Pictures I've got a cob - a first for me.

marmalade76

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As title, a proper hairy, coloured gypsy cob with a wall eye.

What with lockdown and things being a bit meh, I wasn't doing a lot with the arab so I loaned him to his previous owner who has him at work with her so he's getting lots of work and fun. So I needed a companion for the old Spanish mare and this boy came my way via a Facebook friend, the fact that he's rideable is a bonus.

He was virtually feral until he was five then broken to drive, broken to ride at six (and someone's done a good job) then had a series of failed loan homes before coming to me aged 8. He's a bit green and a bit of a slug most of the time but he has his moments! I've discovered that he's really very clever in a sort of cunning way and I like him. A lot.

Thanks for looking, have tried to add some pics (they're not in order, some are from when we first had him in the summer), I just hope they work. Any cob advice welcomed by the cob novice :)

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Cob Life

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Clever in a cunning way is exactly how to describe the cob I ride!
With the tb mare who people tend to think is more difficult I find I can predict her reaction, the cob not so much! A chainsaw is fine, a sparrow in the bush deserves a leap and bunny hops around the arena ?‍♀️

He’s quite happy just being in the field but when he’s working he likes to be busy or he gets bored and creates his own fun!
 

jojo5

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Skin test with the baby oil first if you want to use it as it can cause very, very irritated skin especially if his skin is pink under those white legs. Hope you are having a great time with him!
 

marmalade76

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Cheers all ? Sorry about that, Bradsmum ?

Clever & cunning is obviously a cob thing, not something I was aware of. The arab is very clever and he likes to show off about it (he just likes to show off in general) whereas the cob pretends to be a dope on a rope and then catches you out. He's got rid of everyone who's ridden him here so far, the daughter, my YO and even me and I don't fall off easy! He is a sweetie, though, tolerates lots of cuddles and his ground manners are superb (that said, I was told he could be naughty to catch but we haven't really had that problem here).

That's good to know about the baby oil, CT, I have been looking at the various lotions & potions in the shops, undecided on what to try, I shan't bother now and just stick to the baby oil. I will keep up with the leg clipping as all that hair can hide a lot of nasties.
 

PurBee

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He looks really kind....ive always wanted a cob!

Love the pic of you and him in the sunset light, the smile on your face says it all....gorgeous! ?
Hope you 2 have many wonderful adventures together...which of course you must share more pics with us lot!
 

Elno

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Aaaaaaw what a lovely chap! ?

I only had a proper, hairy HW cob for a couple of months. As lovely as he (sometimes) was, all the hair was too much for me and he actually turned out to be more sensitive than most WBs on the yard. If it rained, snowed or god forbid blew a bit he would be a nightmare to lead in. I lost count on how many times he dragged me and I lost him, left to sit in the dirt and watch a humongous horse butt thundering back to the stable. That was btw the only times he actually willingly cantered. Getting him to even trot in school was hard work. He had two speeds- slow and slower. A dressage lession with him for half an hour was a real workout for both of us. He also was a catch 22 when it came to feeding-needed to lose weight but became a monster when hungry. To his defence he was 6 and had barely done anything. Previous owner got scared of him and lent him away to someone who grew tired of him eventually and when I bought him he had been a pasture puff in a field for more than a year. So unfit, rather fat and with poor manners. Underneath all the layers of flab, hair and bad manners was a lovely boy though, and I sometimes regret giving up on him so soon... but ALL THE HAIR was too much in the end ?
 

Red-1

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Congratulations!!! I did the same last year. I love my cob in a way that my husband doesn't understand. He preferred posher horses.

Tips... Hmmm... well, we spend the day planning round Rigsby's diet, as he has to diet. Even if yours doesn't have any metabolic issues, I would plan around the diet so it stays that way. They really don't need much food, but they still do need vets and minerals. Then, it is as much about keeping his head cheerful as anything. He is good to catch, because he comes in to a net. The net is tiny, but he knows it is there, so comes in. When I didn't employ this tactic, he could be hard to catch even in the stable! He is ruled by food.

