I just bought my first cob! Introduction + feed advice + photos!

[ycbm]

What a difference a bit of sun makes!

After several days of not working, yesterday the side road was still snowy except for 2 tyre tracks, but they were wide enough and he is a sensible chap, so we went for a hand walk.

Only walked about 1km in total as the silly horse seemed to dislike walking away from me (one in each tyre track was my idea) and I didn't want him right behind me or walking on the snow, but he wanted to be close so I ended up walking on the snow

View attachment 63457

The arena was still white over but I was satisfied that I did what I could, besides even a little walk up the road and back was fun.

Then the sun came out!

So today we did our 6th ever hack. He was great! We had a new '1st' as it was the first time we had met other horses out hacking. We stood and chatted for a few minutes (the two family members at one side of the junction and me at the other) then the big ask, to split up again. He was not quite as responsive to my aid to move away, but he did it without fuss or fanfare, so I am happy with that.

6 hacks and I have had him since September but the important thing is that we are hacking and enjoying it now. His feet seem to be managing and all is well with Rigsby's world.

View attachment 63458

Looking fab, the pair of you. You're so well matched

 

[Michen]

Ahhh looking brill

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I so love a Rigsby update! What a fab companion for you and a handsome boy too

 

[littleshetland]

What a handsome boy! As the owner of a feathery legged Friesian, if he gets any suspicious looking scabs popping up, I slap some 'Conotrane' cream on and it sorts it out pretty swiftly. I think you're going to have loads of fun, and good luck with him!

 

[My equine life]

I would be feeding a low calorie Low sugar balancer so he’s getting everything he needs. I know there’s lots out there that are lami safe. He’s gorgeous!!

 

[Red-1]

I would be feeding a low calorie Low sugar balancer so he’s getting everything he needs. I know there’s lots out there that are lami safe. He’s gorgeous!!

Oh, his diet is well sorted thank you.

He is on soaked hay, 11kg (up from 10 as the weather is colder and he has started some sort of formal work). He has one feed in the evening, consisting of one mug (unsoaked volume) speedy beet, one 3lb scoop Top Chop Zero, Micronised Linseed, Trinity Consultant's Western Salts (vitamin and mineral), and occasional gut support if his poos get hard.

He has also just finished his second treatment with Trinity Consultants' L94 liquid, 10 day course. Both times, his legs started to fill (he also has CPL) and each time the treatment has brought them under control quickly. He will be wormed shortly and I will be taking advice on treatment after that too, as it will hopefully ward off risk of lami due to worming.

Sadly, I have never treated my horses, but Rigsby is the exception. He needs his legs clipping twice a week, and has bad associations with clippers due to Mallenders. That is under control with his legs washed every week with T Gel shampoo, but he still fears it and if there is one, tiny scab he has a bit of a breakdown. So, we do a clip or two, then he is treated. I used the remainder of Formula 4 Feet left over from a previous horse, which is not really lami friendly, but at least he is treated with something nutritious and high value to him, so he really tries hard to keep his feet on the floor and be good. He gets maybe 3 nuts for a good stand! That translates to a handful per session. That is a worthwhile payoff for me.

He also gets a treat for his girth, one for mounting and one for the end of the ride. Plus one for being caught. I know, I have never treated horses before, but with Rigsby, he is simply a pleasure if he is 'paid' for his co-operation. His out and about treats are dried rose hips. One single rose hip per treat. They are pretty negligible.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Have a look at Pure horse treats for a convenient low everything horse treating option, Red. My demand-a-cobs love them but sugar and starch very low, no molasses etc. And they are not expensive.

I might get some dried rosehips for my lot too. I hadn't thought of that. They might be good "lorry treats/horse gin" for scary big stuff out hacking.

 

[Red-1]

Have a look at Pure horse treats for a convenient low everything horse treating option, Red. My demand-a-cobs love them but sugar and starch very low, no molasses etc. And they are not expensive.

I might get some dried rosehips for my lot too. I hadn't thought of that. They might be good "lorry treats/horse gin" for scary big stuff out hacking.

I bought the rose hips for a previous horse, but they are not sweet and she turned her nose up at them. Rigsby is a dustbin though, he loves them.

 

[Red-1]

Rigsby deserves a proud mummy post!

