Finding cobs in Australia

[shanti]

Hi I will be retiring my two ridding horses next year and will be looking for a new addition. I have always owned Arabs, TB's, QH's etc. But now I really want a Cob or M&M type to relax and have fun on. Trouble is I am in Australia and these types are extremely hard to come by. There are a few Gypsy Cob breeders however they only sell un-backed young stock and they are fairly pricey. The money isn't really my issue, its the 'unbacked' part that I am not keen on, I just want a happy hacker and while I have backed twice before ( 25 years ago), I am not in any way experienced in the whole practice.
I honestly cant even find a bog standard cob for sale anywhere. This is the closest I can find that is any where near suitable, https://www.horsedeals.com.au/listings/beautiful-gypsy-cob-gelding

I guess my question is, is backing a cob easy? I know there are a multitude of variables, but, in general how experienced would one need to be to not end up with broken bones and a broken horse.

There seems to be copious amounts of lovely M&M types for sale in the UK which i'm quite envious about.

 

[Morganfan]

Hi Shanti
Why not look for a Morgan, even though they are not common there are some around especially in the Eastern States.
Good luck

 

[DSB]

Heavyweight Galloway,14/15hh,not far to fall!Have had lots of fun with mine and will carry a heavier rider happily.

 

[Widgeon]

I honestly cant even find a bog standard cob for sale anywhere. This is the closest I can find that is any where near suitable, https://www.horsedeals.com.au/listings/beautiful-gypsy-cob-gelding .

Goodness that little cob is expensive! I googled the exchange rate and it comes out at about £6,800 UK - is that normal horse prices for Australia? For that sort of money could you buy a nice five year old and get it backed and started by a professional?

 

[KEK]

I’m in Australia too (WA) and bought a 3.5yo Connemara at the start of the year. He was 5.5k which included his 8w breaking (from the stud).I’m only an intermediate rider, so it wasn’t the “right” thing to do but I have help as my neighbour is training him twice a week and it’s going well. I hack him out round the block and she schools him. Maybe an option? He’s very sweet and she says easy to train.

 

[shanti]

Goodness that little cob is expensive! I googled the exchange rate and it comes out at about £6,800 UK - is that normal horse prices for Australia? For that sort of money could you buy a nice five year old and get it backed and started by a professional?

It is normal for the breed. Anything Cob or M&M like is pretty expensive for what you get. Arabs on the other hand are super cheap, I could pick up a fully trained, sound all-rounder doing low level dressage for about $2000. I even though about importing a cob from the UK but my sensible husband told me not to be so ridiculous!

 

[Steerpike]

A friend has just started up her own Dale's stud in Australia, she's the first person to have Dale's in Australia.

 

[shanti]

I’m in Australia too (WA) and bought a 3.5yo Connemara at the start of the year. He was 5.5k which included his 8w breaking (from the stud).I’m only an intermediate rider, so it wasn’t the “right” thing to do but I have help as my neighbour is training him twice a week and it’s going well. I hack him out round the block and she schools him. Maybe an option? He’s very sweet and she says easy to train.

Do you have a link to the stud? I haven't been able to find any Connie breeder's so far.

 

[Steerpike]

This is for my friend's stud
https://www.facebook.com/raycroftstud/

 

[shanti]

Steerpike - Dale's are lovely. I would love to know where it is for the future! I did find an Icelandic stud but as you can imagine they are super expensive.

*Edit - Thank you for the link. Beautiful horse's!

 

[Northern]

Goodness that little cob is expensive! I googled the exchange rate and it comes out at about £6,800 UK - is that normal horse prices for Australia? For that sort of money could you buy a nice five year old and get it backed and started by a professional?

That is cheap for a hairy coloured cob here ?

OP, you do find some around but they get snapped up quickly because of their looks. Have you thought about some other breeds? Welsh cobs are more popular now and there are plenty of well schooled ponies around. Haflingers are rarer but again pop up every now and then. There are some lovely stocky, smaller Australian Stock Horses on the market as well if you don’t mind a “boring” colour.

The other thing I’ve observed are that (some of) the Gypsy cobs bred here are quite mediocre in build. Definitely bred for colour and to make a quick buck. I personally have never seen them out doing anything useful either, come to think of it ?

