale AND a gag on - hint, ask what's in its mouth and under its chest BEFORE you traipse off miles to see a horse and/or bring it home coz what's in its mouth might tell you a helluva lot more than the vendor does........
 
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MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
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Don't think all Traddie cobs are easy, they're not! (have got one!!!), and the bigger, heavier cobs like this can soon learn to use their very bulk against you if they've the mind. Firm handling from the ground upwards is the only way to deal with them.
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Don't necessarily agree with that 100%.....i think any using bulk against you stems from training or individual temperament, same as any horse. My lad, despite being heavy and entire, is the most submissive ned I've known and definitely doesn't need firm handling more than any other horse does - you only have to look sideways at him and he'd react submissively or back up etc. I dread to think how he'd react if someone was actually firm with him lol. Again, not a breed thing, just the same as every other horse....you just realise it more so due to them having more muscle to do the same with!

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MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Good advice. Go for temperament and not breed.

Don't think all Traddie cobs are easy, they're not! (have got one!!!), and the bigger, heavier cobs like this can soon learn to use their very bulk against you if they've the mind. Firm handling from the ground upwards is the only way to deal with them. Or Connie's either, as someone else has said they can be sharp.

I'm looking for a horse too ATM: have had one on trial, came yesterday, going back to the owner as soon as we can arrange transport :( It was a traddie cob, lovely when I rode it at the yard where I saw it, came off the lorry like it had lived here a hundred years. BUT, and just a word of advice here - having had the most unpleasant hack I've ever had in my life on a horse that was committed to tanking at hunting pace on the road this afternoon, I should really have asked some questions about just WHY it had both a martingale AND a gag on - hint, ask what's in its mouth and under its chest BEFORE you traipse off miles to see a horse and/or bring it home coz what's in its mouth might tell you a helluva lot more than the vendor does........
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Thanks great advise there, I will definitely pay attention to that. Pity that the trial didn't work out for you. I hope the next one suits, seems like a lot of people have hassle finding the right one :(
 
I'm sure JFTD would also be more than willing to tell us all cobs can jump!
Go for something you fall in love with... For the right reasons ;)
 
Kacey88 said:
Hello everyone.

I'm starting my horse search in a few weeks time having my lost my beloved mare in January. I'm so excited! There are so many coming up for sale here in Ireland and I am putting together short lists etc. Basically I want something easy going for hacking, maybe a spot of dressage. I am into showing though so he/she would have to fit into a certain class which is more difficult over here (less classes.)

So given that I am short and light, I am thinking of connies and small coloured gypsy cobs. Show cob type might be a bit much for me.

Pros/cons of each? Are connies more likely to last longer?
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cannot speak for TC

But my connie x was a super little mare- kind honest - loving - surefooted - a really special friend
 
The Connie every time or perhaps a Fell or a highland the traditional small horse / draught breeds would be my choice every time .
 
Buy the horse you want and forget about breed.

My Irish cob can jump the moon and is completely bombproof in all situations. That doesn't mean she's plodding along at any time, far from it, she is forward going and obedient. A genuine talented safe all rounder.

I've got a Welsh Cob who is far more athletic and can jump even higher but guess which one I would prefer to ride. The Irish cob. Love of my life.
 
If you're going to look at gypsy cobs go to an established breeder that breeds for temperament and knows the breeding.
A lot of cobs look like gypsy cobs, but are not.
 
Sparkles said:
Don't pick a breed. There's plenty within your height range without needing to be either one. Go for temperament and suitability.

My gypsy coblet jumps just fine (qualified for eland lodge finals again), comes home with ribbons dressage and showing (not that I do much showing), hacks anywhere, goes anywhere(like today, tied up at pub for lunch!) is completely easy going but well schooled, drives too!

Doesn't mean every gypsy cob does the same though just like every Connie won't be doing the same as every other Connie. �� go for level of training, conformation and temperament ��
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But if someone wants to do showing, it's best to buy something that fits in to a class, rather than a cross breed you try and fit to a class.

We have a yard full of Connies, only 1 of them is sharp and all of them are super talented!!
I vote Connie, or any large breed M&M :)
 
If you're keen on showing, I'm another one who would suggest a large breed M&M...you'd have endless options for classes! A nice Highland or Fell would be perfect. Happy hunting!
 
Crackerz said:
But if someone wants to do showing, it's best to buy something that fits in to a class, rather than a cross breed you try and fit to a class.