I had intended to ride before work yesterday in the rain, but as I was about to set off I saw that the council had closed the back road due to flooding.

I like a bit of flooding, all my previous horses were eventers and expected to boldly traverse flooded roads, but Rigsby, hmmm don't know if he is yet flood friendly. Yesterday, it was a bit late in the day to go out and potentially have a problem, which could make me late for work, so today I left the yard for 8.30, loads of time to sort any issues.

I prepped him by getting his tootsies wet in every puddle, came to the road and found... Not floods, but a huge hole in the road and barricades from the dyke to almost the thorney hedge.
Well, he was a hero. No hesitation. It was very tight, touched both sides

but he went through with just a bit 'o rhythmic high blowing, knees high and neck arched. No rushing, no spinning, no refusing...

Rigsby is ace. Good job he has been on a diet though, or he wouldn't have fitted through. I'm fact, I have had to increase his feed this month.

At the moment he is more a Ribsby than a Rigsby

 

[cauda equina]

Good boy!

If it makes you feel better about treating him - he is earning them, so they're positive reinforcement and not merely treats
Mine agree that Pure horse treats are delicious. They also like Simple System Haycare (which is just cubes of compressed Timothy)

 

[Red-1]

Good boy!

If it makes you feel better about treating him - he is earning them, so they're positive reinforcement and not merely treats
Mine agree that Pure horse treats are delicious. They also like Simple System Haycare (which is just cubes of compressed Timothy)

The dried rose hips were super cheap, so a few years ago I bought 3 x 2kg sacks. We have rose hips enough for 2 years, I reckon.

I also have 7 remaining bags of horse treats that Rigsby can't have, Spillars herbal ones, with added biotin. What a waste of £££ they were!

Anyway, Rigsby came in like a drowned rat in the monsoon.

There are many reasons I love my husband. This is one of them.

Mr Red would never let a horse have to put a wet rug on. So I am allowed, nay, encouraged, to fetch them in to dry overnight over the dining chairs.

Superman!

I think it helps that I keep the rugs clean!

 

[Red-1]

Rigsby - he may be short on athleticism, but he is not short on character!

Normally, in the morning (6.30) he is at the front of his stable, demanding to be turned out to go get his fresh hay. Except...

Occasionally, when the weather is really bad, he would rather stay in. On those days, he lurks in the back of the stable. Sometimes I have been unable to catch him - you can imagine how impressed I am with THAT little trick, especially at 6.30am! He will turn away, again and again, playing me for the fool.

Other times he will greet me but squeal loudly whenever I try to put the halter on. Sort of compliant, but protesting. It makes me jump. I have given up trying to train this out of him, it seems irrational to train the horse from expressing his own opinion.

I have decreased the non compliant days by offering a dried rose hip whenever he is haltered. Yes, me, who never tit-bitted horses. Rigsby is ruled by his stomach so generally, now, he wants the halter... Unless the weather is bad.

Last night, it lashed it down and was windy. This morning Mr Red was off and I am not working until the afternoon, so I was going to have a leisurely breakfast and ride soon after. Knowing that Riggers would have been out of hay for some time, I decided he could have half his hay in bed before my breakfast. Anything for a happy horse.

I went out to find that today was going to be a 'rather stay in bed' day. He was lurking at the back of the stable rather than being up front. Rigsby was de-light-ed to find I made no attempt to go to him, and shortly after I arrived on the yard his breakfast was delivered.

Breakfast in bed. He actually let out a celebratory whinny. I was serenaded for my efforts.

Rigsby. A horse with his own opinion, and not afraid to share it

 

[ycbm]

The dried rose hips were super cheap, so a few years ago I bought 3 x 2kg sacks. We have rose hips enough for 2 years, I reckon.

I also have 7 remaining bags of horse treats that Rigsby can't have, Spillars herbal ones, with added biotin. What a waste of £££ they were!

Anyway, Rigsby came in like a drowned rat in the monsoon.

There are many reasons I love my husband. This is one of them.

Mr RedView attachment 63659 would never let a horse have to put a wet rug on. So I am allowed, nay, encouraged, to fetch them in to dry overnight over the dining chairs.

Superman!

I think it helps that I keep the rugs clean!

He's a keeper.

