Hi im new, can anyone give advice on cobs growth?

pachypony

pachypony

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Hi, my name is Nikki, im looking for a bit of advice, last August i bought a Cob colt, He was very under weight, pretty much skin and bone, had terribly over grown feet, he'd never seen a farrier, feet were rotten and full of maggots, very feral, he just lived on a field with a load of other colts and fillies, from this you now have an idea of where he came from.. I was told he was passported and microchipped, turned out he wasnt so i had to pay to get him done. i was also told he would make 14.2. his mum was 14 hands and first off i was told the stallion was 15 hands but then was told by someone else he was only 14.2. They showed me a 3 year old mare who had very similar markings as my boy, this was apparently his sister, whether it was or not ill never know but she stood around 14.1 ish. after battling with his feet for months he has slowly come right and put weight on, now my colt is only standing at 12.1, he is 'supposed' to be around 19/20 months now going on the age they gave me when i bought him, ive had my yard owner look at his teeth and she guesses hes about right and rising two, she said he wont grow much taller so wont be big enough for me, i am only 5ft and i used to ride a 13.2 new forest pony who was dainty and i didnt look out of place on her. im in a bit of a panic as i bought him for myself to ride expecting him to make 14.2, ive read a lot about cobs and that they are slow growers and some could even make another hand at 4/5 years old, i expect him to be pretty chunky from his build at the minute but cant picture what he will look like once he has filled out, does anyone want to share any pictures of their youngsters before and after they had matured so i can get some sort of idea? i'd be happy if he made 13.2 as i could ride him but if he doesnt i will just keep him for my kids as i love him to bits and couldnt sell him. to make 13.2 he only needs to grow another 5 inches and to make 14.2 another 7 inches i think i worked it out at? do you think he will grow this much taller in the next couple of years? i just cant picture what he is going to be like, ive added a couple of photos from when i got him and a recent one so you can get an idea of what hes like, any help or advice is much appreciated x

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1st week we had him

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first trim!

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about 2 months ago

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last week
 
TBH, given the start he's had in his first months/year I wouldn't expect him to reach his full potential height.

Poor wee mite, he has certainly fallen on his feet when you bought him!
 
Looking at him there I'd think there will be a chance he might make 13.2 but I don't think he'll get much more than that. He'll be stocky though and I'd think he'll carry you fine. You'll be able to tell better how big he's going to make when he's done this summer's growing. If you've not seen the mare and stallion I wouldn't believe anything they said about their size. I've bought ones that have looked like yours at 12 months and they've grown about 6-8 inches from then.
 
Just wanted to say he is lovely - and very lucky to have found you. Good luck for your future together xx My chunky cob is 15hh and happily carries my 6ft husband - so happy in fact that he tanked off with him at a xc comp last week - skipping and bucking off into the distance. Luckily my OH stayed on and eventually came back grinning and saying how much fun it was to go so fast - so much braver than I will ever be.
 
LIZ66 said:
Just wanted to say he is lovely - and very lucky to have found you. Good luck for your future together xx My chunky cob is 15hh and happily carries my 6ft husband - so happy in fact that he tanked off with him at a xc comp last week - skipping and bucking off into the distance. Luckily my OH stayed on and eventually came back grinning and saying how much fun it was to go so fast - so much braver than I will ever be.
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Thank you :) he is a spoilt brat and he knows it, he deserves it though with the start he's had and he is so genuine, will do anything you ask him to. had to have a little chuckle at your comment about your other half :D x
 
What a nice little cob. He has a lot of catching up to do but should easily grow another hand. I have a 20 month old sports horse who stands 14.3/15hh. I epect him to make 15.3 or so.

Poor little thing must have shrunk 2" when his feet were trimmed.

I bought a rising 2 cob last year who had a shaky background. He has grown approx 2" and I hope he'll grow another 2" eventually.

You are obviously feeding him well. Are you feeding a balancer? I swear by Sure Grow. It provides all the necessary vits and mins without too many calories, you only feed a mug full. Great for cobs!
 
Thistle said:
Poor little thing must have shrunk 2" when his feet were trimmed.
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:p

You could also try the string test, hold a piece of string from the centre of a front fetlock and hold straight up to his elbow. Then hold at the elbow and let go at the fetlock and swivel the string up to his withers and measure how many inches above you have. That's a good guide to within an inch or two.
 
