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

[Pinkvboots]

Well, I'm not RIDING him yet, but I'm not sure a little sit and a walk once each way counts?

I will do a lot of his fitness in-and at first as he has lost muscle tone, but it was nice to climb aboard!

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You look really good together

 

[southerncomfort]

Lovely smiley picture! I expect their will be very many more of those over the coming weeks and months. He sounds fantastic. ?

 

[Red-1]

Rigsby had a little secret....

On his passport, where it declares sex of horse, it does not say mare or gelding....

It said....

RIG!!!!!

Hence RIGsby!

BUT....

I didn't think he was a rig.

He is too nice.

I bought him on the assurance that he hasn't shown rig behaviour and because I LIKE him...

I put my money where my mouth is, but had him blood tested for testosterone as soon as I could, 1 week ago...

Just to be sure!

...and we have just had the blood test result as to whether Rigsby is a rig or not...

The results are in!

 

[Tiddlypom]

And.....?

 

[milliepops]

aaaaaaaaaaand........

 

[Pippity]

I say he's an exceptionally well-natured rig, just because cobs love to be awkward!

 

[Goldenstar]

Aaaaaannnnndddddd.........

 

[southerncomfort]

Not a rig and now you have to change his name....???

 

[PapaverFollis]

Uh oh.... aaaaand?

 

[PurBee]

He is Sooo cute!
wishing you many happy, feathery years together!

my favourite breed are cobs really...love the chunky stoutness and hardiness of them.

 

[Red-1]

Rigsby is... NOT a rig!

YAY

However, I kind of like the name Rigsby, so it is staying.

Phew, that was a bit of a risk!

I kept it a secret as some people were a bit negative about Rigsby already, and I didn't need anyone else telling me I was any more silly to buy him. I liked him, he was mine.

Rigsby has been great, 7 days running hand walking on the road and 6 days running ridden in the school. 15 minutes approx of each. Road walking is up to 1 mile now, not a single mis-step on his bare feet. He was barefoot for 15 years though, and only 12 weeks with shoes - but that was box rest, shod, with Lami - so I want to take it slowly.

Twice now, I have been strolling along and there has been a big temptation to tie the rope round and vault on, to ride bareback home. He he.

Ridden has also been great. He is learning to go on the bit, learning leg yield, learning rein back and learning turn on the forehand. He is still loving being a, "Good boy!" and tried really hard. Today I *may* have done a circle in trot . Lets say, there is plenty to work on yet!

 

[ycbm]

I would find that soooo funny right now!

He is amazing, the more I say, "Good boy!" the more he does!

I feel so happy with him. On paper he is not 'desirable' but he is just 100% perfect!

Thank you all so much, he is becoming very important to me!

Today's action selfie!

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Just look at your smiley face ?

 

[Julie Ole Girl]

What a great name, lovely pony, he'll be calling you 'Miss Jones' before you know it lol (Rising Damp for those who are to young to remember!)

 

[PapaverFollis]

Yay for (nota)Rigsby!

 

[chaps89]

Your enthusiasm just bursts out if your posts, he's very lucky to have found you, I love your updates, thanks for sharing them

 

[Red-1]

I hadn't intended to just yet but, having had 2 very stressful afternoons trying to sort out mum's finances, I thought soddit and took Rigsby for our first hack.

Even stopped a random member of the public and asked him to take a photo. Probably got coronavirus all over my phone. Who knows? Didn't lick my fingers straight after, so it should all be OK.

Rigsby was very jaunty, he doesn't like big traffic. We didn't actually meet BIG traffic, but we did meet rattly trailers just as a huge plane flew low overhead, so he thought something BIG was coming. It was lovely to be out in the sun, plodding the lanes.

That was all I wanted him for. A furry face to love and a horse to meander the lanes.

 

[Rosemary28]

Oh what a lovely chap! I'm not going to lie, I am a little bit in love with him. I can't wait to hear more about your adventures together.

 

[Pippity]

He's such a handsome chap!

 

[Red-1]

Oh what a lovely chap! I'm not going to lie, I am a little bit in love with him. I can't wait to hear more about your adventures together.

He has been a perfect fit for my life at this time. I felt a little bit broken inside, and he was a little bit broken too. On paper he wouldn't have been a 'good buy' but he is amazing. Best purchase for me at this time. Plus, I have lost another 4lbs in the 16 days he has been here, as I want to shrink to fit!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Love Rigsby in the pic! ‘Yeah, whatever, new mum takes me out hacking in a new place, makes me stop and pose for some stranger, oh ok then’.

Lovely boy.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I love your updates! So great to hear things getting off to a positive start, and hopefully many happy adventures to come.

 

[Red-1]

Am I boring you all yet?

After his grand hack, Rigsby's feet were fine. I still wanted a low impact feet day for today though, so we had a play on the school.

All of my horses learn to play football, but somehow it seemed more of an achievement when a flighty one masters it. Rigsby pricked his ears at first, but really wasn't bothered. I ended up riding him whilst he kicked it round, neigh bother!

Cobs rule OK!

 

[Rumtytum]

Am I boring you all yet?

After his grand hack, Rigsby's feet were fine. I still wanted a low impact feet day for today though, so we had a play on the school.

