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

[GoldenWillow]

This is lovely to read, they give us so much in so many different ways. When I lost my last horse one the the plus points of buying a 3 1/2 yr cob was that I took all the pressure off myself to be out competing and riding being so full on which I needed after being left physically and mentally battered from previous horse.

 

[Red-1]

This week has been stressy, mum had another fall and hasn't been well, and I was not even allowed to go to the hospital.

Meanwhile, I always recommend Fiona at Fluid Movements, she is a movement specialist as well as a hoof trimmer. It was partly my confidence in her that made me confident to buy a recovering lami horse. However, with lockdown, it has been difficult to get her.

I did a slo mo video of Rigsby showing his funky movement. He seems sound, but not confident in his front feet, a bit clumpy and shortened. He is happy to move, but bilaterally not 'right'. I sent the video to Fiona, and she was able to visit. Yay!

She trimmed and he is now only 50% of the clumpy movement. He walked out on the street for the first time today and he was definitely firing on more cylinders than before. He is also a LOT more fluid in his movement. After just 1 visit!

Fiona is a magician!

She says to stick with the amount of work we have been doing, 10 minutes in hand on the street or 10 minutes ridden on the arena. She is coming back in 4 weeks.

I attach a photo from the other day. Rigsby is ace! Pretty useless, but ace. Makes me smile every single day.

 

[ycbm]

Oh look at that nose ?

His, not yours ?

PS, sorry about mum.

 

[Red-1]

Oh look at that nose ?

His, not yours ?

PS, sorry about mum.

His endorphin trunk comes out when you scratch his heels, his withers or when you ride him. Also when you are making his tea.

He is now growing a moustache, which will make the trunk look even bigger!

 

[Red-1]

I saw that Reverend from the local big parish church had broadcast a remembrance service on YouTube this morning. I have to admit that I didn't watch it all, but that was for a good reason. I really appreciated that, in these difficult and different times, she, as ever, was doing what she could to make it better. Give some normality, pay respects.

So, I was inspired to throw off my sad face, get off the computer, and grab my horse to take our daily exercise, arriving at our village Church at 10.56. A small group of people and dogs were also taking their exercise. We paid respects from the pavement, socially distanced.

It felt right.

I am apart from mum, but mum would always go to the church on this day, so I feel that I honoured her too. I guess Rigsby honoured the fallen horses, although mostly he was fed up with having to stand still!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I attach a photo from the other day. Rigsby is ace! Pretty useless, but ace. Makes me smile every single day.

View attachment 58439

He's not useless! He just has a different job from the one that your previous horses had. His job is to make you smile now, while life is throwing everything that it can at you.

 

[Red-1]

He's not useless! He just has a different job from the one that your previous horses had. His job is to make you smile now, while life is throwing everything that it can at you.

I am sorry, "useless" was very much tongue in cheek. Rigsby is amazing. I had a lot of resistance to me buying him, from so many places, but I was unrelenting, even when I saw that his passport said he was a rig

He is fitting in just fine. I smile a lot.

 

[Red-1]

I caved, I like to faff and groom my horses but, while Rigsby was unclipped and unrugged, I couldn't do much grooming as he needed some waterproofing. He couldn't even wear a no fill rug with his thick coat, and that was inconvenient as he took hours to dry.

Also, his long hairs got caught in the girth when checking it, and his beard got caught in the bridle and halter.

Although he is only doing 10 minutes in walk under saddle, he could sweat!

I am rubbish at straight lines, so I paid a horse-hairdresser to do him. She knows me from when I had sporty and athletic horses, and when she heard about Rigsby's various maladies, she asked, "What on earth did you buy him?" But, by the time she had finished, she said. "I love him!" such is the draw of Rigsby!

The first one is Rigsby on his 10 minute in-hand walk, he had noticed that the neighbours had changed their fence and was very interested. I think he looks beautiful. I think I will let his mane continue to grow wild.

 

[milliepops]

very smart

 

[PapaverFollis]

MrT has that rug. And he's about to get a similar haircut!

