Shire x Cob, anyone got info, had or have one?

[Mizzbecx]

Hello,

I going to look at a 3 year old 14.3hh atm shire x cob gelding, been broken but I think I'd turn him away for the winter if I buy him after a trial period...

Has anyone owned a shire x cob or has one now?

Wondering if they are a nice placid type of horse? And what everyone tends to use them for?

Any info would be great

 

[Supertrooper]

Yes I've got one, well he's mine and my best friends........

He came from a riding school and we are his fourth home that we know of. Before the riding school he was in a private home and my instructor knew him, thank god as he'd lost so much of his movement when we got him. My instructor nearly cried when he first saw him. He was also hugely overweight.......

When we first got him!

We worked very hard on getting the weight off and also working on his manners as he was an idiot when we first got him and it's not fun when they're that big!!

His schooling now is awesome, his trot is his best pace and makes me grin from ear to ear whenever I ride him, he is good to hack but he has to trust you as he is very sensitive and can be spooky........

Handsome boy

He really is now my horse of a lifetime, he has a very good sense of humour and he thinks he's a little pony stuck in a big body, I wouldn't ever hesitate in getting another shire x cob......

My boy....,

A couple of pointers though....

Groundwork - work on it as it is not fun being dragged around by 780kg of coblet!!! B's has now improved with the help of a control headcollar!

Equipment - he takes 7'3" rugs and the fit can be tricky, we use premier equine, big horse shop and horseware Ireland rugs. Masta stable rugs are also very good fit wise. We also had trouble getting him a bit, we had to get the fulmer snaffle off eBay that was ex military stock.

Riding - don't let anyone tell you they can't move!!!! And enjoy, they are awesome xxxx

 

[Mildred]

We had a chocolate dun Shire x ID. Bloody enormous rude old git he was, like a Sofa x Tank with anger management issues! He was opinionated but kind and fab to ride, fast and buzzy but safe. If his wind wasn't suspect (he was 20 when we bought him) I'd have used him as a hunter. I did have to handle him with a whip in one hand as he had had 20 years of practice at using his immense size and weight to get what he wanted and an 8 stone weakling like me was never going to stop him unassisted - if he wanted to come out of his stable, he came out of his stable irrespective of whatever stood in his path. Clipping and hogging him was always a trauma but he did start to improve behaviour-wise. He went on to teach another person how much fun it was to stomped all over by a single-minded dinosaur.

 

[NooNoo59]

My mate had a shire x id, fantastic, great temperment, just in the end his confirmation let him down as he was a big horse on big flat feet, but she had him for nine years and he was a star

 

[Mizzbecx]

Hope the boy I'm going to see will be a little sweetie!!

He only 14.3hh atm big not sure if he'll go??

I've seen a photo and he doesn't look like he has the thick set of a shire, no feathers etc so hopefully he won't be a tank The woman says he's quiet and I can have him on trial

I've got a pressure headcollar (like a parelli one) so I was thinking of not riding through the winter and doing loads of ground work instead, then vring him slowly in to ridden work through the spring, he'll be 4 then (if I buy him that is)

Looking forward to seeing him now

Here's the photo I've had:- (He's the lad on the left)

 

[Feathered]

Yes! She was my horse of a lifetime, until I very sadly had to have her PTS. 15.2 black shire x cob mare. She had tons of character, she was stubborn, opinionated, intelligent, very friendly, and often hilarious, but damn she always tried her heart out and I miss her so much.

I think they can turn their hooves to most things to a reasonable level. Obviously they won't jump round badminton, but most people don't need a horse capable of that anyway. With mine, we did dressage, XC, SJ, endurance. 3ft jumps were about her limit, but like I said most of us mortals won't need to jump a course higher than that anyway.

If you go for it, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

 

[hayinamanger]

He looks nice, but not much like a Shire x cob, they are a much heavier stamp with more bone and feather. That's not a problem if he will do your job. Have him on trial and ride him a fair bit, then if you buy him, turn him away when you've got to the bottom of him. Looks like he's an urban horse so should be good in traffic.

