Show Cob? (+ Small Update)

[sasquatch]

So B has done relatively nothing (which is why he is now fat, rather unkempt and a bit of a couch potato) due to me being away, and me not being well.

He's coming back into work this week, and the yard has a local show in the next 2 weeks - someone suggested to me about trying him in the show cob class. If I do, it gives me a goal and it isn't as hard work on him as a jumping class. He isn't always the best in a ride situation, likes to chase other horses, and working to an outline and using himself is a work in progress he's still learning (but slowly getting there) - I also have no idea what to do in a showing class.

He has no recorded breeding, is currently hairy and fat and I'm not prepared to hog him, so would he be able to do it?
Also, would the fact his canter is more of a shuffle on 4 legs play a huge part in where he is placed?
And what is the required attire?

here he is in all his muddy, hairy glory.

he's also currently going through his awkward ugly coat phase where the dark winter coat falls out, leaves him dusty, dull and even more hairy looking and his nicer, shinier, lighter summer coat comes through in patches.

 

[ponydi]

If he's only coming back into work this week might it be a bit soon for him?

 

[Montyforever]

If he's only coming back into work this week might it be a bit soon for him?

This, he looks a bit too light to be in the cobs class to me too. Looks more mountain and moorland type!

 

[only_me]

How long has he been out of work?
2 weeks of work wouldn't be enough fitness for a show, I'd still only be hacking at a walk at the 2 week point of bringing back into work!

 

[Equi]

I don't think he is hairy but i'm used to yettis now haha Might be worth getting someone who regularly rides in and wins the type of class you are entering to have a look at you and see what you need to work on?

 

[jnb]

He is not a show cob....and a prerequisite for the show cobs are that they are hogged.
If they have a cob type class yes, but show cob no

 

[jnb]

Ps
My show cob at Equifest for comparison

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

If you are only planning on doing the 1 proper ridden class then you should be ok fitness wise if the class isn't huge! All that is required is - walk round the ring, trot round, canter, change of rein, canter, walk, stand still. Individual - walk away from judge, trot back, trot circle, canter figure of 8 then an extension before standing around again. The bit with the other is usually no more than 2 or 3 circuits of trot and canter.

People will probably shoot me down for this! I brought my Dartmoor in off the hill, rode him for 9 days, had 4 days off, rode him the Friday, didn't ride Saturday, show on Sunday. He did his ridden class with ease, did the Concours perfectly, did his in-hand exceedingly well the same for his in-hand championship and only started to fade in his final ridden championship 7 hours after his first class. This pony hadn't been to a show in 3 years and thus hadn't been ridden for 3 years!

As others have said he is not really a proper show cob. If it is only a local/yard show then M&M, Turnout, Cob/driving type would be the class to put him in.

 

[rowan666]

your boy is gorgeous and i wouldnt hog him either but show cobs are hogged and trimmed, tail pulled etc, maybe you could try an inhand class instead of ridden ?

 

[Cinnamontoast]

What's his breeding? I'd say not show cob: here's a pic of a cob class (only local, hence he's not hogged) to give you an idea of what they should maybe look like:

The big grey won everything that day then was nicked! Fortunately, the owners went straight to a local certain field where they found him.

 

[ester]

He's not really a cob and def not a show cob, I also think 2 weeks is a bit soon.

 

[Clare85]

Personally I think it would be a little soon to ask him to do a show when he has only just come back into work. Best to build up fitness and muscle tone first and give him a chance to get used to the change in routine. When I bring a horse back into work, I like to keep them in walk for a week or two, so if he was mine I wouldn't have made it into canter by the time the show came around. No point in putting strain on them by rushing.

Also, I think he looks more of a native type than show cob. He would need to be trimmed and hogged for show cob and he isn't hairy enough to be shown as a traditional.

 

[ihatework]

He is in no way, shape or form a show cob!

If you want to do the show is there an in hand class that might suit him if he's not ready for a ridden class?

He looks very sweet

 

[SpringArising]

Ps
My show cob at Equifest for comparison

I'm sorry, but I have to say something; your horse is extremely obese. I know that fat Cobs are something of a requirement in the showing world, but please think of your horse's health first and foremost.

 

[Tern]

Your pony hasn't enough bone and the mane he has looks messy imo so either hogged or plaited for local, preferably hogged. Working hunter may suit him better however he still needs to be hogged/plaited at the least. Also too soon.

 

[jnb]

I'm sorry, but I have to say something; your horse is extremely obese. I know that fat Cobs are something of a requirement in the showing world, but please think of your horse's health first and foremost.

I don't normally bite but
A) I didn't ask for your opinion
B) my horse is generally one of the least obese in his class
C) the photo is 2 years old
D) if I want someone's opinion I will ask for it, and certainly not someone from the internet who I don't know from Adam. FYI Top Spec and my equine specialist vet have condition scored him as 5.5. And have seen him in real life.

 

[SpringArising]

I don't normally bite but
A) I didn't ask for your opinion
B) my horse is generally one of the least obese in his class
C) the photo is 2 years old
D) if I want someone's opinion I will ask for it, and certainly not someone from the internet who I don't know from Adam. FYI Top Spec and my equine specialist vet have condition scored him as 5.5. And have seen him in real life.

