How can I get my Cob to speed up?

[debsey1]

When out on a hack my Cob walks at a snails pace just plodding along quite happily taking in all the scenery lol and I am forever trying to get him to speed up, I know he can do it because when we ride out in company he picks up his pace although we are always last and ususally have to break out into a trot to catch up with the TB's in front! How can I get to speed up without having to constantly keep pushing him on.

His feet, back and teeth are all good, maybe he just likes being a plod!

 

[jsr]

He's a cob. Mine is slow in walk and we're always at the back of the rides when in company but it's just his walk, no point nagging or stressing about it. My lad is fabulous when doing XC or jumping, hunting or on the beaches or in open fields!! He's excited, will run forever, animated and absolutely loves it..but he's still a cob and therefore usually behind other breeds but as on sunday when I rode out with my friend on her Icelandic he left her eating sand in the gallop..so it's horses for courses.

If your boy is anything like mine the one time I tried to 'pep' him up with go faster feed it just sent him spooky and I fell off twice in one ride...so I just happily accept my boy's pace and learn to relax with it.

 

[lara b]

horses can be very sensitive when they want to be, but also switch off when they don't! Assuming you can carry/tap him with a stick safely then I would try this:

Out hacking in a field (or somewhere off road to start with), ask him to stop by sitting tall (and using your reins if necessary) and making sure you maintain contact with your legs on his sides. Then use the just the smallest amount of pressure and 'think' walk on (making sure to leave his head alone), if he doesn't respond instantly then a swift tap with your heels and if he again ignores then a tap with your stick behind the leg. Repeat this process until he is paying absolute attention to whether you want him to go forward to to stop. At this point you can carry it forward into asking for a quicker walk, just always be sure that if you are asking forward with the leg you allow with the rein and are quick to praise correct behaviour.

I was taught this and it has worked wonders for a lazy in the school cob!

Hope this helps, am no expert but it helped me so thought I would pass it on. Best of luck

 

[conkers]

I found that the bird scarer that went off next to my cob on Saturday did a lot to get him moving forward

 

[gwenllian]

if you want a nice forward active walk, don't ride a cob!
some are forward going, but they are not built for speed, the fact that they just amble along is what makes them popular, a nice easy , safe armchair ride.
don't try to change him into something he is not, there conformation limits them, they are built for pulling, i have no.t seen your cob and can't comment, but often they have very short necks, quite straight shoulders and are almost goose rumped, they have quite short strides, powerful but slow

 

[lara b]

horses can be very sensitive when they want to be, but also switch off when they don't! Assuming you can carry/tap him with a stick safely then I would try this:

Out hacking in a field (or somewhere off road to start with), ask him to stop by sitting tall (and using your reins if necessary) and making sure you maintain contact with your legs on his sides. Then use the just the smallest amount of pressure and 'think' walk on (making sure to leave his head alone), if he doesn't respond instantly then a swift tap with your heels and if he again ignores then a tap with your stick behind the leg. Repeat this process until he is paying absolute attention to whether you want him to go forward to to stop. At this point you can carry it forward into asking for a quicker walk, just always be sure that if you are asking forward with the leg you allow with the rein and are quick to praise correct behaviour.

I was taught this and it has worked wonders for a lazy in the school cob!

Hope this helps, am no expert but it helped me so thought I would pass it on. Best of luck

Having re-read your post, I wouldn't bother with this, as other's have said that is probably just his natural pace. He is probably not being unresponsive so think you will have to just sit back and enjoy the scenery!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

OOOOhhhh, your cob sounds absolutely fantastic: I'd have killed for a horse like yours when I was looking! Seriously.

Bless him, he's taking life at his speed and isn't gonna be hurried. OK so you want to hurry him up a bit, BUT I would suggest to you that you've got something very precious there that's worth his weight in gold. You just can't buy horses like this which would be suitable for a novice to ride. They're just not out there, not at any price.