 

[TPO]

He is very handsome ?

 

[Lexi_]

He’s so lovely! Really suits that rug colour too.

 

[ycbm]

He does have a beautiful face. I see the tache is growing well ?

 

[sam72431]

He looks lovely. Hope you have lots of fun together. The Bailey's lo cal is good not sure if already recommended ?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

He is lovely! I do like a cob moustache but tbh, unless you want to trim his tail every week, I would shorten it a bit. It's amazing how much mud a long cob tail can pick up!

 

[Rumtytum]

He’s just such a handsome dude and turquoise was made for him ?

 

[Red-1]

He is lovely! I do like a cob moustache but tbh, unless you want to trim his tail every week, I would shorten it a bit. It's amazing how much mud a long cob tail can pick up!

Noooo I already shortened it by 3"! Only because it was getting cacked up with pig oil , oh, and it was starting to touch the floor and I worried about what would happen if he reversed onto it

I too love the moustache. I hope his mane and forelock grow wild too

 

[Rosemary28]

I love Rigsby!

 

[Red-1]

Rigsby has been naughty!

Yesterday (Sunday) he had a bit of a rash on his neck. Not from being hot, as it was on the naked side of his neck, not under his mane... I decided it may have been because on Saturday, after his blanket clip, his bed was bolstered with 5 extra bales of rape straw (so he can have a full pillow too). The rape straw is admittedly a bit scratchy when first down (especially on newly naked skin!).

He was turned out, it rained but, being a cob, he was fine and not cold (he did have his waterproof on). The rain stopped, the sun came out, it was riding day so I shot out to grab him and tack up. Yay!

For the first time ever, he was a bit grumpy for the girth. I led him to the school and each time I hitched the girth up, he grumped and even tried to scratch the area with his teeth, pushing me out of the way to get his teeth on the girth.

I am a kind and thoughtful mummy so I took into account that his girth is a cord one and may be pinching, took him back to the stables for a super sheepskin girth cover for his newly naked tummy. That seemed to do the trick, he visibly relaxed and even did a sneeze-release of tension.
So, into the school, did the girth and stirrups, started to lead him to the mounting block ready to get on. Yay! Hmmmmm, suddenly something didn't feel right.

I looked round just in time to see Rigsby sink to his knees for a reight good roll. I shouted to stop him, after all the saddle is worth more £ than Rigsby is, but no, knees to tummy, to flat out on his side ON THE SADDLE

Nope, my bull terrier, maxi-Shetland had decided to scratch that itch with the floor, and I had to jump up and down like a jumping jack to reverse his decision! He was furious!

I decided that maybe it wasn't the best day to ride after all!

I hauled him to his feet, got a lunge rein and tried to lunge at walk. Nope, Rigsby was furious that I had stopped his itch-scratch-roll extravaganza, he went running round squealing, leaping and bucking.

It didn't last long, he is a cob after all, and he finished with good walk work.

Happy to say that he was sound then and is sound now. Still has a bit of a rash and is itchy. The old owner says that being itchy is normal for him after clipping. I did hot rag, so I suspect the bedding is the culprit. He is like the princess and the pea.

Today was walking out day (we alternate riding on the school and walking out in hand, to be kind to his feet), out walking he was happy and keen to get on with it, despite the excess energy expenditure yesterday. I hope this means his feet are on the right track for increasing work in the not too distant future. No soreness at all.

Meanwhile, I think riding can wait until the rash has gone!!!

 

[PapaverFollis]

Oh dear. Norty Rigsby! He looks very smart though.

 

[Winters100]

He is a really handsome boy and I bet you are going to have lots and lots of fun with him!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Sorry, but I don't believe a word of it...frankly, he looks the absolute picture of innocence ?

 

[planete]

I am also learning about cobby tantrums. Mine likes to behave like a slug (not that he is allowed!) but can throw awesome shapes if he gets in a strop.

 

[Red-1]

Oh dear. Norty Rigsby! He looks very smart though.

He was, but I was still laughing at him!