All of my horses learn to play football, but somehow it seemed more of an achievement when a flighty one masters it. Rigsby pricked his ears at first, but really wasn't bothered. I ended up riding him whilst he kicked it round, neigh bother!

Cobs rule OK!

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Will never be bored by Rigsby and you! He’s simply fab ?

 

[southerncomfort]

Love hearing how you're getting on. ?

 

[ycbm]

Am I boring you all yet?

Oh stop being so silly ? !

 

[Tarragon]

Love seeing how you are getting on. I think he is smashing

 

[Red-1]

Rigsby has been a star.

I have had a week of tottering times, trying to sort out mum's finances (she is in a care home). Yesterday, I was down, but tacked up and went on our second hack. Rigsby was great!

Every day a school day. I learned not to let him get close to low hanging trees. Man, that horse has an appetite! He is very determined and was quick enough to get a mouthful.
Greedy Rigsby!

He is a spritely ride, walks on really well. Had to do a little trot to get out the way of a car, he sets off on a jaunty manner then too. Nice Rigsby.

Today, I had another tottering time on the phone, email and text to the bank. So, I went to ride my horse in not a great frame of mind. I had texts, calls and email to respond to whilst I was bringing him in, it made me feel scattered.

This is where my previous horse would struggle. She needed me peaceful and on the ball. In fact, I would have abandoned riding altogether today.

Rigsby didn't really care. He loves his work, is cheerful when saddled, now knows how to park up at the mounting block. He was co-operative and tried to learn, and when I was clumsy in my explanation, he just metaphorically shrugs his shoulders and goes abut his day.

I really fancied a ride out, but Rigsby was landing slightly heavier on his near fore yesterday, so we stuck to the carpeted school (literally carpeted, the new surface is made of chopped up carpets

). He feels sound, is forward and cheerful, the slight heavy landing was just in one place and could have been simply the camber of the road, but I want to play it safe as he has been lame so recently.

Rigsby is a breath of fresh air. He is ace.

 

[Keira 8888]

After a torrid 2 years of stress (not horse related) I have sold the posh competition horse and bought my first cob!

Introducing Rigsby!

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Fetched him yesterday - before anyone has a fit, I was NOT grazing him on the lawn, I was walking him to his field, where he wears a muzzle, he only had half an hour, and we are scalping it when we have bought diesel this morning. He was like a terrier in a maxi Shetland body on the way and made me feel like a hapless 10 year old as he grabbed a mouthful!!!

Rigsby is 15 years old, he was owned by wonderful, caring people who had to sell him due to personal issues. He has EMS and has just recovered from mild lami (which caught them by surprise and was caught extremely early) and is ready to start coming back into work.

Rigsby is admirably slim right now (his sticky out bits actually stick out!), and his owners have given me feeding instructions, which I will follow. But, I wondered what else I can do. He is on soaked hay, 8kg a day unless he has time at grass ( up to 3 hours with a muzzle) when the hay is reduced. He has just a single handful of chop when he comes in, which I will continue as he comes to call because of it! Once he is back in work he will be able to eat a bit more bulk, which will please him greatly, I think.

Also, he has his legs clipped to keep scabs under control (which they are) but I would love to try to grow his feather. His old owners tried all sorts, including the mite injection, but his scabs are persistent. They are controlled by a good scratch every morning, so it may be that he needs to stay shaved.

I must confess, I don't feel like I own Rigsby, I feel like he now owns us!

My plans are to get him back to daily hacking, which is the only thing he has ever done so far. I am stressed and busy right now, and having a furry pal to walk the lanes is just the ticket. He has obviously been very well cared for, he is confident and friendly.

Oh my goodness, he is gorgeous- what a handsome fellow! Congratulations ?

 

[ycbm]

Rigsby has been a star.

I have had a week of tottering times, trying to sort out mum's finances (she is in a care home). Yesterday, I was down, but tacked up and went on our second hack. Rigsby was great!

Every day a school day. I learned not to let him get close to low hanging trees. Man, that horse has an appetite! He is very determined and was quick enough to get a mouthful.
Greedy Rigsby!

He is a spritely ride, walks on really well. Had to do a little trot to get out the way of a car, he sets off on a jaunty manner then too. Nice Rigsby.

Today, I had another tottering time on the phone, email and text to the bank. So, I went to ride my horse in not a great frame of mind. I had texts, calls and email to respond to whilst I was bringing him in, it made me feel scattered.

This is where my previous horse would struggle. She needed me peaceful and on the ball. In fact, I would have abandoned riding altogether today.

Rigsby didn't really care. He loves his work, is cheerful when saddled, now knows how to park up at the mounting block. He was co-operative and tried to learn, and when I was clumsy in my explanation, he just metaphorically shrugs his shoulders and goes abut his day.

I really fancied a ride out, but Rigsby was landing slightly heavier on his near fore yesterday, so we stuck to the carpeted school (literally carpeted, the new surface is made of chopped up carpets

). He feels sound, is forward and cheerful, the slight heavy landing was just in one place and could have been simply the camber of the road, but I want to play it safe as he has been lame so recently.

Rigsby is a breath of fresh air. He is ace.

What a great update to read Red, I'm so pleased for you!
.

 

[wills_91]

I need a Rigsby in my life!