Price question about cobs - are they really going for this much?

Natch

Natch

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Just wondered if the prices I have seen today whilst mooching horsequest are realistic.

For a 15-16hh cob (coloured/black/grey type, nonspecific breeding) between the ages of about 7-12 they all seem to want £4-5k. For this price you would appear to get a horse who is a jack of all trades but master of none.

I know I've just given a broad age range there, but is this sort of price really the going rate? It just seems quite a lot of money. I know I haven't bought a horse in the last 10 years but still :o

Is it just that I am incredibly out of date with what sort of price these critters go for?

Your thoughts please.
 
I have a 5 year old 14.2hh and someone offered me..... 10k for him!!!! OH said sell, sell, but hes mine and I'm keeping him (so hard to find another one like him), so yeah they are going for silly money.

I got him as a 4 year old, for 2k not done anything and very green. He's now schooling nicly and has been to a number of parties, and came 6th in our first ever dressage test!! Love him :D
 
They do seem to fetch a premium, although bargains are to be had, usually through word of mouth. My 11 year old,15.1hh cob is a keeper and owners of the good ones don't tend to sell them. Plenty of green 4 year old geldings about though.
 
If said cobs are of good temperament, conformation, sound, vice free, uncomplicated to shoe, clip, load, etc., can jump coloured and natural jumps, reasonably schooled, maybe local level dressage competed, hunted, can hack alone and in company, good in traffic, etc then yes, well worth the money. Cobs are brilliantly hardy all rounders, worth their weight in gold if trained correctly and treated like the sensitive souls they are (yes, they do require sensitive handling and understanding, as much as some hot breeds do. Their intelligence can often be misinterpreted as dimness or stubborness or "attitude" I believe!).
All this costs. Oh, and their sense of self-preservation is second to none so extremely safe as ridden animals which makes them superb hunters.
I'm a two-cob owner, by the way, so a fair weight of gold in my paddocks as they both tick all of the above boxes!
 
Cobs are quite hardy and generally very well mannered as a type so I suppose this is why they fetch a good price, but I've noticed the prices have crept up now they've become more fashionable as well.
 
Well I hope the prices stay realistic when I sell Freddy and Harry as three year olds next year - or earlier if the right homes come along! At the moment, you'd get both for£4k, now there's a bargain!
 
It does depend on what you're looking at but trade amongst the travelling community is very down so prices to each other have dropped (per a good friend that deals with them A LOT in coloured cobs). Also if you look at the sale prices at the Autumn cob sale they were well down on last year: http://www.brightwells.co.uk/. Unfortunately this doesn't then translate across when looking at privately sold cobs.
 
Yes good ones are holding their price.
i know someone who just paid £5500 for a 4 year old .They didn't even ride it before purchase.(he is rather gorgous though)
i think that many people want something good enough to show,and with the introduction of maxi cob classes the flood gates have opened.
 
autumn7 said:
If said cobs are of good temperament, conformation, sound, vice free, uncomplicated to shoe, clip, load, etc., can jump coloured and natural jumps, reasonably schooled, maybe local level dressage competed, hunted, can hack alone and in company, good in traffic, etc then yes, well worth the money. Cobs are brilliantly hardy all rounders, worth their weight in gold if trained correctly and treated like the sensitive souls they are (yes, they do require sensitive handling and understanding, as much as some hot breeds do. Their intelligence can often be misinterpreted as dimness or stubborness or "attitude" I believe!).
All this costs. Oh, and their sense of self-preservation is second to none so extremely safe as ridden animals which makes them superb hunters.
I'm a two-cob owner, by the way, so a fair weight of gold in my paddocks as they both tick all of the above boxes!
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Totally spot on (except the attitude bit)! My cob mare jumps 1.20 SJ, pops BE100 and Intermediate fences, got 19.5 for her dressage when she did BE, hacks, is good in traffic, is totally uncomplicated, would show and is loved by all - she has a waiting list if I ever decide to sell her. Mind you - 10k would tempt me.....:D:D
 
But don't Brightwells deal essentially with cobs of welsh origin, Magsnpaddy? I may be wrong, but looks like it from the site, I've never been.
 
autumn7 said:
If said cobs are of good temperament, conformation, sound, vice free, uncomplicated to shoe, clip, load, etc., can jump coloured and natural jumps, reasonably schooled, maybe local level dressage competed, hunted, can hack alone and in company, good in traffic, etc then yes, well worth the money. Cobs are brilliantly hardy all rounders, worth their weight in gold if trained correctly and treated like the sensitive souls they are (yes, they do require sensitive handling and understanding, as much as some hot breeds do. Their intelligence can often be misinterpreted as dimness or stubborness or "attitude" I believe!).
All this costs. Oh, and their sense of self-preservation is second to none so extremely safe as ridden animals which makes them superb hunters.
I'm a two-cob owner, by the way, so a fair weight of gold in my paddocks as they both tick all of the above boxes!
Click to expand...

Ditto above.

For a first time horse owner (for example, not saying people with cobs should or are only first time buyers or novices by the way) but for someone who is buying a horse to do a bit of everthing on, easy to keep and often quite cheaper to keep, 4 to 5k is quite reasonable if you compare it to other horses around that size and price range and what your able to do with them.

But yes I see your point, it's strange how things have changed.
 
I would say that the vast majority of horse owners are either happy hackers or local riding club level so a horse that can turn his hoof to most things and not necessarily excel at any one thing would be absolutely ideal.

Personally, I like something with a little more Zing but even so - this time around I have gone for an ID cross so certainly a lot less Zing than my TB/Trek I had when I was considerably younger.....