 

[kirstyhen]

Yep, the boy in my avatar is Shire x something (I suspect a fat hairy coloured cob!), I've had him nearly 12 years and I wouldn't swap him for the world. He has taken me from only wanting to hack, to now having another (slightly more athletic!) horse aiming for Novice Eventing, I would have given up riding if we hadn't have got him I was so nervous!

He is a very honest and safe horse, however he isn't a plod, he certainly knows his own mind and he likes to occasionally point out that he could be very naughty if he wanted to be! He is now 18 and semi-retired, my novice Dad now hacks him out and the pair of them have a blast

He is still my best mate

 

[Mince Pie]

Think mine is shire x welsh D. He's 14.2 and generally pretty sensible although can be a spooky sod at times. He was very hairy before I hogged him and has Shire "cat hairs" on the underside of his neck and belly.

 

[Mizzbecx]

Yep, the boy in my avatar is Shire x something (I suspect a fat hairy coloured cob!), I've had him nearly 12 years and I wouldn't swap him for the world. He has taken me from only wanting to hack, to now having another (slightly more athletic!) horse aiming for Novice Eventing, I would have given up riding if we hadn't have got him I was so nervous!

He is a very honest and safe horse, however he isn't a plod, he certainly knows his own mind and he likes to occasionally point out that he could be very naughty if he wanted to be! He is now 18 and semi-retired, my novice Dad now hacks him out and the pair of them have a blast

He is still my best mate

Glad to hear you were nervous and he brought you on from a happy hacker to competing again, that's where I'm at right now!!!

 

[MollyMoomin]

Not *quite* the same but I think Mollycob is a clydesdale x welsh. She's a total superstar - will babysit me out hacking (I hate it) but will channel her, er, welsh side for anyone confident. Loves her jumping and after telling everyone that my fat little cob couldn't do dressage, she's either won or placed in every competition she's been to (excluding the Trailblazers finals & Area Festivals but I will put my hand up to getting stage fright and letting hr down on both those occasions). She's now pretty established at Elementary (and I am getting grief for not going out to compete!) & working on baby piaffe and passage.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...=a.18513570457.38777.511365457&type=3&theater

 

[IsabelleJ]

Sidney is a shire x TB, looks the same sort of stamp as the one in your photo. He's 16.2 and only a 6 foot 3 rug. He is absolutely brilliant, my horse of a lifetime! Shire crosses not only have lovely paces and a temperament to die for, but can also jump the moon.

Mine is a giant pony, with a great character, sweet to handle (although spent the first 3 months of his life with me trying to persuade me he had never been taught manners and generally being a bargy git!) He is cheeky, but suitable for the most nervous novice (I include myself in that!) He has also been very successful at affiliated Novice dressage, qualifying for the regionals in just a handful of outings.

The only thing about him that is not perfect is that he is rather spooky - from what I understand that can be a Shire trait. He gets nervous about travelling, after a bad experience, but always loads first time. To show you how willing he is, the bad experience was when he fell over in the trailer, ending up leaning on the centre partition with one shoe half off and shaking uncontrollably. 2 hours later, he loaded first time to get back home, despite shaking like a leaf!

Love him. Shire crosses are the best

Isabelle

 

[Mizzbecx]

Thanks you for your experiences!!

Went to see him last night, what a fab character, he took to me right away and his head lent right over for me to scratch his ears

He is only three but they'd been riding him so thought I'd have a go make sure although over the winter I'll prob only do the odd ride and really work on the groundwork until he's 4 and mature.

He didn't bat an eyelid at anything, walked away from everyone on his own and we had a little trot back, plus I can have a weeks trial with him!!

He does need some tlc, he's a bit dull in the coat, little bit scurvey, grass belly and no muscle tone at all so needs some good hay and some feed with gentle exercise, walking in hand, maybe a lunge etc and I think give him six months and he'll be a different horse!!

Excited to go and collect him Sunday now!!!

 

[Feathered]

Ooohh how exciting!!