Legs... I clip twice a week. Get some great trimmers (I have the Harmony Plus ones) and it is then no job at all to twice a week whip round them quickly. This keeps the mites at bay and means you will always see any change in Mallenders. Also watch out for swelling, as this can turn to CPL (which mine has mildly), a term I had never even known of, until I got a cob! I use pig oil daily, but NOT pig oil and sulphur, as that would be too harsh for daily treatment. The massage and pig oil means he has no scabs, and hasn't for a couple of months now.

Always patch test, he had an allergy to olive oil!!! Once the Mallenders was under control, I *thought* olive oil would be milder. He lost the hair on his legs, bit by bit!!!

In a mallenders emergency, I have found Meddi Mud to be miraculous. It had better be, as they don't even give ingredients, and that is an issue as it says to keep out of eyes, but not what to do if you get it in eyes. No H&S sheet for the hospital or anything.

I don't haven need of her potions, but do wash mane, tail and legs pretty frequently, with a mild shampoo.

I love my cob, and hope yours gives you every bit of pleasure after your meh year.
 

marmalade76

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Aaaaaaw what a lovely chap! ?

I only had a proper, hairy HW cob for a couple of months. As lovely as he (sometimes) was, all the hair was too much for me and he actually turned out to be more sensitive than most WBs on the yard. If it rained, snowed or god forbid blew a bit he would be a nightmare to lead in. I lost count on how many times he dragged me and I lost him, left to sit in the dirt and watch a humongous horse butt thundering back to the stable. That was btw the only times he actually willingly cantered. Getting him to even trot in school was hard work. He had two speeds- slow and slower. A dressage lession with him for half an hour was a real workout for both of us. He also was a catch 22 when it came to feeding-needed to lose weight but became a monster when hungry. To his defence he was 6 and had barely done anything. Previous owner got scared of him and lent him away to someone who grew tired of him eventually and when I bought him he had been a pasture puff in a field for more than a year. So unfit, rather fat and with poor manners. Underneath all the layers of flab, hair and bad manners was a lovely boy though, and I sometimes regret giving up on him so soon... but ALL THE HAIR was too much in the end ?

That's a shame, sounds like he didn't get the good start this one has so obviously had. I admit that the hair is hard work, this one is super hairy and I detest clipping.
 

marmalade76

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Congratulations!!! I did the same last year. I love my cob in a way that my husband doesn't understand. He preferred posher horses.

Tips... Hmmm... well, we spend the day planning round Rigsby's diet, as he has to diet. Even if yours doesn't have any metabolic issues, I would plan around the diet so it stays that way. They really don't need much food, but they still do need vets and minerals. Then, it is as much about keeping his head cheerful as anything. He is good to catch, because he comes in to a net. The net is tiny, but he knows it is there, so comes in. When I didn't employ this tactic, he could be hard to catch even in the stable! He is ruled by food.

Legs... I clip twice a week. Get some great trimmers (I have the Harmony Plus ones) and it is then no job at all to twice a week whip round them quickly. This keeps the mites at bay and means you will always see any change in Mallenders. Also watch out for swelling, as this can turn to CPL (which mine has mildly), a term I had never even known of, until I got a cob! I use pig oil daily, but NOT pig oil and sulphur, as that would be too harsh for daily treatment. The massage and pig oil means he has no scabs, and hasn't for a couple of months now.

Always patch test, he had an allergy to olive oil!!! Once the Mallenders was under control, I *thought* olive oil would be milder. He lost the hair on his legs, bit by bit!!!

In a mallenders emergency, I have found Meddi Mud to be miraculous. It had better be, as they don't even give ingredients, and that is an issue as it says to keep out of eyes, but not what to do if you get it in eyes. No H&S sheet for the hospital or anything.

I don't haven need of her potions, but do wash mane, tail and legs pretty frequently, with a mild shampoo.

I love my cob, and hope yours gives you every bit of pleasure after your meh year.

Cheers :)
I've had a few natives so well practiced with the dieting. Will look out for some pig oil & Medi Mud (am I likely to find it in the feed shops? I take it it's a mudfeaver treatment?)
 

marmalade76

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I hogged my cob’s mane in autumn as I was sick of the mud dreadlocks.
He currently sports a Mohican which everyone who knows him thinks suits his personality...

I haven't hogged mine because his party trick is head down stop and reverse - any bit of friction helps! Plus I think his forelock is pretty.
 
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