Does anyone know of a genuine safe, sound, schooled cob for sale please?

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This is my first post on this site, and I apologise for the length.
Basically, I'm looking to buy a very safe, sound, schooled cob, and wonder if anyone knows of one. I'm looking for a quality cob, about 15.1hh plus, and between 7-10 years old, which is suitable for general hacking and a little low level dressage (not jumping).
I owned a wonderful shire x thoroughbred gelding from 1989 - 2005. But sadly he had to be retired at the age of 27, due to severe arthritis, and was finally PTS at the age of 30, when he collapsed in his field . I had intended to get another, but work got in the way, and then in 2009 I was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer (cancer had spread to the bone), and had an array of treatment throughout 2010.
Having got throught the treatment, my cancer is now currently in remission, and I have started looking for a horse. The difficulty is that because I have to take drugs to slow bone turn-over, I cannot risk breaking my bones, as they would take a long time to heal. Consequently I need a very safe steady horse.
No doubt some will say I shouldn't contemplate riding again, but for me it's a quality of life issue, and disability shouldn't be a bar in any case in my view.
When I started looking I thought that there would be numerous people looking to sell due to the recession, but that doesn't seem to be the case - and I don't want to go to a dealer, because they mainly buy from auctions, and the sort of horse I want won't be the sort to end up in an auction.
So if anyone knows of somebody who wants a very good, for life home for their horse please could you let me know.
 
Welcome to the forum.

A reputable dealer would be able to match you with a suitable horse, or you may find a private seller advertised in your local tack/feed shops, etc. Ask at riding centres too in case anyone knows of one.

Just be prepared to have to search through a lot of not quite as advertised types before you find the good ones. Definitely get someone experienced to go with you and try the horse first, as with your medical condition there is no point taking extra risks. And get it vetted, etc.

Good luck!
 
If you find one I would like it to? Really wish you good luck and I was looking not long ago and thought due to recession I could find exactly the same as you are looking for. Alas the recession is a red herring! But all I can say is have your eyes wide open with all sellers. People can criticise dealers but private sellers are equally as bad.

A bit of advice I was given is ignore whatever is said to you and go as if looking at a blank canvas that you know nothing about, make your own mind up and go on gut instinct. As advised take someone experienced and get a vetting etc.

Good luck. In fact I would be more likely to use a reputable dealer and pay a bit more if they can match you up with right horse. If not they would take horse back etc etc But good luck it is very difficult to find that one, I still have not.
 
It is possible to find what you are looking for, unfortunately it is difficult as your requirements are popular...lots of people want safe cobs of this sort of height.

Which area are you - mysafecobs have a very good rep (different to safecobs)

Also - broken bones, one of the ladies in my yard has just bought one of those air jackets as she cannot afford one more broken bones, they cost about £400.00 but I intend to get one when I start hacking out my youngster.

Hope this helps
 
Put me down for a safe, schooled cob too please!

Maybe we need to team up and start a nationwide CobWatch to alert each other to good cobs in our search areas :)
 
I know you say you don't want to go to a dealer, but there is a place called Safe Cobs (www.safecobs.com is their website) and they seem to have a good rep for selling quiet, safe cobs. They seem to be a sales livery rather than buying unknown horses at auction. They don't come cheap of course, but it may be worth giving them a call and explaining your situation. I don't work for them btw, but I always have a nose at what they've got as I love a good cob! Good luck with your search :)
 
Thank you all for your warm welcome, and advice.
I should have mentioned in my original post that I live in the south east of England, and would be prepared to spend £5,000 to £6,000 on the right horse.
I really don't want to buy from a dealer, because the sort of horse I would like is unlikely to end up in a dealers yard, because when someone has a very good horse they care what happens to it. Also when I had my beautiful horse I kept him in various livery yards, where dealers operated, and in general they were appalling. Not one cared about the welfare of the poor horse they were selling or the poor client. I even kept my horse at the premises of someone who is a highly respected horsewoman, who competes, hunts, teaches, provides livery and deals in supposedly genuine horses, and to say she could teach sharks a thing ot two would be a gross understatement.
I do appreciate that in theory it is safer to buy from a dealer, because the Sale of Goods Act doesn't apply to private sellers, but there is theory and there is practice - and in practice the dealers I have come across will say and do anything possible to avoid refunding a client.
Really, what I'm hoping for is to find someone who has to sell their much loved cob, and wants it to go to a loving home for life, where it will do a daily hack, a little schooling, and an occasional dressage test.
 
They are out there, I found mine in Preloved. His previous owner was clearly a novice and although my cob is very well behaved he can be strong. I nearly missed out on him as my confidence was at an all time low. But I took a chance and my confidence is back and I'm even popping the odd jump. Good luck with your search.
 
