Couple of questions - those with cobs?!

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My super green cobby chap (very traditional type!) is coming along nicely. He is starting to work in a nice outline in walk and trot, a bit hit and miss but a million times better than he was when he arrived straight out of a field! There are just a couple of things that I could do with some advice on.

When I ask for canter I am getting a much faster gypsy cob trot instead. I am waiting for a good, collected but forward going trot, half halting to get him listening and then giving a clear aid for canter but it isn't really working. I bring him back to me straight away, work a bit more, then ask again but we are getting the same thing. I know we will get there eventually but any pointers as to what might help would be appreciated! :o

Also, when we are a bit more advanced I would love to take him hunting. What would be the correct turnout for a traditional cob with a VERY full mane and tail? He'll be clipped out but I'm not hogging him. I love his hairy bits!

A bit long so thanks if you have got this far! :)
 
First question, I went though this stage with Bodey when he first learnt to canter (he even went though a bucking into canter stage for about three weeks). It just takes time so keep practicing. I use to let him run into the canter to begin with, but as he became stronger the canter got easier and easier (do lots of cantering out on hacks).
I also found that doing lots of transitions help, up and downs from walk to trot and back again, then when he is really using his backend, then ask for canter. It will come!

Second question, well Bodey is all hogged and clipped out. But a hairy at my hunt puts a running plait in their mane. It’s more to stop it getting caught in branches then anything else I think.

Hope that helps a bit?
 
For the cantering, I'd just do loads out hacking mainly, lots going up and down hill if you can, then once he's got used to going forwards cantering out hacking [use your voice on the transition for association] then transfer the cantering to in the school and work on it from there :) Plus lunging too.

For hunting, I'd do a running plait in his mane perhaps, just to keep it out the way :)
 
Only a thought, but I wonder if he might find the transition easier out and about on a hack at first - maybe going uphill so he's already off his forehand? Maybe even with a suitably steady friend who can give him a lead but won't be put out if it all gets a bit exciting for him?

Just a thought, might be a really rubbish idea:o
 
Thanks JoBo, that does help....we'll keep working at it. The bucking thing is interesting. We may be entering that phase! I think he was just feeling a bit well today... his bucks got all of 6 inches off the ground.... he thought they were big though! :D
 
As long as he is clean and smart, hunting him hairy is no prob, some highland ponies hunt with us.
As for the canter, my cob needs her forehand lightened to canter, she is also traditional and they tend to be heavy in front, so maybe try doing some exercises to lighten his forehand first.
I do recommend if he is very green though its best cantering him in a straght line first, probably in a field, only canter in a straight line until he gets his balance then put him on a big circle and once he knows what to do you can do more turns ~(and tighter). I have done this a 3 year old and its cantering really nicely now. Because he is unbalnced the canter wil be quite fast as first and then gradually slow it down.
 
I think the hacking advice is a good plan. He's a bit of a spooky boy at the moment just because he's lead a rather sheltered life....everythings a bit new! :o We've got some horsey friends to hack out with at the weekend. One in front and one behind for added bravery so we'll see how we get on! Thanks for replying. Oh and I'll get practicing that running plait. :)
 
Once he's got the hang of cantering on a hack and feels a bit better balanced, try putting a pole on the ground in the corner of the arena in which you ask for canter, this might help his upwards transition.
 
Ok,so I didn't want to wait til the weekend to hack out with our friends, so the YO said she didn't mind if I rode in some unused fields. So off we went on our pretend hack (very exciting.....took us a few spooky minutes to start going forward). We had a nice trot round then found an uphill slopey bit and off we went. First attempt was 3 strides of very odd canter, but we had a few more goes and by the end had a lovely stretch of rocking horse canter. Thanks to those who helped yesterday. Might need to up the brakes though, the hairy one has decided he likes going fast! :D
 
Yay :D

Don't worry about upping the brakes so much yet, it'll just feel odd to start as he'll rush from being unbalanced and not used to it. Just stay soft in your hands and let him sort himself out, it'll come over time :)
 
He he....the cantering was fine, came back to me nicely! The brakes problem arrived in trot....very exciting now! We'll be sticking to the loose ring french link I've got in at the moment and see how we go in that. I do love that pony, he's a lot of fun :D
 
I found that either out and about going uphill the easiest time to get a straight canter transition as they dont want to run into it. He still runs on the flat unless you kinda sit back and totally wrap your legs round. But then, you can wear spurs, then take them off after 5 mins and he will be so sharp to the leg, so I know he CAN do it - he just chooses not to!
 
