Natives vs coloured cobs?

Surbie said:
This. I really would love a native, and I would be so happy to be able to get on something from the ground, but I am concerned I would be too heavy. It's shifting a bit, but realistically I will never be lighter than 12st plus riding gear.

I've never been that attracted to coloured cobs, but I can see why people like them.
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But you would just LOVE a Highland! So strong and sturdy they wouldn't even know you were there! Along with most Welsh D's, up to height C's, Fells and Dales!

tda said:
Well I'm dales pony all the way, 😁 currently have 10
I think like everyone says, keep them in, feed them up, not enough work will blow their brains. Feed very little, work them more than you'd think possible and you'll have a superstar.
Very tricky to find one up and going (7plus) but they are out there
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I've never ridden a Dales! Admired them - we have the Kilmannan ones up here that Richard Telford produces so beautifully - but never had the chance to sit on one! Same with an Exmoor and a Connie surprisingly! I have sat on every other Native breed though! I don't get on with Welsh very well, never have of any section, no idea why I just haven't!
 
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Forgot to mention, I once bought a fell, beautiful youngster, very amenable. Once we get her started though she was quick, in a good way, but after I'd fallen off a few times I realised we weren't suited so I sold her to a teenager who has done everything with her and still owns her 10 years later
 
I'm only little, so my Exmoor is perfect for me, especially since he decided to grow 2 inches bigger than he was supposed to.

Temperament wise, he can be spooky, he has a very high sense of self preservation, but he's honest & genuine & is really starting to come out of himself. He hacked with a new pony last weekend over a track he'd never done before, with only one very understandable spook at some red & white tape in a hedge.
 
Dave's Mam said:
I'm only little, so my Exmoor is perfect for me, especially since he decided to grow 2 inches bigger than he was supposed to.

Temperament wise, he can be spooky, he has a very high sense of self preservation, but he's honest & genuine & is really starting to come out of himself. He hacked with a new pony last weekend over a track he'd never done before, with only one very understandable spook at some red & white tape in a hedge.
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I will add, an Exmoor can carry much more than me. They are horses on little legs, deep chested, broad & very strong.
 
I do love mine but she’s put everyone who’s met her off fells for life ha!

When she’s on side she’s amazing, she tries her heart out and is always in the ribbons...but catch her on a bad day and you might as well walk away as fast as you can.

Maybe its a fell thing or a mare thing or just bad luck!
 
Love my Connemara he'll turn his hoof to anything and at 14.2 carries me well. My daughters section b has a face of butter wouldn't melt but will alway push the boundaries with her. Can't beat natives
 
There's an equine therapy centre for people with autism not that far from where I live. I drove passed it a couple of days ago and interestingly the majority of the horses in the fields were coloured cobs. I think that's a testament to their temperament.

I also know someone who's confidence has recently suffered a knock who has loaned out her overreactive sport horse and bought a very chilled out, confidence giver coloured cob. Shes having a great time and is really enjoying riding agsin. I think the right one is worth its' weight in gold.
Long live the coloured cob;)
 
Based on my own experience, I'd put it down to two things: firstly, natives are much harder to find than coloured cobs, and secondly, that what coloured cobs lack in the looks department, they often make up for in terms of personality.

When I came home with Mary, I'd had both natives and cobs on my list of types to look out for. I wanted something low maintenance, hardy, and a lot less dramatic than my big boy, as whatever horse I chose was going to become one of three, and that had never been the plan (later four, but that's a whole other story)! They also had to be reasonably safe and sane, but my budget was never going to stretch to a made horse, so I knew I was limited to either a youngster or a problem equine.

I can honestly say I didn't see a single native that fit my criteria the whole time I was horse hunting! There were a couple of adult Ds within budget, but they sounded loopy. There were a few weanlings too, but I wanted something I could crack on with straight away. What there was, in abundance, was youngish coloured cobs that sounded relatively vice-free. The quality varied between them, but quite a few seemed like useful types.

It was Mary I came home with, and TBH, she's ended up being everything I ever wanted: sweet, kind, uncomplicated. She doesn't feel remotely cob-like to sit on - in fact, she gives an incredibly comfortable ride. She's forward, responsive, but never pushbutton. In my eyes, she's pretty close to perfect for what I and lots of other riders want to do i.e. happy hack, have fun, and take part in some level-level events.

The only native I know well, on the other hand, has put me off Fells for life. I'm sure he's not representative of the breed as a whole, but I thank my lucky stars he's not mine!
 
I went out with a coloured cob in mind but ended up with a Highland and a week in I couldn't be happier. Natives just hadn't really occurred to me before people on here suggested it to me. It seems to be about availability as much as anything. For every 20 coloured cobs for sale round here you might get a native and most are Welshies.
 
I must admit my somewhat limited experience temperament would not be something I would want in coloured cobs all have been bargy rude reactive and down right dangerous to ride. So I suppose what you experience colours your view of them somewhat. Every single one has been head shy or had a bad start probably due to rough handling. So I would be very choosy about viewing one it would have to be a stud bred one at no more than 6 months old
 
It's natives all the way for me (well more strictly speaking native x TB on account of my height). I've owned Section D x TBs for over 25 years and they fit me perfectly - fast, hardy and good looking all round riding horses.

I'm really not keen on cobs, I find them generally unattractive, bad mannered and unenjoyable to ride. I appreciate there are many cob fans who are very happy with their horses; they're just not for me.
 
When I think of natives.... Exmoor Dartmoor Welsh A, B & C - too small. Connemara - commercially popular so ridiculously expensive quite a lot of the time. Highlands, NFS and Section Ds - I adore them, I’ve had a section D who I should NEVER have sold, I was stupid at the time! But a coloured-not-cob-more-an-ISH-build-apparently came along at the right moment.

I visited another yard recently and was swooning over the section Ds, I would need any influencing!

ETA - sorry, Fells, not a fan of feather I’m afraid! Shallow I know
 
Lévrier;13799709 said:
When I think of natives.... Exmoor Dartmoor Welsh A, B & C - too small. Connemara - commercially popular so ridiculously expensive quite a lot of the time. Highlands, NFS and Section Ds - I adore them, I’ve had a section D who I should NEVER have sold, I was stupid at the time! But a coloured-not-cob-more-an-ISH-build-apparently came along at the right moment.

I visited another yard recently and was swooning over the section Ds, I would need any influencing!

ETA - sorry, Fells, not a fan of feather I’m afraid! Shallow I know
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And you have missed out the most important native of them all - THE SHETLAND!!!!!!

Tut tut!
 
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