 

[PapaverFollis]

You've got to love an opinionated, chatty one.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I absolutely love his personality. And I love even more that you adore him for it, rather than seeing it as a 'vice'.

He kind of reminds me of one of my rabbits - she is VERY opiniated, and will stomp her foot when she's in a grump with me. She likes to let her thoughts be known, and it just makes me love her even more!

 

[Red-1]

Rigsby's morning schooling session...

I love schooling. Rigsby's old owner never rode him on an arena. Rigsby is having to learn my way of doing things

So far, we tackled his pushing into the bridle and stopping him from yawing/snatching. Because he was only allowed 10 minutes at walk, we did this mainly at halt and rein back, until he could then carry it forward at walk. So front end sorted, but, we never really have opened up his stride.

I have been relaxed about that, as he had bad (lami) feet and bad musculature for holding himself, with plenty of compensations going on from keeping weight off his poorly feet. So, his front end has started to look pretty enough, he has started to use his abs due to me keeping the top line longer, but he has never really rounded his back and put himself in a position to open his shoulders, engage his back end and push from behind.

He wasn't ready before, he was still landing toe first, so opening the shoulder would have been uncomfortable. Now, he is better with his feet. 3 out of four heel first landing, the 4th is almost level. He is now allowed to trot.

Trot... At first the transition up was a leap forward, head thrown up and back, his shoulders were earthbound and this was one way to get them out the way. He dragged forwards from the shoulders rather than stepping and driving from behind. Rigsby has a strong sense of fairness, and if I had tried to over-ride and be prescriptive, he would have rebelled

so improvement has to be worth it to Rigsby, he has to think it is of benefit to him.

We have done a few weeks where I have been simply glad to get a trot. Then glad to get one and hold one for a lap or two. Now, we are ready for more.

Our schooling sessions have changed. Now, he has already cracked standing still to be mounted and while I do girths/gloves etc (rose hip treat when he stands still has sorted that!). We walk on and I ask for a swinging walk. I allow a nag for 2 laps (so I know that his joints are moving, he is almost OAP territory!) then I stop using my legs to hold him into the walk. When the walk dies, I ask once, politely, to resume the swinging walk. If he does, happy days. If not, I ask for trot.
He has to trot until he offers a bit of... well at the moment, a bit of SOMETHING as opposed to resentment at having to work! In two sessions, this is working well. As soon as he offers a few steps of something better, he is allowed to walk. I repair the walk (love that phrase) and then be quiet.

And repeat.

So, if he offers a swinging walk without me having to nag him, we just enjoy the walk. I always give him a polite reminder to maintain a swinging/rhythmic walk, he is beginning to realise that this is the easiest option. But, if he ignores my request, we go forth to trot. He is also beginning to realise that if he is enthusiastic, he only has to do 5 steps before he can walk again.

And repeat.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

The good thing is that:
1. We are practicing upward transitions and sometimes they are starting to drive from behind, no ears in my face and a shoulder-hop forwards.
2. We are no longer doing laps, we can do turns, circles (large ones at the moment) and changes of rein.
3. Schooling has more variety.

The sessions are very short, 10 minutes, as he does find moving from behind very difficult. I am also not at all interested in the head end now, he knows how to respond to the bit and we are now teaching how to respond to the leg and use the rear. If I try to sort out both at once, he finds that confusing.

Most people probably think it is like watching paint dry, but to me, it is exciting!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

That improvement is so rewarding isn't it. I took a little section C welsh on loan. She was 16 at the time. Original owner had supposedly done dressage with her but stifle problems requiring a couple of ops had put paid to that so she was sold as a companion at 10. She came sound and was given the go ahead to do a bit of work so someone started riding her a bit and after her some children were allowed to ride her in the arena. The new owner no longer needed her as a companion and thought she would appreciate doing a bit more so put her on loan to me. First time I rode her I really wondered what I had taken on. I was bareback as didn't have a suitable saddle. Very sensible at walk but asked for trot, only very gently and her head was in the air and she went into a jackhammer very short striding trot. It was impossible to sit to. I did very little with her but my sister rode her quite often, only about 10 mins at a time and just in the field. Gradually she learnt that no-one was going to swing on her mouth as I guessed the children probably had and started to drop her head and relax her back. The difference in that pony was amazing and it became possible to believe that once upon a time she had done dressage. Sadly, just after I retired and finally had some time to play with her my sister found her dead in the field. The satisfaction though of seeing that improvement in her was immense and I will always be glad we had her even if we didn't do much with her.