Mine was like this-almost like a refusal to canter or he'd never been asked-God knows. I found a lot of lungeing with a bungee to help him flex and relax really helped, as well as lots of voice 'Steady' long and low and now he relaxes into the canter as opposed to a mad fast trot.
 
No he hadn't driven but you'd think he had. He is of that type so maybe in the breeding?? The chap I bought him off had bought him to drive but he didn't take to it so he had been sat in a field doing nothing for 2 years. I think this probably accounts for the everything is really new and must contain monsters outlook on life :o
 
Glad you are getting there, I had (and still do to some extent) the same problem with my hairy cobblet, but the he was a driving pony owned by the p***y's :(

Binky I have to ask, who is that fabulous looking cob in your sig? He is stunning!
 
Ok, so we are getting there :D We've managed a little canter on the lunge on both legs, and yesterday even managed a few paces on one of the straight sides of the school (and boy was that exciting!!) The hacking bit is going more slowly due to the discovery of a morbid fear of anything on 2 wheels....we're working on this too!
Anyway, this is really an excuse for a photo opportunity (thanks Domane for the piccy!). He had a bath at the weekend as I couldn't deal with greasy mane anymore and he was gleaming for a few hours! Here he is, hairy boy!

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Definitely get the canter established on straight lines out hacking to begin with, if he still tries to just run on in trot, go out with an experienced horse and follow them.

When you start asking for canter in the school again, start by just cantering up the long sides. Make sure you ask in a corner and prepare your transition in plenty of time (sit for a couple of strides, outside leg back slightly behind the girth) and use your voice as well.

Hope this helps! :)
 
What a super cob you've got! And what a nightmare he'll be for you to keep clean!! ;). Personally, if I was hunting him (this is what I'd do not what you should do!!) is to clip him out, legs and all, plus hog the mane, then you could always plait his tail if you wanted.

Sorry if you feel clipping his feathers would be a desecration!!!! But just think, It'll be a helluva lot easier to deal with when you come in all mucky at the end of the day ......
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
What a super cob you've got! And what a nightmare he'll be for you to keep clean!! ;). Personally, if I was hunting him (this is what I'd do not what you should do!!) is to clip him out, legs and all, plus hog the mane, then you could always plait his tail if you wanted.

Sorry if you feel clipping his feathers would be a desecration!!!! But just think, It'll be a helluva lot easier to deal with when you come in all mucky at the end of the day ......
Click to expand...

He he.....don't mind clipping his feathers off as they aren't great anyway, and would definately clip him out as he resembles a polar bear in winter. Would have to draw the line at hogging him, he's got a gorgeous mane (on the wrong side!) that you can't see......don't think I could bring myself to do it!! :o
 
What a sweetie :) As much as I love a hairy cob, I think he would look very smart all clipped and hogged. However, I totally understand not wanting to take the fuzz off, that hair is designed to protect and I personally think it does a grand job of keeping the wet and mud off the skin in winter.

I agree with what others have said about getting him cantering out on a hack, either alone or with a steady, reliable older horse. He'll get the hang of it after a while, just try not to focus too much on it and just let it happen naturally.

As for hunting, I put a running plait in the mane and put a long plait in the tail then fold it up and secure it with insulation tape. If you're very clever, you can put a proper tail plait in first then a normal plait in the rest then sew it up, but I have to admit this is far to complicated for me on a cold winter morning! As long as you practice it can look quite smart.

These aren't the best photos but it is just to give you an idea of what I mean (not sure what we were laughing at in the first one lol)
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and his normal hairy self
Tprehack.jpg
 
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