However, I am happy to say that the rash has gone and normal ridden service has been resumed!

Today he was happy to come in, happy for the saddle to be slung aloft, happy for the girth to be cinched up (although it did still have a fluffy on) and presented himself at the mounting block to be mounted!

I am happy that I listened to him, he has always been so good, so I suspected it was a genuine reason.

Today we also had a breakthrough! I know, it is hard to have so many breakthroughs when we only ride for 10 minutes at walk, every other day, but we are having them!

When I first got Rigsby, he would pull into the bit and brace, with a heavy feel. If you tried to 'use the rein' he would brace and insert his ears up your nose. If you tried to use just one rein, he was gawp his mouth open and wang his head in the opposite direction to the one you intended, just to grab the rein back. He was a delight to ride, as he was happy and obliging, but the idea of soft contact didn't seem to be there. I don't think it was there for the previous owner either, as she had him in a dutch gag, martingale and noseband and reported he still wouldn't canter behind! Bless the Maxi-Shetland.

We had already come to anarrangement, where he will yield either to both reins, where he will come 'in' or to turn his head with one rein. He had even started to be able to turn off the outside rein, clever Rigsby. But, it was all still not 'right' as I could not get the same feel on a long rein.

Today was the breakthrough. We did some walking (what else? LOL) and I would ask for a few shorter but active strides. This brought the contact a lot softer than a simple yield, he started to hold himself in a much nicer frame. I then found I could lengthen the rein and YAY, he followed the contact out and down, still holding it softly.

YES! We had his neck telescoped out, his abs doing 'something' and his whole body changed shape. His walk swung.

10 minutes at walk can be very rewarding, on a Rigsby!

 

[Rosemary28]

I love your Rigsby updates! What a lovely chap he is

 

[Red-1]

It was walk-out-in-hand day for Rigsby today, in high winds. I did it as soon as I got home from work at lunchtime, so before his 2nd Hay net. On the street he was actually very good despite the wind.

Last time I walked him out at lunchtime, Mr Red put the new net in/took the empty net out whilst I was out walking, so he found it when we got back. This time Mr Red is at work. You wouldn't think that would matter?

We got back, I put his rug back on and turned him loose whilst I closed the gates and set off to get the new net. He strolled over the the shelter to eat hay and found... the OLD EMPTY net still there.

No hay.

Rigsby was furious.

Hangry.

Blamed me.

The first I knew of the misunderstanding of when new hay would be delivered was when I heard the squeal.

Followed by thundering hooves.

Rigsby threw himself across the paddock, squealing, bucking, leaping and generally doing a right old carry on. He can launch off all fours

There is stress and then there is Rigsby. He makes me smile, laugh and double up. A real bull-terrier maxi-shetland, with a lot of opinions and the sass to tell me all about it!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Haha, you soon learn not to mess with a cob’s routine when they are expecting to be fed ! The IDx here is the same .

Love the Rigsby updates, please keep them coming.

Is that a Heather Moffat seat saver on your saddle? I barely noticed it at first but, having one myself, did then spot it. They are very comfy.

 

[Red-1]

Haha, you soon learn not to mess with a cob’s routine when they are expecting to be fed ! The IDx here is the same .

Love the Rigsby updates, please keep them coming.

Is that a Heather Moffat seat saver on your saddle? I barely noticed it at first but, having one myself, did then spot it. They are very comfy.

No, it is one of the gel out ones from Acavallo. It is also very comfy!

 

[McFluff]

Brilliant - loving the Rigsby updates. Everyone should get this much fun with their horse

 

[planete]

I think Rigsby and Woody might be related. After my very gentlemanly old Arab cross Woody has come as a bit of a shock, he is never backwards at telling me very forcibly what he expects from me. He is a much heavier build than Rigsby but as quick and agile as a goat when he wants to be with quite a temper if thwarted. I like to put the hay in different places in the field but Woody has been know to lose his temper if he thinks I am taking too long about it. A mock charge by a small tank of a pony followed by furious circling left me rethinking my tactics the other day. We are working on respect towards humans right now!