Thistle said:
What a nice little cob. He has a lot of catching up to do but should easily grow another hand. I have a 20 month old sports horse who stands 14.3/15hh. I epect him to make 15.3 or so.

Poor little thing must have shrunk 2" when his feet were trimmed.

I bought a rising 2 cob last year who had a shaky background. He has grown approx 2" and I hope he'll grow another 2" eventually.

You are obviously feeding him well. Are you feeding a balancer? I swear by Sure Grow. It provides all the necessary vits and mins without too many calories, you only feed a mug full. Great for cobs!
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i think he will make a lovely little pony as he is so good natured especially given the condition he was in, once he knew we were out to help him he really has let us do everything we needed to, including having all four feet poulticed at one point. he currently has a decent scoop of oss-i-chaff and a small amount of fibre beet with a spoon full of garlic, i am looking into adding a balancer but am unsure which to use at the minute just been reading reviews and recommendations, ive only had him 7 months and he has come on fantastic but trying not to give him too much too soon its all been gradual weight gain x
 
Another vote for Dodson and horrells suregrow! After lots of research it's very highly rated and my filly is growing steadily and looking very healthy on it.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about it at present. Your poor little one had a rotten start in life and it will take him a long time to fully recover and to mature.

I bought my current cob (not really like yours, more the 'old-fashioned' type with little feather and sharp-looking) but anyway ... I bought her as a 5-year-old at 15.1. By the time she was 7 she'd grown to over 15.3, almost 16 hands, and filled out into a smashing MW.

Horses go on growing far longer than you think, and while you MAY end up with a 13.2 you could equally find yourself with a 14.2 or 14.3. From what you told us you have no idea of his breeding really - so time will tell! Good luck - and thank goodness he found you. Those photos of hoof.................
 
Rose Folly said:
I wouldn't worry too much about it at present. Your poor little one had a rotten start in life and it will take him a long time to fully recover and to mature.

I bought my current cob (not really like yours, more the 'old-fashioned' type with little feather and sharp-looking) but anyway ... I bought her as a 5-year-old at 15.1. By the time she was 7 she'd grown to over 15.3, almost 16 hands, and filled out into a smashing MW.

Horses go on growing far longer than you think, and while you MAY end up with a 13.2 you could equally find yourself with a 14.2 or 14.3. From what you told us you have no idea of his breeding really - so time will tell! Good luck - and thank goodness he found you. Those photos of hoof.................
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thank you, my mind has eased a little with some of these replies, just being told he wont grow any higher the other day set me in mad panic. his feet were shocking, both his hinds were like this and it took loads of daily treatment to get it right, but on the upside now he is a little darling with his feet and picks them up ready for you :)
 
daisydoo said:
Another vote for Dodson and horrells suregrow! After lots of research it's very highly rated and my filly is growing steadily and looking very healthy on it.
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a couple of people have recommended this to me, is it the best balancer to get for babies? thinking of putting him onto this as well.
 
Casey76 said:
TBH, given the start he's had in his first months/year I wouldn't expect him to reach his full potential height.

Poor wee mite, he has certainly fallen on his feet when you bought him!
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Sorry I'd have to disagree here, horses don't ever 'not reach their potential growth height' he will get to wherever he is genetically predisposed to do so. The issue you have is the level or lack of nutrition he has experienced, when a horse is feed a high calorie diet at a young age and stuffed with everything it needs, it reaches max growth (height) potential a lot faster the plates will still continue to shift and fuse but essentially there will be the majority of its growing done prior to the age of two. When however it does not recieve the correct diet and nutrition to fuel this growth, the growth takes a lot longer, it will get there, but it takes a lot longer.

He is also bum high, which is a positive, there is plenty of growth to go by the looks of things and worst case scenario, either cut your lower legs off or invest in some roller skates...