We have a yard full of Connies, only 1 of them is sharp and all of them are super talented!!
I vote Connie, or any large breed M&M :)
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I haven't mentioned any cross breeds. I said don't focus between just two breeds. There's plenty other types than just Connie or trad cob (and you can show either one of them two regardless). You could do the job she wants with either, or equally could look at a nice small hunter type or other native breeds etc. Either which breed it is, if it's suitable for a showing class and true type of whichever breed or type the horse is, conformation and temperament and level of schooling should be the prerequisites ��
 
Connie every time! I have a retired one, he taught my sister to ride. Great all-rounder and lovley chap, she now has a New Forest which I have heard called 'the poor mans connemara' lol, though being in Ireland you'll probably get a better price :)
 
As the OP has said she is in Ireland it seems unlikely to me there would be more classes over there for Highlands etc than there would be for the types most commonly found in Ireland..?
 
FfionWinnie said:
As the OP has said she is in Ireland it seems unlikely to me there would be more classes over there for Highlands etc than there would be for the types most commonly found in Ireland..?
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Yes there are loads of connemara classes, ridden, performance and in hand. There are then some general M&M classes, but I have never seen a highland or a new forest in this country! I have seen a few Welsh ponies but would prefer a connie.
 
cobgoblin said:
If you're going to look at gypsy cobs go to an established breeder that breeds for temperament and knows the breeding.
A lot of cobs look like gypsy cobs, but are not.
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The only problem is none of the breeders sell them broken and ridden. I have seen so many lovely true to type foals - 2 year olds but none ready to go. Its hard enough here to find a horse schooled well, usually you buy potential rather than something polished. With gypsy cobs I will be lucky to find a good one 4/5 yrs old just broken!

Also, in Ireland the gypsy cob breeders prefer a slightly different animal. They go for VERY strong bone, not as pretty and tonnes of feather. The ones that seem to do well showing in the UK seem to have a touch of native in there. But since no one here shows traditional Irish cobs, it will be interesting to see how I fare if I get one.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, it will be harder to find a really good gypsy cob than a connemara.

Edit: Actually I know one stud that sells them broken and riding. And one of them is top of my list!
 
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Another vote for connie I bought a connie X three weeks ago and I love him. He is one of the sharp Connies but is very clever and a quick learner I think he's going to be something special only downside being that he's grey
 
I grew up in Eire and having the choice between a Connie and Trad last year, chose the Trad :) (...or she chose me!).

This wasn't so much about breed though as who I preferred as a person (taking conformation, movement, presence and character into account).

The Trads presence and sweetness really won me over and I've really enjoyed bringing on 'something different' (for me, at least, having dealt with my fair share of Connies, ISH, ID and TBs in the past). She's clever, intuitive, astute, kind and very, very much a people person, which is one of the requirements of a proper TGC. Despite being a HW, she is never bolshy and furthermore looks truly pained if she thinks she might have got or done something wrong, so eager to please, a keen and willing partner and just an all 'round gentle, genuine girl. Growing and maintaining all of that hair was a real experience!

It's definitely down to the individual horse, I'd say. I've known some great Connies but my heart definitely lays with my Trad now :)
 
Orca said:
I grew up in Eire and having the choice between a Connie and Trad last year, chose the Trad :) (...or she chose me!).

This wasn't so much about breed though as who I preferred as a person (taking conformation, movement, presence and character into account).

The Trads presence and sweetness really won me over and I've really enjoyed bringing on 'something different' (for me, at least, having dealt with my fair share of Connies, ISH, ID and TBs in the past). She's clever, intuitive, astute, kind and very, very much a people person, which is one of the requirements of a proper TGC. Despite being a HW, she is never bolshy and furthermore looks truly pained if she thinks she might have got or done something wrong, so eager to please, a keen and willing partner and just an all 'round gentle, genuine girl. Growing and maintaining all of that hair was a real experience!

It's definitely down to the individual horse, I'd say. I've known some great Connies but my heart definitely lays with my Trad now :)
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That's what a lot of people tell me is the main difference between the two characters. That connies can be great but generally more "cheeky" and ponyish. But trads are people pleasers. I'm probably biased because my last mare was by a trad stallion and hated getting in trouble, she aimed to please all the time.

Thanks for your input, your girl sounds lovely :D
 
I have a connie X (touch of cob in there) and out of all the horses I've owned he's definitely the cheekiest and got the most character. He's a terrific all rounder too and, although was as green as grass when I bought him has restored my confidence jumping he's such a genuine little chap.

Although, I'm not that much in to showing and when I do it's usually working hunter, riding club horse and odd coloured so the fact that he's a cross doesn't really matter.

I love that he's got a connie rather than a cob personality (I'm convinced he's a 13.2 in a 15.1 body LOL)

I went for the horse I liked the look of rather than a specific breed. If I'd have gone for breed it would have been connie all the way :)

So, don't stress about breed - just go for those you like the look of and seem to have the nature you're after.
 
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