Why does it have to be a cob? There are many safe, sound, sane, reliable horses out there which aren't cobs ;)

Personally I think cobs are over rated for being safe and sane (however I might be biased as my cob is extremely sharp and sensitive)
 
Why don't you think about increasing the age bracket? I think that how ever good a younger horse is that an older one would have seen much more of life and therefore has a better chance of being steady. A Carefully (ie not rushed) brought up 7 year old can by only have so much 'out and about' experience, by definition.

There are people out there with horses in their teens which have done a fantastic job and seen it all and have masses of experience under their belt. As steadyness is everything, I would not be too hung up on having a younger horse ..... As we all know if you are lucky horses can now be ridden well into their 20s.

If you are thinking about resale if it doesn't work, a good temperament horse will find a home if you are careful, you just have to accept it may take more time to find the perfect home.
 
Thank you Black-Horse-White, I do hope so. Actually I'm not phased by a strong horse. it's vices such as rearing, bucking, napping, spinning and bolting that bother me, because I can't risk broken bones (for the reasons mentioned earlier). Funnily enough, the beautiful horse I owned between 1989 - 2007, could get very strong in the company of several horses, although he was a perfect mannered gentleman on his own or with one other horse. He was actually sold to me as a hunter (although I didn't buy him for that), but had I used him for hunting I think he would have been quite difficult - because he was obsessed with being at the front. Even when I retired him due to severe athritis, whenever he heard the hunt going by, he would start snorting/sweating/ galloping and bucking round his field.
 
A note regarding clipcloptraders.co.uk

H's previous owner bought him through them and when I was looking they re-advertised him for her, even though he was on sales livery elsewhere. I had phoned them to see what they had and I found the lady very honest and helpful. Then when I found H (just down the road) she gave me very honest opinions on him, from her previous experience of him. I really think they are worth a look.

Good luck - they are out there (I found one!) :D
 
Canteron, thank you for the suggestion. I take your point that widening the age bracket could increase the number of suitable horses, and that the older a horse is, the more likely it is to have matured, and gained experience. However, whatever I buy will need to pass a 5 stage vetting. and that is a considerable ask for older horses (although I accept that if a young horse has been ridden into the ground, it might equally be unsound).
I bought my horse in 1989, when he was rising 8 years old, and completely sound. but despite leading a very relaxed life, he started to become arthritic in 1997, when he was sixteen years old. As a result the next ten years were spent nursing him along on bute/supplements and gentle exercise until he retired in 2007 and was eventually pts a few years later, after collapsing in his field. While I loved my horse dearly, and would never have parted with him, I would like a horse with a few more years of soundness, which is why I'm looking at the 7 years to 10 years age bracket.
 
The cob that I have just brought is 11 and he passed a 5 stage, the vet even said he is very supple in his joints, and he is not phased by anything. Does everything I ask and is perfect and only cost £2000 including tack. I really have found the perfect horse for me as I'm sure you will.
 
I can recommend Emma at clipclop traders, I never bought from her but I know people who have. She does know her onions, or should I say cobs. When I was looking back in 2008, she had just what you were describing but i went for something with a bit more jazz. I bought mine from Sue Walker at Duckhurst, I couldn't fault my cob, he was there doing her summer school, hacking/trekking with kids. I bought him in the October 2008, when they were reducing their numbers. He'd been with them a while so they knew him.

Also Val Sheehan is a man who knows good quality cobs, i looked at two he had but they just weren't right for me. Google him, I think his website is topcobs or something.
 
I would look at Lynn Russell's website, Topcobs. Lynn is a highly respected producer of show cobs, who will obviously be well schooled. She does have one for sale at the moment who looks lovely and the quality of her horses definitely does NOT come from the local auction!
 
How about trying a trekking centre? My loan (hopefully soon to be mine) horse was found by his owners when they went on a trek whilst on holiday in Devon. They went and rode him 4 times and then asked to buy him (I have heard most of the horses are for sale at the right place). He is exactly the height you are looking at and is safe but fun to hack both alone and in company he is a cracking jumper and with a bit more work could do a decent dressage test. They bought him at 10, he is now 14.

I also wanted to say congratulations on being in remission you must have been through an awful time. I would also recommend an air vest I wear mine everytime I ride since a very bad accident 2 years ago.

Good luck and don't be tempted to settle for an almost there horse make a list of your absolute must haves and don't settle for anything less I did that 3 times before finding Max and for your budget you really should be able to get what you want :)
 
Hi welcome, i think getting a horse is a great idea, just a thought on the type of horse, last year we bought a connie cross fantastic temp my mum in her 60's rides him on her own. She wanted a lighter weight to handle but a safe ride and he is perfect, good luck:)
 
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