 

[shanti]

@Northern, there is actually a Haflinger breeder where I am moving to. Everything I have heard about them is they are basically trouble though I have never met one so am basing that purely on other's opinions. I love Welsh's, the only breeder I can find only breeds section A and I need something at least 13.2. If you do know of any breeder's please let me know ?

I admit to being slightly wary of the colour breeding in GV's verses actual quality as the main part of most advertised cobs focus on the colour and are priced accordingly. Colour doesn't bother me at all, I only buy for temperament and health.

 

[sbloom]

Dales, plural, as in Yorkshire Dales

There's a huge scene for Welshies as far as I know in Oz, but don't have any more knowledge than that, sorry. Transport from the UK is, I believe, more expensive than the expensive cob.

 

[KEK]

Mine is from Powderbark : www.powderbarkstud.com.au
Are you in WA? She’s in York. She’s on FB too and very responsive, it’s more UTD than the website. Here’s mine, he’s 14hh

 

[shanti]

Mine is from Powderbark : www.powderbarkstud.com.au
Are you in WA? She’s in York. She’s on FB too and very responsive, it’s more UTD than the website. Here’s mine, he’s 14hh
View attachment 55540

He is lovely! Thank you for the link, I will definitely contact them.

 

[Bonnie Allie]

Where in Australia are you? There are some cracker Connies in NSW, one of which my mate is currently campaigning. He is for sale - would love him for myself. Really well priced.

Mistake we made with a cob type is riding her like we were in the UK. The Aussie ground is unforgiving and jumping heavier types on our hard ground really takes its toll on cob types. We only ever jumped April-October to stay away from the hard ground, hot weather and damned flies. Wouldn’t do it again if I wanted to jump.

 

[Steerpike]

Dales, plural, as in Yorkshire Dales

There's a huge scene for Welshies as far as I know in Oz, but don't have any more knowledge than that, sorry. Transport from the UK is, I believe, more expensive than the expensive cob.

Sorry auto spell on kindle.

 

[TPO]

What about Highlands? A well known scottish breeder emigrated to Australia and set up breeding.

On the stations it wasnt coloured cobs but there were definitely cobby types with more bone and feather. No clue how they were bred but draft in there at some point. If there are bigger cattle stations running horses close to you might be worth asking around?

 

[Northern]

@Northern, there is actually a Haflinger breeder where I am moving to. Everything I have heard about them is they are basically trouble though I have never met one so am basing that purely on other's opinions. I love Welsh's, the only breeder I can find only breeds section A and I need something at least 13.2. If you do know of any breeder's please let me know ?

I admit to being slightly wary of the colour breeding in GV's verses actual quality as the main part of most advertised cobs focus on the colour and are priced accordingly. Colour doesn't bother me at all, I only buy for temperament and health.

I’ve got a Haffy and she’s great fun ? they tend to be bought as kids ponies which the majority definitely aren’t. Treat them like any normal horse with boundaries and you’ll have great fun. There are plenty of connies and other British natives around, if you have Facebook there are plenty of Aussie pages with plenty of contacts to ask about each breed ?

 

[shanti]

@Bonnie Allie I'm currently in NSW but will be moving to SA next year.

@TPO I must be really bad at Google searches, Highlands were my first choice but I haven't been able to find any at all!

@Northern I might contact the breeder and see if they would let me come and have a look, like I said I have never even met a Haffy and would hate to dismiss them based on other's opinions.

 

[TPO]

It was Scott McGregor that went over circa 2007 with ponies including a stallion.

Just googled and theres an Australia HP society.

Theres a few listed for sale but no idea if they are close to you

https://www.highlandpony.com.au/ponies-for-sale

 

[tda]

There is a Fell Pony stud, Llancloudy fell ponies, https://www.llancloudyfellponies.com/welcome
They also breed proper heavyweight coloured cobs under the Watermark prefix

 

[Accidental Eventer]

I was going to suggest Highlands, we have a stud (Currie Park) here in WA, produce lovely ponies. My Scottish friend has 2, and they are both really good sorts.

 

[Northern]

@Bonnie Allie I'm currently in NSW but will be moving to SA next year.

@TPO I must be really bad at Google searches, Highlands were my first choice but I haven't been able to find any at all!

@Northern I might contact the breeder and see if they would let me come and have a look, like I said I have never even met a Haffy and would hate to dismiss them based on other's opinions.

PM me if you like and I can give you some pointers/stud names for Haflingers if you would like to explore them as a possibility