Lucky little dude... He has landed on his feet, as a total side note, watch that winter coat, as baby coat it will be a heller to shift come warmer weather, I swear by shedding blades, I would have died without mine for bens coat. Good luck and don't fret, certainly a few inches to go there. There are also those on here whose horses have put in a spurt at 7 yrs, and my boy Ben stopped at 15.2 at age 2 1/2, then this winter a year later he's gone up an inch, I expect that when all is said and done he will get to about 16hh
 
Queenbee said:
He is also bum high, which is a positive, there is plenty of growth to go by the looks of things and worst case scenario, either cut your lower legs off or invest in some roller skates...

Lucky little dude... He has landed on his feet, as a total side note, watch that winter coat, as baby coat it will be a heller to shift come warmer weather, I swear by shedding blades, I would have died without mine for bens coat. Good luck and don't fret, certainly a few inches to go there. There are also those on here whose horses have put in a spurt at 7 yrs, and my boy Ben stopped at 15.2 at age 2 1/2, then this winter a year later he's gone up an inch, I expect that when all is said and done he will get to about 16hh
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Fingers crossed im hoping he will be fine, i am only tiny, ive got kids at my sons primary school taller than me, im 5ft and about 8 and a half stone, ive been riding a 12.2 pony for my friend over winter as he is a bu99er and needed squaring up, hes quite a chunky thing, my legs didnt look out of place, just the top half of my body did a bit as he has no neck.

Regarding his coat im dreading it as it is so thick! think my friend at the yard has some shedding blades so ill have to borrow them x
 
Regarding Suregrow. I started feeding it when the mare was in foal, recommended by many breeders. We have a very large and posh TB stud nearby. They feed it to everything. It's a small pellet that you mix with a bit of chaff and/or beet.

Good to see that you aren't stuffing him with protein and causing forced growth problems. Watch him with the spring grass though, you will prob need to restrict his grazing a bit even though he is just a baby.
 
Well done for such a good job so far, he is lovely.

I'm in the same situation my poor 3 year old was tethered and even had the head collar grown into her neck, hence why she has a chunk missing. I've only had her 7 weeks and she is so lovely and well mannered apart from having a small problem with the mare next door which has now been resolved. She is currently 14hh still bum high, I would love her to grow to 14.3 but I doubt it :(

I may also change her feed to Suregrow, currently she is on Mollichop Horse and Pony cubes and Speedi beet plus haylage at night. Would I drop the Cubes and add the Suregrow or is Anni to old to benefit from this feed?
 
Suregrow is a balancer, so contains all the vits and mins in a small amount. 1 to 2 mug fulls a day is all you need so lasts for ages and cheap to feed. I just feed it with 1/2 a scoop of chaff and enough wet sugar beet. They also get plenty of hay and haylage.

I also use it at a lower rate as a general purpose balancer for the adult horses.
 
Thistle said:
Suregrow is a balancer, so contains all the vits and mins in a small amount. 1 to 2 mug fulls a day is all you need so lasts for ages and cheap to feed. I just feed it with 1/2 a scoop of chaff and enough wet sugar beet. They also get plenty of hay and haylage.

I also use it at a lower rate as a general purpose balancer for the adult horses.
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i think with all the recommendations i will get some of this and introduce it to his feed, will be nipping over to torne valley to pick some up, thank you
 
Lovely boy! I have a just turned 2 cob filly slightly lighter but still a cobby cob and she is about 13.1. She was 12.1 at 1. I have a photo of mum who looked about 15h but no idea what dad was. I expect her to make 14.1 by 3 as she is still bum high and by the time she is 6 I should think she may add another inch or two to make 14.3 hopefully 15h.

She is out 24/7 on just grass and a net when she comes in for a groom. Over winter all I have had her on is molasses free chaff and Fast Fibre for some extra vits plus she has a himalayan salt lick thing when she comes in that she always has a go at. If I was to feed a balancer though it would be suregrow but make sure you dont feed too much in the hope of getting him to grow faster! He will get there and I reckon he will be plenty big enough for you to ride!
 
If he had a bad start, he's still likely to catch up on his growth. We got daughters pony as an extremely underweight yearling, about 7hh if that. At 2 she was about 8.2hh, & at 3 about 9.2hh. And very foal like still in build. Finished growing at 4 & 1/2 at 11.1hh. And despite being dainty built has filled out quite a bit too, buildwise her 4th summer, muscle wise last summer. So much so, that daughters eternally growing legs don't appear to have got any longer on her till just recently, despite dropping the leathers a hole at regular intervals.
 
