PLEASE HELP. FUTURE HORSE DILLEMA

[Abbieabbieabbie]

Hey!
So around January time 2020, I’m wanting to purchase my next horse.
Im currently horseless and my last horse was 2 years ago, since then I’ve been working around them and riding them.
IN NO WAY am I implying that I know my stuff and I’m top tier experienced so I can do what I want! I’m not , which is why I need your help.
I’ve rode Wbs, Cobs And tbs. however, I only feel thorough enjoyment when I’m jumping onto a tb.
I’m wanting to purchase an ex racehorse that’s been off the track for a good few years and also been in retraining, I’ve seen a fair few , but as I said, I’m waiting until everything’s right .
HOWEVER, I am being pushed into buying a cob. I’m wanting my next horse for hacking and preferably jumping when the time comes.
Everyone is telling me that ex racers are no good and they will just walk all over me, and they need more than just a quiet hacking life.
Does anybody have any idea in which direction I should go?
Thankyou.
X

 

[Firefly9410]

I suspect you have been talking to idiots! Plenty of cobs are bored by just a plod round the block now and then. Plenty of TBs are laid back and a safe hack. You sound experience enough to ride one and if you have owned horses before chances are you have been on yards with some TBs and have probably seen they are not all mental. Sounds like people are saying all novices or first time owners must have cobs when a cob can easily turn into a thug in the wrong hands anyway so it is no guarantee of safety. If you want a TB then get a TB. If you find you are not working it enough for its needs get a sharer or pay someone to exercise for you. Same goes for any horse.

 

[Abbieabbieabbie]

I suspect you have been talking to idiots! Plenty of cobs are bored by just a plod round the block now and then. Plenty of TBs are laid back and a safe hack. You sound experience enough to ride one and if you have owned horses before chances are you have been on yards with some TBs and have probably seen they are not all mental. Sounds like people are saying all novices or first time owners must have cobs when a cob can easily turn into a thug in the wrong hands anyway so it is no guarantee of safety. If you want a TB then get a TB. If you find you are not working it enough for its needs get a sharer or pay someone to exercise for you. Same goes for any horse.

THANKYOU SO MUCH!!! We have the same mindset! They are small minded and go by stereotypes, but when they all say the same thing it becomes believable and degrading ! I’ll have multiples hours every day morning and night free to spend with my horse and I just have an urge and passion for ex racers! Thankyou again, your reply gave me hope ! X

 

[Bellaboo18]

Did you own a horse 2 years ago?
Yes it's a stereotype that all cobs are plods and all thoroughbreds are skitty/sharp however most stereotypes come about for a reason. Your average thoroughbred will be harder to keep and sharper than your average cob.
As long as your honest/sensible about your level of experience there's no reason there's not an exracer out there for you.
I'm just wondering if people that know you are telling you to get a cob it might be due to your experience?

 

[Firefly9410]

Then I will add find a different yard to keep your new horse at nobody needs to be surrounded by that much negativity all day from these people. The above poster has a point though so be prepared to invest in some lessons with the new horse if necessary.

THANKYOU SO MUCH!!! We have the same mindset! They are small minded and go by stereotypes, but when they all say the same thing it becomes believable and degrading ! I’ll have multiples hours every day morning and night free to spend with my horse and I just have an urge and passion for ex racers! Thankyou again, your reply gave me hope ! X

 

[Abbieabbieabbie]

Hi! Thankyou for your reply.
I absolutely 100% know my capability and in no way am I

Did you own a horse 2 years ago?
Yes it's a stereotype that all cobs are plods and all thoroughbreds are skitty/sharp however most stereotypes come about for a reason. Your average thoroughbred will be harder to keep and sharper than your average cob.
As long as your honest/sensible about your level of experience there's no reason there's not an exracer out there for you.
I'm just wondering if people that know you are telling you to get a cob it might be due to your experience?

Thankyou for your reply.
In no way am I trying to imply that I could deal with big problem horses or even have the same ability as someone who would, 2 years ago I owned a tb and she was lovely, then I went onto loaning a cob who had awful manners and I couldn’t get to grips with, after that I loaned a welshie who was also terrible for manners. Recently I have worked in a riding school rather than loaning. I completely understand that stereotypes are there for a reason, I just don’t believe that should put me off completely. The people who are telling me these things all own cobs and have no experience with tbs, just negative things to say about them x

 

[Firefly9410]

Ok so now I understand why people are saying it will walk all over you. Two horses with bad manners which you could not sort out, alarm bells at this! so you need experience with that sort of thing. Not a problem necessarily but do not wait for a big problem to develop with whatever you buy get help sooner not later. Maybe consider keeping your horse on a yard with experienced staff or yard owner so you have help straight away if you need it. Maybe they think you are a bit too soft hearted with horses sometimes? Sometimes you need to be tough and take no nonsense from them. Good manners takes time to teach but are quickly eroded.

 

[Abbieabbieabbie]

Ok so now I understand why people are saying it will walk all over you. Two horses with bad manners which you could not sort out, alarm bells at this! so you need experience with that sort of thing. Not a problem necessarily but do not wait for a big problem to develop with whatever you buy get help sooner not later. Maybe consider keeping your horse on a yard with experienced staff or yard owner so you have help straight away if you need it. Maybe they think you are a bit too soft hearted with horses sometimes? Sometimes you need to be tough and take no nonsense from them. Good manners takes time to teach but are quickly eroded.

