Sukistokes2
Well-Known Member
I have been looking for a new horse since Feb, I had to retire my last horse and my old boy is mostly retired. I can not really afford to make a mistake, as I can not afford another pasture puff and emotionally I could do without it. Due to being splattered a number of times by my last lad and being a bit of a wuzz with new horses, I have been taking my time. I am however, after the same as everyone seems to want, a sane and sensible cob standing at about 15.2hh. Me and most of Britain it seems,. The prices on this sort, esp if it has bone and feather, is simply amazing, I saw a 15hh very green cob with limited experience and they wanted and got over 5K. I have decided that I may have to compromise and focus on the most important thing, which is temperament and quality. I therefore went to look at a little Irish cob, no feather but good bone for type. He is also much younger then I wanted, being six. He is in the yard of a reputable dealer who also has a heavy cob, this cob is lovely but the dealer has said that he simply is not for me, as he is unpredictable. This dealer is well known for his honesty with clients and I respect his opinion. The little Irish cob is much nicer in the flesh, as while the dealer may be good with horses, his skills with a camera leave a lot to be desired and he has made what is a nice little horse look a bit deformed. I was pleasantly surprised, the cob, while only 15.1 and finer then I wanted has good bone and could easily deal with my weight. He also has a good amount of mileage on him hunting and is as sound out on the road as a horse can get. He also has done little schooling so has not been pulled about into and "outline" I watched him ridden in the school, it was really hot and the flies were out in force, there was a bit of head shaking but he had flies latched on to his face. When I rode him I was nervous at first but ended up walking , trotting. cantering and going up the road. I am going back and the dealer has said i'm to try him out as much as I want. He had one baby moment again over the swarms of horse flies, I sat this and got him back on track no problem. I took to him and found myself defending him, the next horse i went to see I was totally uninterested in and I found myself defending this little cob, I have given him a name in my head. The thing is he is not the traditional cob I set out to buy. On paper I am better off moneywise, I can use the "saving" to pay for help to get used to him and school him on. He is a more versatile sort, I could even do a bit of jumping. Should I let the traditional obsession go? Or stick to my guns? If I do have this horse who is going to remind me how to plait a mane?
He will of course be vetted before I buy
He will of course be vetted before I buy