Heavyweight cob showing

[Cob Life]

I am considering showing blue, he has nice conformation, his schooling has come a long nicely so I’d like to give it a go.

I’m thinking of Heavyweight Cob classes but have a few questions:
- can he be hogged and feathers off? (This is how he looks smartest)
- what coloured tack?
- what type of saddle and bridle?
- what dress for me?

I’m not thinking of going until next summer and I’d like my instructor to get on him a few times first too to see what he goes like for her

 

[meleeka]

Lots of info here https://www.theshowring.info/cobs.htm
Cobs are shown hogged and trimmed, unless is a class for traditional cobs, then the more hair the better.

 

[pistolpete]

It’s a very straight forward class only test is that at county level the judge rides your horse too. Need to be able to show some gallop strides and need ideally to be blemish free. They are usually shown in fairly chunky condition. Dress code is strict but easy to sort out love a show cob. Brown tack straight cut or gp saddle. Definitely hog and short tail! Oh and height restrictions too. 15.1 is maximum for regular cobs then there’s a maxi cob class. All the 15.1 cons all looked bigger to me!

 

[meleeka]

They are usually shown in fairly chunky condition.

That’s a polite way to put it ?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Should be brown tack bridle should be plain flat and wide preferably in a double at least you have the winter to have a try and play around with that, saddle a neat flat show saddle is preferred but if your going to try at local level it's not essential.

To do county level he will have to be measured and registered to compete, maxi cobs are huge so very few fit into that category even if they are over 15.1 and the traditional need to have a lot of hair to look correct.

 

[DressageCob]

You can do novice cob classes at county without a height certificate. Otherwise you need to get one. Local showing is a lot more relaxed.

 

[fetlock]

I'd recommend looking out for early Spring shows within travelling distance too, that are running cob classes, so you can go to watch one or two classes to pick up some tips from observing before venturing into the ring yourself later.

PS Also get a variety of people riding him, male and female.

 

[humblepie]

Have a look at the Showing Register - they do clinics all over the country normally early in the year to get people started for the season. You will get a lot of sensible help and can have your horse practice ride judged. Also have a look at SEIB Search for a Star. That is for amateurs who haven't competed at Horse of the Year show for the previous 10 years. Again a very good way of competing and getting feed back. Good luck.

 

[Cob Life]

It’s a very straight forward class only test is that at county level the judge rides your horse too. Need to be able to show some gallop strides and need ideally to be blemish free. They are usually shown in fairly chunky condition. Dress code is strict but easy to sort out love a show cob. Brown tack straight cut or gp saddle. Definitely hog and short tail! Oh and height restrictions too. 15.1 is maximum for regular cobs then there’s a maxi cob class. All the 15.1 cons all looked bigger to me!

He’s not fussy about rider, I have a brown straight cut saddle and bridle and he’s always in “chunky” condition. He’s blemish free (I don’t even know how because he’s the clumsiest horse I’ve met!)
My biggest concern is the gallop strides as he’s very lazy!

 

[Cob Life]

How do I teach him to gallop?
That and halting are the last things I’m struggling with! His canter transition was so seamless the other night the girl watching asked if I’d meant to canter

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I always taught them to gallop out hacking to begin with, if you choose a pretty exciting ride and ask for gallop out of canter, come back to canter, ask for gallop again etc. etc.. I found they very soon picked up that my position moving every so slightly forward and out of the saddle combined with pressure from my legs meant gallop, but if I asked them back to canter they must do so immediately, not a lumbering long distance slow down, same as you want a sharp take off into gallop, not just a faster and faster canter until he just falls into gallop almost unasked for.

Sorry I am hopeless at explaining, but I am sure some one qualified to teach will be along soon to make it seem much simpler than I have. A really big field is very useful for this too.

However I would caution that first attempts outside you gradually build up the speed, you don't want a flat out gallop before you are sure he doesn't get too over excited and cart off with you. When you feel you have both cracked it out and about then work on it in the ménage.

 

[Cob Life]

I always taught them to gallop out hacking to begin with, if you choose a pretty exciting ride and ask for gallop out of canter, come back to canter, ask for gallop again etc. etc.. I found they very soon picked up that my position moving every so slightly forward and out of the saddle combined with pressure from my legs meant gallop, but if I asked them back to canter they must do so immediately, not a lumbering long distance slow down, same as you want a sharp take off into gallop, not just a faster and faster canter until he just falls into gallop almost unasked for.

Sorry I am hopeless at explaining, but I am sure some one qualified to teach will be along soon to make it seem much simpler than I have. A really big field is very useful for this too.

However I would caution that first attempts outside you gradually build up the speed, you don't want a flat out gallop before you are sure he doesn't get too over excited and cart off with you. When you feel you have both cracked it out and about then work on it in the ménage.

That’s the way I was going but planning to use their summer fields as I can go up hill or flat and know what the footing is like.

Are you asked to trot up in hand in cob classes?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

That’s the way I was going but planning to use their summer fields as I can go up hill or flat and know what the footing is like.

Are you asked to trot up in hand in cob classes?

At higher level you strip and trot up local shows don't tend to.

 

[Cob Life]

Originally the plan was for next summer showing, possibly looking at doing 1 or 2 local shows later this summer.

Tack - does it have to be brown for local level?
I have a brown saddle but I’m not sure if it’s worth getting it fitted to him just for 1 or 2 shows as I’d also need to buy a new bridle too.