I reckon he looks in pretty good nick tbh... Certainly not bad enough to limit his growth!

But then I'd prefer a lean baby than a fat one who's going to get joint problems!

Do be careful about feeding him, cobs are slow growers and you risk damaging his joints if he gets too much nutrition. Don't feel like you need to make up for his rough start by piling it on cos it'll be much worse in the long run!

He doesn't look quite right for his age though, if that makes sense... he looks quite well proportioned for a baby... but I don't think he'll get much taller than mid 13s tbh :(
 
Cobber said:
If I was to feed a balancer though it would be suregrow but make sure you dont feed too much in the hope of getting him to grow faster! He will get there and I reckon he will be plenty big enough for you to ride!
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No i wont give him anymore than he needs, most people have said they just feed a mug full so he will only have the recommended amount, all his feed has been introduced gradually and he's been on different things what people have suggested, but i think once i add sure grow to what he already has that will do him just fine :) he loves a salt lick, only problem is he demolishes them too quick, literally takes chunks out of it rather than licks it. he also loves likit's but again he will stand there and eat it in one sitting so doesnt have them very often, i just want to make sure he's getting everything a growing baby needs as he has had such a crap start in life x
 
Serenity087 said:
I reckon he looks in pretty good nick tbh... Certainly not bad enough to limit his growth!

But then I'd prefer a lean baby than a fat one who's going to get joint problems!

Do be careful about feeding him, cobs are slow growers and you risk damaging his joints if he gets too much nutrition. Don't feel like you need to make up for his rough start by piling it on cos it'll be much worse in the long run!

He doesn't look quite right for his age though, if that makes sense... he looks quite well proportioned for a baby... but I don't think he'll get much taller than mid 13s tbh :(
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He doesnt get massive amounts of feed, he just has 1 meal a day and that isnt a large amount, he looks fine now weight wise so not wanting to bang weight on him, just wanting to make sure he gets what he needs, but when we got him he was very skinny, he has totally changed in appearance over the last couple of months, he looked very babyish and foal like to start with, when you actually see him in person he isnt a massive chunk of a lad a lot of it is hair but he has obviously put some weight on, ill try and get a different photo tomorrow. i think he is about the right age as ive had two vets look at his teeth and my yard owner who has bred horses for over 40 years and they have all said he looks to be rising two. If he makes 13 hands im happy, either way if he doesnt ill keep him anyway for my kids x
 
Now there is a horse who's landed on his feet :) (and then landed on the better shaped feet he now has!)

Still, at 2, River was a massive gangly thing who looked very odd, whereas your man looks way more grown up!

That said, River is also only 1/2 cob and is deffo well on the way to 16.3 - much bigger than both her parents! Think she's a throwback to some previous giant horse...
 
Serenity087 said:
Now there is a horse who's landed on his feet :) (and then landed on the better shaped feet he now has!)

Still, at 2, River was a massive gangly thing who looked very odd, whereas your man looks way more grown up!

That said, River is also only 1/2 cob and is deffo well on the way to 16.3 - much bigger than both her parents! Think she's a throwback to some previous giant horse...
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He's quite short in length, hes due for another rug as his bum sticks out of this one, so will need a 4'6 as 4'9 buries him, he is quite compact and has quite chunky legs. He is worth every penny he has cost me so far to get him where he is, when battling the maggot problem day in day out last year i thought it would never end, could have sat and cried some days and it just made me feel physically sick, hundreds of them, disgusting! but my farrier was dead impressed with his feet the 2nd time (and every other time he's come) with just how good they are coming on, said he wanted to take me along to teach a couple of his clients on hoof care :D just commitment though and making sure to keep with the routine, now he has lovely little feet and thankfully the bad thrush he had has also gone away, that said i still maintain his feet like before so thats probably why its staying away. I love him to bits, i could have gone and bought a 4 year old at 15.2 that would definitely be big enough for me to break in but saw him and had to give him a chance, he is brilliant natured my 4 year old adores him x
 
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Hello just wondering if you can confirm what your pony made as I have a cob similar just turned 1 in may he’s currently 128cm which apparently is 12.1 and I’m wondering what he will finish at
 
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