 

[Red-1]

That improvement is so rewarding isn't it. I took a little section C welsh on loan. She was 16 at the time. Original owner had supposedly done dressage with her but stifle problems requiring a couple of ops had put paid to that so she was sold as a companion at 10. She came sound and was given the go ahead to do a bit of work so someone started riding her a bit and after her some children were allowed to ride her in the arena. The new owner no longer needed her as a companion and thought she would appreciate doing a bit more so put her on loan to me. First time I rode her I really wondered what I had taken on. I was bareback as didn't have a suitable saddle. Very sensible at walk but asked for trot, only very gently and her head was in the air and she went into a jackhammer very short striding trot. It was impossible to sit to. I did very little with her but my sister rode her quite often, only about 10 mins at a time and just in the field. Gradually she learnt that no-one was going to swing on her mouth as I guessed the children probably had and started to drop her head and relax her back. The difference in that pony was amazing and it became possible to believe that once upon a time she had done dressage. Sadly, just after I retired and finally had some time to play with her my sister found her dead in the field. The satisfaction though of seeing that improvement in her was immense and I will always be glad we had her even if we didn't do much with her.

I am sorry that had a sad ending. Yes, it is all very absorbing to me. Rigsby hasn't been ridden badly, his old family were great, they just wanted him to hack though, so he needs a whole new skill set. He is 16 this year but I still think he can learn something different.

 

[DabDab]

I love that stage when you've worked a new horse out a bit and come up with a short-term training plan that you can start to just consistently plod through, seeing little bits of improvement week on week. It's so exciting and absorbing

 

[Annagain]

Rigsby's morning schooling session...

I love schooling. Rigsby's old owner never rode him on an arena. Rigsby is having to learn my way of doing things

So far, we tackled his pushing into the bridle and stopping him from yawing/snatching. Because he was only allowed 10 minutes at walk, we did this mainly at halt and rein back, until he could then carry it forward at walk. So front end sorted, but, we never really have opened up his stride.

I have been relaxed about that, as he had bad (lami) feet and bad musculature for holding himself, with plenty of compensations going on from keeping weight off his poorly feet. So, his front end has started to look pretty enough, he has started to use his abs due to me keeping the top line longer, but he has never really rounded his back and put himself in a position to open his shoulders, engage his back end and push from behind.

He wasn't ready before, he was still landing toe first, so opening the shoulder would have been uncomfortable. Now, he is better with his feet. 3 out of four heel first landing, the 4th is almost level. He is now allowed to trot.

Trot... At first the transition up was a leap forward, head thrown up and back, his shoulders were earthbound and this was one way to get them out the way. He dragged forwards from the shoulders rather than stepping and driving from behind. Rigsby has a strong sense of fairness, and if I had tried to over-ride and be prescriptive, he would have rebelled

so improvement has to be worth it to Rigsby, he has to think it is of benefit to him.

We have done a few weeks where I have been simply glad to get a trot. Then glad to get one and hold one for a lap or two. Now, we are ready for more.

Our schooling sessions have changed. Now, he has already cracked standing still to be mounted and while I do girths/gloves etc (rose hip treat when he stands still has sorted that!). We walk on and I ask for a swinging walk. I allow a nag for 2 laps (so I know that his joints are moving, he is almost OAP territory!) then I stop using my legs to hold him into the walk. When the walk dies, I ask once, politely, to resume the swinging walk. If he does, happy days. If not, I ask for trot.
He has to trot until he offers a bit of... well at the moment, a bit of SOMETHING as opposed to resentment at having to work! In two sessions, this is working well. As soon as he offers a few steps of something better, he is allowed to walk. I repair the walk (love that phrase) and then be quiet.

And repeat.

So, if he offers a swinging walk without me having to nag him, we just enjoy the walk. I always give him a polite reminder to maintain a swinging/rhythmic walk, he is beginning to realise that this is the easiest option. But, if he ignores my request, we go forth to trot. He is also beginning to realise that if he is enthusiastic, he only has to do 5 steps before he can walk again.