You probably haven't thought of selling him though

Sorry no suggestions about getting him going, other than to say you could perhaps try squeezing alternate legs in time with the shoulder, i.e. your left leg squeezes when you see his left shoulder move back; rather than the pony club kick style (which you're probably not doing anyway).

The other thing you could do is to take him out cubbing and then hunt him for next season; you'll probably find that when he does actually come out of hibernation there's a racing thoroughbred in there somewhere!!! So don't be surprised!

 

[jsr]

I found that the bird scarer that went off next to my cob on Saturday did a lot to get him moving forward

Lol!!! Mine bogged off with me yesterday when he saw 2 of his mates coming back from a hack, luckily I was in the gallop field (so of course that added to his excitement) so just had to hang on and hope the brakes would work by the time we got to the gate!! The p2p trainer who was riding into the yard was laughing his head off, asked if he could take Kane over the brushes next time after seeing the speed..said he'd never seen a 'lump of hair' move that fast!!! Cheeky begger!!

Edited to add : I drag hunt my lad and do fun rides, XC etc (all at local level, just for fun) he's slow on a hack but it certainly doesn't stop him enjoying a good run when it's called for.

 

[debsey1]

Thanks for your comments ladies, I know he'll always have ploddy paces and we will never keep up with his TB friends however, I do know he has it in him as it's funny how he speeds up on the way home! Anyway, we're used to being last and he is such a happy chunky monkey I couldn't wish for anything more

 

[AngieandBen]

I have exacty the same ( won't say problem ) as you my cob is almost horizontal atm, maybe its the warm weather and the fact that he's still got a winter coat?

Lol at the bird scarer, that just makes mine jump the first time it goes off but then he ignores them!

Only time mine has had any sort of pace is being behind an ex racer, it was fabulous fun! Even in a group he will be at the back.

I'm just gratefull that he is totally safe in any traffic, he does spook but just jumps, no bucking, rearing or spinning. That to me is invaluable, so sit back and enjoy the ride

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

I found Robinsons blackcurrent and apple cordial had a remarkable effect on my lads speed.
Not one i want to repeat.........

NOTE to self - do not allow hubby to interpret the vets advice to give horse "apple juice" in his water to make him drink more!!!

 

[MochaDun]

I think they are just slow but sure in walk and could keep going for miles and miles at that pace. But most cobs have a great active trot to die for that can go on for miles too Mine's the same in walk though not full cob. Painfully slow in walk when we hack out away from the yard, picks up after about 20 mins and then only speeds up in walk if on the way home, a larger horse behind him breathing down his neck or if I had a carrot on a fishing rod above his head

But have a canter in a field and he'll try and keep up with horses if not attempt to overtake and makes a huge effort when he's jumping so I can't complain. I think they just use/choose their locomotion speed according to their build and what they find easiest. And however frustrating I sometimes find it if I hurry him on he is liable to stumble and I much prefer his overall paces to the too fast walk TB's I know of where it's not even comfortable and everything's going past in a blur...at least I get to stop and smell the roses

 

[debsey1]

I think they are just slow but sure in walk and could keep going for miles and miles at that pace. But most cobs have a great active trot to die for that can go on for miles too Mine's the same in walk though not full cob. Painfully slow in walk when we hack out away from the yard, picks up after about 20 mins and then only speeds up in walk if on the way home, a larger horse behind him breathing down his neck or if I had a carrot on a fishing rod above his head

But have a canter in a field and he'll try and keep up with horses if not attempt to overtake and makes a huge effort when he's jumping so I can't complain. I think they just use/choose their locomotion speed according to their build and what they find easiest. And however frustrating I sometimes find it if I hurry him on he is liable to stumble and I much prefer his overall paces to the too fast walk TB's I know of where it's not even comfortable and everything's going past in a blur...at least I get to stop and smell the roses

My hairy boy is exactly the same in trot...really active, it's then, that we pass all the TB's