They are also very popular now - people are looking past the snobbery of the "p*k*y cob" and seeing the true value of a "dope on a rope"!!

Also, some horse owners do not have the time to spend schooling - they just want to get on and ride their animals and when the fancy takes them, hack to a local show and do a couple of classes of whatever they fancy by it clear round, showing, dressage, cross country or a sponsored ride.

How wonderful it would be to have any animal that is large enough to take an adult but has the attitude and hardiness of a pony to just drag it out of a field, flick a brush over it and do whatever you fancy.

ALso, who can put a value on safety eh?
 
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They do seem to cost a fair bit but I think a lot is to do with fashion. They are very fashionable as safe low level allrounders for the cautious self preservationist.
Personally I think any horse that's safe, well trained with a nice temp is going to be worth a bit more. I dont understand the 'cob craze' though, yes there are lovely ones but the three I know 1. Bolts and while safe 80% of the time when it does freak out it's sharper than my TB. 2. Bolshy to handle and actually very sensitive, not a novices horse at all 3. Sweet little horse but lacks confidence, spooky out hacking and a bit rubbish at jumping (rushes). Training obviously has a lot to do with it but there a nice cobs and horrid, badly conformed cobs like there are with any 'type' of horse so personally I don't see why just because a cob is a cob it should be worth any more.
 
"except the attitude bit"

Rubyredshoes - this relates to one of my mares who I do find I have to have polite discussions with from time to time though she's very easy to win round and from then on butter wouldn't melt. She's an alpha mare , extremely independent (love this aspect of her) and can be opinionated. She's also exceedingly brave. My older cob's also a mare but gentle as a lamb, passive natured and can be easily trodden on, although also healthily independent and was brave in her youth, less so now in old age.
 
I think also several people I know have a cob as well as their 'posh' horses which is kept out and used if their horse goes lame or they have a guest- a 'bob the cob' hunts all day can do children through to men, good doer.
But had my cob since I was 8 and he can carry my 12st OH. Few other types have this range.
 
I payed £1000 for my 14.1hh coloured cob 5 years ago,he was unbroken 3 yr old,Was totally green,couldnt touch back legs.Now at 14.3hh
hes the best horse you could ask for,so layed back (most of the time.) lol
There are some cheap ones out there,you just have to keep a look out.
 
mcnaughty said:
They are also very popular now - people are looking past the snobbery of the "p*k*y cob" and seeing the true value of a "dope on a rope"!!

QUOTE]

I'm afraid neither of my cobs fit this description - IMO people often assume cobs = dope on a rope and whilst mine are both fab all rounders, and huge fun, as I get bronced round the SJ as George shows how athletic he is, dope on a rope isn't quite the thought that comes to mind :D:D:D
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Oh yes. Mini TX hunts my cob. He is 17 going on 18 and we were recently offered £6.5K for a safe, mannerly conveyance across country. It does help that he is jet black, has 4 white socks, a big white star, spot on conformation and very handsome head. Oh yes and he is a good, safe jumper. Dope on a rope he aint, he will never be for sale as to me he is priceless.
 
I bought a 14.3hh 4 year old just backed irish piebald cob in July, I part exchanged another pony but ultimately he cost me 3k - he's in my signature :D

My 9 year old daughter can ride him, he's one of the safest hacks I know.
He does have his moments related to being 4 and just backed, but they are mini in comparisson to other horses his age, and he will only get better with age.
He does have a "try it on streak" but his resistence is minimal.
He's a dope on a rope, but also an awful lot of fun, he can plod away for a beginner but can really pick up the pace for an experienced rider. Everything is easy with him, farrier, vet, loads first time, he's just a really sound lad.

Worth 3k...........most definitely, his type are very hard to find. There is a reason these horses are popular, they can turn their hooves to anything, easy to keep, are hardy and rarely have health or injury issues. You can leave them in a field for a week and then take them on a hack and they are generally just the same.

Brilliant all round horses, but I think you should get one and a reasonable one for 3.5k, 5k seems a little over the top to me considering the current market x
 
Older ladies returning to riding post motherhood and full-time working.

They have the time and the money and want to ride safely. Cobs may not always be quiet and safe, but they do look like they should be and that is what sells I think.
 
i bought a 15.1 coloured irish cob mare in august, 8 years old,able to jump 1.10 courses and extremely quiet.did find she had a catteract in one eye,which hasnt been a problem.is forward going if asked or quiet enough for a child.she cost £2500
 
These type of horses are in demand and are really the only types which are selling in this current market. I've noticed that once they are broken in and know the basics, they sell for quite a decent price.
 
My friend was offered 20k for her coloured cob!!

It was at the pc champs for open jumping and eventing - 3rd showjumping, had 20pen xc - but has been clear at two CCI*!!
 
Ha ha ha! No I don't think cobs are dopes on ropes: had far too hairy a moment on assorted show, traditional and welsh cobs to believe that rubbish! However, I quite like feeling like I'm not sat on a blade and like i've got a horse appropriate to my build underneath me :p

Its just that last time I bought a horse (show type cob) he was considered expensive at £2500. :o I had expected it might have got up by up to £1k in the last 10 years.

From the general consensus, I'd better start saving ;)
 
autumn7 said:
But don't Brightwells deal essentially with cobs of welsh origin, Magsnpaddy? I may be wrong, but looks like it from the site, I've never been.
Click to expand...

Yes they tend to be from the Welsh breeders - as I said price will vary greatly depending on what "type" of cob you're looking for. I was just giving examples of how trade is down in those areas. We've got a cracking 4yo from the Brightwells sale at home, obviously buying from a sale is a bit more of a risk but if that's the type you're looking for it's a good place to look.
 
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