And repeat.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

The good thing is that:
1. We are practicing upward transitions and sometimes they are starting to drive from behind, no ears in my face and a shoulder-hop forwards.
2. We are no longer doing laps, we can do turns, circles (large ones at the moment) and changes of rein.
3. Schooling has more variety.

The sessions are very short, 10 minutes, as he does find moving from behind very difficult. I am also not at all interested in the head end now, he knows how to respond to the bit and we are now teaching how to respond to the leg and use the rear. If I try to sort out both at once, he finds that confusing.

Most people probably think it is like watching paint dry, but to me, it is exciting!

I'm going to use some of this. Charlie's walk is lovely until he's had a trot, then he thinks coming back to walk means all work is done and he can stop. If he's had a canter he's even worse - how dare I make him carry on after a lap or two of really, really hard (in his mind!) work. So far, I've been staying in walk and just trying to make him think a bit more forwards but he's ultimately lazy so I think the positive walk being the lesser of two evils might well help us crack it. Thanks.

 

[Red-1]

The amazing adventures of Rigsby!

Today I went for an early morning ride, didn't realise how frosty it was until we were out, but Rigsby is barefoot, sensible and knows how to walk like a penguin when on ice, so we kept going.

The sun came out when we had barely set off, that beautiful golden, glowing sunshine, that only happens just at dawn and dusk. It made his mane really pretty!

We came to the road closed signs again, but this time it was because the road was flooded. Rigsby was a superstar! I even had to sing him the superstar song!

The flood was so big, it went right round the bend in the road, so you couldn't see a way out. So big, you couldn't see where the (narrow) road begun or ended and where the verges and ditch were.

Rigsby did his blowing, knees high arched neck and... marched. right. in!!!

The only (slight) issue I had was that it felt like he would like to lie down for a roll ??. But, I urged him onwards and he compiled.

The water was more or less up to his tummy. Where it was maximum depth, he did question mummy's sanity, but I was not for changing my mind, so he stomped onwards. The builders in the house at the other side couldn't believe it when my little war horse emerged from the flood.

Rigsby superstar.





Sadly, he was a little lateral in his walk today ( instead of 1-2-3-4, his was 12-34) which I suspect is because he only had 1 day off from his last walk on Wednesday. So, I have banned myself from riding out again over the weekend

. Rigsby is well deserved of his mummy taking all the time in the world though. His feet were medically shot, so even one ride out a week is a bonus!

 

[SJJR]

I love reading about your adventures with Rigsby. He sounds like one of those horses who instantly become a member of the family, full of character. Nothing better!

 

[Squeak]

That looks like some serious flooding to meet on a hack. Clever Rigsby!

 

[ycbm]

The amazing adventures of Rigsby!

Today I went for an early morning ride, didn't realise how frosty it was until we were out, but Rigsby is barefoot, sensible and knows how to walk like a penguin when on ice, so we kept going.

The sun came out when we had barely set off, that beautiful golden, glowing sunshine, that only happens just at dawn and dusk. It made his mane really pretty!

We came to the road closed signs again, but this time it was because the road was flooded. Rigsby was a superstar! I even had to sing him the superstar song!

The flood was so big, it went right round the bend in the road, so you couldn't see a way out. So big, you couldn't see where the (narrow) road begun or ended and where the verges and ditch were.

Rigsby did his blowing, knees high arched neck and... marched. right. in!!!

The only (slight) issue I had was that it felt like he would like to lie down for a roll ??. But, I urged him onwards and he compiled.

The water was more or less up to his tummy. Where it was maximum depth, he did question mummy's sanity, but I was not for changing my mind, so he stomped onwards. The builders in the house at the other side couldn't believe it when my little war horse emerged from the flood.

Rigsby superstar.

View attachment 63767

View attachment 63771
View attachment 63772
View attachment 63773Sadly, he was a little lateral in his walk today ( instead of 1-2-3-4, his was 12-34) which I suspect is because he only had 1 day off from his last walk on Wednesday. So, I have banned myself from riding out again over the weekend

. Rigsby is well deserved of his mummy taking all the time in the world though. His feet were medically shot, so even one ride out a week is a bonus!

