Lighthearted quandary- Dressage cob - feathers on/off

[Muddywellies]

Opinions please. Whilst I love the fact that my Welshie is out there dressaging and not doing too bad, and I love to embrace the Welshiness, I also think in the dressage arena they look a little smarter without feathers. I just can’t decide, feathers on or off ?

 

[ester]

my own welshie looks top heavy if you take his feathers off even though he has reasonable bone.

 

[milliepops]

I'm also in the feathers-on camp, mine is built like a brick outhouse and would look stupid without them.

I also don't want to hide what she is... her tufty feet are part of her native identity

 

[Fiona]

Need pics

I love my connie and welsh sec A's 'feathers'.....

Fiona

 

[AdorableAlice]

When Ted The Twit did a bit of dressage (unaff) he had far higher marks with feather on. The reason for this was his gait is very balanced and tick tock to watch, the feathers really highlighted this.

Feathers off and his gigantic feet caught the eye far more as did his Shire knee action. Feathers, in his case, disguised an awful lot of faults !!

 

[AFB]

Feathers on!

I had to take my Welshie's off one spring to treat a skin condition properly and he just looked plain odd!

 

[Lintel]

On 👍

 

[w1bbler]

Flowing feathers look great in dressage test, especially against a background of more 'usual' dressage types taking part

 

[deb_l222]

Embrace the feather

 

[Tiddlypom]

Off! Though the mane needs to be tidy and short, and the beard etc need to be trimmed too to rock the look.

 

[Littlebear]

Definitely on! I love seeing their feathers flying and seeing a change from the exact same type of horse over and over (btw I have generic dressage horse so I can say that )

 

[scats]

Feather on!

 

[tda]

Definitely on x

 

[Leo Walker]

For cobs, off! But for a welshie definitely on

 

[Teajack]

For cobs, off! But for a welshie definitely on

Ditto this!

 

[Britestar]

Cobs on, welsh on. When you get a great medium trot with all that floof, its looks amazing!

 

[ihatework]

Would need to see the horse in question!

 

[milliepops]

Cobs on, welsh on. When you get a great medium trot with all that floof, its looks amazing!

I'm biased obv,but flying fluffy feet make my heart sing 😂

 

[ester]

me too (borrowed ex hhoer riding , cant find one with me on.

and this demonstrates the top heavy issue accurately.

 

[Surbie]

Feathers on. Makes any movement look lovely.

My cobbus looks weird without his - shaved off in 2017 when his scabby bits were allowed to get out of control so I know it really doesn't work for him.

 

[BMWKIPP]

Off, mane off too.

 

[ester]

Oh I have photos of mine hogged too, it didn't help lol

 

[milliepops]

and this demonstrates the top heavy issue accurately.

K would look like that too except with carthorse-sized clompers on the end of her legs 🤣

 

[Muddywellies]

This is so interesting. My very old school 80 year old yard owner who’s from the era where cobs pulled carts (she’s an ex dressage rider/trainer) said if we want to do better I should take her feathers off. I was a bit upset at this (tho I think she meant well) as it seemed she thought I should be trying to make her look like a WB. It did get me thinking though . . . . .

 

[milliepops]

My trainer told me to leave them on. I was never in any doubt but nice to have him on my side 😉

 

[Tiddlypom]

Sec D, legs always clipped, mane sometimes hogged.
Shoot me now .

 

[Muddywellies]

Sec D, legs always clipped, mane sometimes hogged.
Shoot me now .

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Beautiful 💕

 

[Tihamandturkey]

Sec D, legs always clipped, mane sometimes hogged.
Shoot me now .

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Stunner 🤩

 

[McFluff]

Definitely on. Loving all the welshie pics

 

[Bernster]

I prefer the hogged look but have to say those pics are all super cute. Look like tassels!