New cob owner could do with some advice please!

[katherine1975]

Daisy dancer - please get legs checked out. I thought our cob had mud fever for ages and was treating it as such she had scabby heels but it turned out to be mites. I didn't clip the feathers off just used frontline as prescribed by the vet. She lived out all winter last year with feathers on and didn't get mud fever.

 

[**Vanner**]

Thankyou everyone for the brilliant advice!!
On closer inspection today i discovered that under all that hair her heels are a bit scabby so i'm wondering mud fever??
Thankyou for all the good wishes as well, i'm proud to join the 'cob club'! X

Mites can lead to scabs so get vet to check. My boy has had several sets of dectomax but best thing I found was an ivomectin wash which has sorted my boy out after a two year battle.

I would definately stick to a french link or lozenge bit. My boy has a shallow mouth and can't stand single joints or hollow mouth bits. When my boy gets a bit like this - usually in spring! I have a market harborough that I use to rinforce my aids when he would otherwise be charging around like a loon although this is certainly no substitue for lessons and clear aids!

I would also second the feeding and rugging situation. All are different but my boy is a hot one and needs minimal rugging in comparison to others despite always being clipped! I also feed him weighed hay and high fibre cubes and happy hoof in which to mix his supplements.

I adore my cob as I am sure you will; and remember - cobs can!

 

[Supertrooper]

Shell have scabs with mites as well. Get vet out as it'll go on and on and on if you don't treat her for the right thing xx

 

[hairycob]

Mites can cause scabbiness, so I wouldn't rule it out. If they are real scabby scabs with broken skin underneath, rather than extreme dandruff, then you will probably need to clip off the feathers to treat them properly. Vet is definitely the way to go to be sure. Don't underestimate the little blighters, they made HP so sore once the Vet had to give him a pain killing injection to get him to walk out of the field - big wuss that he is.

 

[rose bud]

I have just had a skim read through and no one has suggested diet.

Did you keep her on the diet she was on in her last home or has that changed? Only the slightest change can make cobs "rude", a little bit strong, or sharp.

Also a change in grazing can impact the mineral balance and upset the status quo in her head. (calcium/magnesium out of sink).

Low carb, sugar, starch is a good place to start for a cob.

As for a bit, I think lessons along with teeth and tack check is a priority. That way you will be able to work out if she is just green or it is something else.

Have fun with her! She sounds brill.

hi, thankyou for the advice about the feed, that was another question that i had regarding cobs!
In her old home she was only fed after exercise which wasn't that often and then she was fed, sugar beet, chaff and pasture mix.
I had started giving her a feed of hi fi lite morning and night but have now stopped as i really dont want anything to give her too much energy.
She is now only only on grass and is maintaining weight, i put hay in the field but the haven't touched it so i'm guessing there is enough grass at the moment.
I do worry whether she's getting enough vits and mins though.

 

[joginthepark]

I always try out differant bits. After all not one bit suits every horse.

Another good test is:
Hold the bit in your hand (Wrap your hand around the bit)
Get some one to pull back on the reins
Pull on one side

That way you can feel what the bit in doing as you are holding it with one hand
That give's you an idea if the bit in Pinching your horses mouth or tongue.

I like Myler bits as the bit moved with contact.

(check out myler bit website)