? Ludo would faint!

 

[Red-1]

I fully intended to rest Rigsby on Saturday as he was showing a lateral walk on his last hack on Friday, but then the arena has been frozen on Sunday, Monday and is still hard today. I did walk him down the road in-hand today, just to the next junction, so less than a mile in total, but he handed up with 3 days off and a light day in-hand today.

He was sound even on the stoney driveway right through, so I'm not sure if it was his foot balance or his back that was making him lateral. Or, indeed, holding himself with his back because of his feet... I do know that we had just done 1 1/2 hours riding in 3 days, a step up from what we were doing. I also know that his saddle isn't perfect, he is a short backed horse and in a 17 1/2 in saddle, but I wanted to make sure he was going to be a ridden horse before spending on a new saddle!

The new saddle is a given now, really, but lockdown is putting a slight delay. He is still happy to be saddled, happy to be mounted etc.

Meanwhile, he is due a foot trim. I do him a couple of times a week, and with my other horses I was confident to do them myself, but with him having medically compromised feet, I like Fiona to come and trim properly every 8 weeks. She is a magician. I then just tidy round in between. He has gone over 7 weeks since his last professional trim.

I haven't felt confident to put hoof photos up as yet, other then when he first came. But, today, in the absence of anything else exciting happening, I have taken a quick set of front photos whilst out on the road walking, so not the best photos. I know they are not right yet, but we are going slowly due to the lami.

Fiona is coming for the 8 week trim at the weekend, and also doing a Cranio Sacral treatment, so feet, saddle, back, or any combination of the three, he is having the best this weekend.

 

[ycbm]

Looking really good, Red, but the fronts possibly aren't balanced if you go by the hair line and if the hair line is a true representation of the coronet band. Both fronts slightly higher to the outside? I think the sole shots show it too, in which case I would be wanting to reduce the height of that outside wall.

Looks like some impressive breaking out of an old necrotic layer in the sole on one of those shots. Fairly typical of a bad bout of laminitis in the past.

Lovely solid feet with lots to like! Gotta love cob feet ?

 

[Red-1]

Looking really good, Red, but the fronts possibly aren't balanced if you go by the hair line and if the hair line is a true representation of the coronet band. Both fronts slightly higher to the outside? I think the sole shots show it too, in which case I would be wanting to reduce the height of that outside wall.

Looks like some impressive breaking out of an old necrotic layer in the sole on one of those shots. Fairly typical of a bad bout of laminitis in the past.

Lovely solid feet with lots to like! Gotta love cob feet ?

Thank you. The fronts aren't balanced, indeed, but that is because they weren't balanced the other way a couple of weeks ago, the last time I took photos, and I have over compensated. I am happy that Fiona is coming. I sent the photos to her and she just said to re-bevel the toes and leave the balance for her when she comes. Phew, it is great when you have found someone who you trust!!!

 

[Red-1]

Looking really good, Red, but the fronts possibly aren't balanced if you go by the hair line and if the hair line is a true representation of the coronet band. Both fronts slightly higher to the outside?

A couple of weeks ago...

You can see that I have over-compensated!

 

[Red-1]

Yay, finally got to ride again!!!

Just did 15 minutes in the school, starting in-hand as he seems to have gone soggy to the bit and I wanted to refresh his feel. We did a bit of reversing, then when I mounted it was all fixed

We did a lot less trot today, as the past two lessons where he had to burst forth into trot if he didn't maintain his walk seems to have stuck. The walk was a proper 4 time, very definite steps, so no need to burst forth. There was even enough forward to actually pick the contact up again, and because it was no longer soggy in the contact got some improved walk work.

Feels like juggling sometimes, fix this, repair that, refresh the other.

We only actually trotted half a circuit and one 25m circle each way. It is painful, how weak he is. But, the little trot we got was improved, definite steps and not hollowed against me.

Happy days!

He has started to use the heat lamps prior to work, plus the massage pad and heat lamps afterwards. He says he would rather be out, eating hay!

 

[ycbm]

A couple of weeks ago...

You can see that I have over-compensated!

View attachment 64255

When his soles are all in one piece, you should be able to trim the height of the hoof wall to about 2mm above the sole edge. While the sole is not true, that's more difficult!
.