I agree with you 110%!!! I have two lovely ladies who have miles more experience than me willing to help if I ever need it, I’m doing courses & diplomas etc at the moment which teach me about how to handle situations like this and I’m practicing them at the riding school. Obviously this has no comparison to what it would be like with my own but it helps! I’m surrounded by experienced people if I ever fail to correct something myself so that’s a bonus I guess x

 

[Bellaboo18]

In 2 years, you've had 2 failed loans due to handling. It does make you sound a novice horse owner, nothing wrong with that but make sure you don't overhorse yourself.

 

[Firefly9410]

You are being sensible it is not easy to learn about problems until you are thrown in with them. You are right riding school horses is no comparison they may each have a book of tricks but are worked hard fed little leaves no energy for real playing up. Not saying you should not own a horse yet if you determined then go for it but expect a huge learning curve. Depends what you buy something really nice well trained (your first one sounds like this) is easier to keep that way than one arriving with problems needing sorting out. You could learn a lot from sharing a variety of different privately owned horses for a while though to gain more practical experience and learn how to overcome common behaviour issues. If you did this try to avoid the shares where the owner is too scared to go near it those ones would be too much for your ability right now.

 

[Shay]

F & B have good advice. I would just add a couple off points. The sort of horse you want - off the track some time, well re-trained etc, is also going to be sought after and more expensive. Make sure your budget is realistic to buy something that really meets what you need. Its very easy to get suckered into a cheaper (or simply more available) horse that needs more retraining than you might be placed to give. Also budget for a regular sympathetic trainer. Build in the need for at least one lesson weekly for the first 6 - 12 months.

TB's tend (yes I know stereotypes again!) to cost more to keep and more in vets bills than natives. You'll need more rugs (thinner coats). More feed. Possibly more vets bills - they are just inherantly less hardy. Just build that into your budget.

One more thing... sorry - can't resist - I do get the point about cobs. If you can't enforce manners with them they can turn into absolute thugs. But - in your quest for a TB perhaps don't entirely write off a TB cross like an ISH (They can come with their own set of issues though!) or a finer native like a Connemara. Getting the right horse personality for you is more important than the wrapper it comes in.

 

[Trouper]

When you love a TB you just love a TB - I sympathise!!! Having bought an ex-flat racer who had been out of training just a year (and being retrained as an eventer - failed!) I thought I was being quite sensible. With hindsight I would now go to one of the re-training organisations who have good skills at assessing the horse and the rider to make sure they match. So have a look at places like the Thoroughbred Re-training Centre and others round the country who let you visit more than once and can give you the best guidance. You certainly don't want to start with ground handling problems so the more you know about the horse the better start you will have with him. Some people adore cobs and I get their enthusiasm but it is just as well we all have our own favourite breeds!!! Good Luck.

 

[oldie48]

Just to chuck something else in the mix why does it have to be a choice between a TB or a cob? I don't like cobs because I like a finer horse but that's a matter of taste. All of our horses with the exception of a full connie had at least 50% TB a couple were full TB but not OTTB. They were all well mannered and nice to hack (eventually). If it's a price thing the sort you ar looking for won't come cheap as someone will have put a lot of work into it doing the retraining or it will be older(which is not necessarily as bad thing).

 

[rascal]

Sounds like people are trying to put you off because you just gave up on the ones that were less easy to handle. Whatever horse you have, and i have known TBs who were plods and bonkers cobs/natives,Maybe get a share horse for a while so you get more experience. Riding schools are great, but so many people find the reality of handling and nipping problems in the bud is beyond them.
A girl we had riding one of our ponies, and from a riding school, although she was a cracking little rider, knew nothing about riding outside the school,and all the horses we had, took the pee for a while. If it is your own horse taking the mick, you need to deal with it, whatever horse you have.

 

[Orangehorse]

I would go to a TB rehoming charity where the horses have been re-trained and they match the horse with the new home. If you just get anything off the racetrack it might be OK or it might be a dangerous nightmare.

Just think that a TB's natural pace is gallop, and a cob's natural pace is trot!

 

[eggs]

I've had a couple of ex-racers and found that they were both great to hack. One was very much a failed racer and he had absolutely no interest in racing anyone that we were out hacking with and would happily plod along at the back. The other had been reasonably successful and if we were cantering I had to be in front as he very much wanted to race any horse in front of him! They were both very good in traffic and not at all nappy. Both had very good stable manners but then again I am pretty hot on this and can't abide a bolshy horse. As others have said though they are definitely not the cheapest option to keep.

I have ridden a couple of cobs and neither were for me although I do appreciate that there are some very good cobs out there.

You do have a choice of more than just a cob or a TB though.

 

[spugs]

Management wise I’ve found my cob much easier, it’s just a constant weight loss battle but no feed,anxiety issues, rugs, vets, skin rubbing off because they touch something.
My cob needs very firm handling or he’ll walk all over you but so did my Tb when I first got him the difference being the Tb would explode while the cob will just drag you off to the nearest patch of grass.
Ridden wise both of mine were very green when I got them and wouldn’t hack alone. The cob was much easier to sort out he’d nap a bit but it was all done at a sedate speed, the Tb was very sharp and we never got a nice quiet solo hack though it was the cob who put me in hospital 😂
I no longer have my Tb as I couldn’t offer him the experience, time or financial commitment he needed, my cob is a much easier animal though still not straightforward.