So because your horse is one of the least obese, that makes it alright?

I appreciate you might not want my opinion, but if someone saw a horse who is as thin as yours is fat, you probably would have been reported to WHW by now.

The horse below who is marked as moderate (which would be a 5), looks absolutely nothing like your horse.

FWIW, if I were to have someone condition my horse, I would probably have it done by somebody who doesn't work for a feed company.

 

[jnb]

The reason he looks nothing like your "moderate" is he's a SHOW COB And not a Sport Horse or TB or whatever the example is???
I assume you are at least a vet, showing judge or Equine nutritionist to be doling out your judgement from on high?
As you've said above you'd probably take advice from someone who doesn't work for a feed company....well, I prefer to take advice from someone who doesn't bully from behind their keyboard.

 

[SpringArising]

The reason he looks nothing like your "moderate" is he's a SHOW COB And not a Sport Horse or TB or whatever the example is???
I assume you are at least a vet, showing judge or Equine nutritionist to be doling out your judgement from on high?
As you've said above you'd probably take advice from someone who doesn't work for a feed company....well, I prefer to take advice from someone who doesn't bully from behind their keyboard.

No, the reason he doesn't look like any of those horses who are in good condition is because he is extremely overweight.

Why do I need to be a vet to have half a brain and a decent pair of eyes in my head? It's not rocket science to see who's fat and who isn't, for people AND horses. If I were a showing judge, I'd be praising you for having a fat horse.

If you think I am being a bully then fine. I would rather be a bully and speak up for animals who can't talk for themselves, than to be blissfully ignorant to the health-effects of having a horse who is dangerously overweight.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

The reason he looks nothing like your "moderate" is he's a SHOW COB And not a Sport Horse or TB or whatever the example is???
I assume you are at least a vet, showing judge or Equine nutritionist to be doling out your judgement from on high?
As you've said above you'd probably take advice from someone who doesn't work for a feed company....well, I prefer to take advice from someone who doesn't bully from behind their keyboard.

To be honest, and I'm sure you're going to jump down my throat for this, but I agree with SpringArising, he is gorgeous but your horse is painfully fat. Ignoring the sheer size of his barrel, you must be able to see the fat pads on his shoulder, chest, quarters and his cresty neck (could well be a slightly outgrown hog, photo isn't too clear).

I'm not a vet or a nutritionist, but it is obvious to me, regardless of whether he is a show cob, draft or TB. Sorry.

 

[Tern]

Look, the horse is fat - you can see it on his chest, back end and shoulders in the first photo. But, a lot of horses are. You should be able to feel their ribs - most horses you can't.

Showing horses are pretty much always fat. My welsh d versus showing Ds is a horrific look - the fat things with huge crests (apparently pretty) and then my rather slim Welsh (struggle to keep weight on in Winter).. I find it a disadvantage.

 

[Leo Walker]

I just showed my non horsey OH and he said "its fat, really fat and looks like its been inflated" Hes not horsey at all, but if his first comment is "its fat" I think its probably a good indication that you should know its fat

 

[Jazmyn101]

To be honest, and I'm sure you're going to jump down my throat for this, but I agree with SpringArising, he is gorgeous but your horse is painfully fat. Ignoring the sheer size of his barrel, you must be able to see the fat pads on his shoulder, chest, quarters and his cresty neck (could well be a slightly outgrown hog, photo isn't too clear).

I'm not a vet or a nutritionist, but it is obvious to me, regardless of whether he is a show cob, draft or TB. Sorry.

This.

 

[rara007]

But a non horsey person by default doesn't know what they're looking at Do they think wormy ponies are fat? Or pregnant mares? or 4*/race horses with ribs showing skinny?

 

[SpringArising]

I just showed my non horsey OH and he said "its fat, really fat and looks like its been inflated" Hes not horsey at all, but if his first comment is "its fat" I think its probably a good indication that you should know its fat

Yep! I showed mine too and he said the exact same thing.

I said to him "Just look at the horse. Don't read any of the comments. What's the first thing you think?" and he said "Er. Looks really fat".

Funny how it's the 'experienced' who can't see an issue, and yet a completely uneducated eye can.

 

[conniegirl]

We get that the HHO community hate showing and everything associated with it which is why you have driven off everyone who actually knows what they are talking about when it comes to showing and no quite frankly lots of bad advice on turnout and rules is given out!
I won't bother putting a pic of my hunter up as you will no doubt say he is too fat despite the fact that when he stretches to one side his ribs are visable and they can be felt at any time because he actually has correct muscle in the correct place so looks round!
Nor will I bother putting a pic up of the show cob I had that regularly won ODE's without sweating up because he had an apple bum! So obviously in your minds must be obese, despite the fact that when he got ill and lost so much weight the vets at leahurst were advising he needed a lot more weight on him he still had his apple bum
Or the traditional coloured I used to show who is still in the same condition with her new owners complete with apple bum but now does some serious endurance competitions instead of showing.
An apple bum is NOT always a sign of an obese horse!
A well muscled horse to an uneducated eye can look fat, but unless you can get your hands on the horse then you shouldn't comment as you can't tell

Spring arising I would say whilst those 2 moderate horses are a nice weight someone really needs to work them properly to give them a decent top line!

 

[only_me]

To be honest, and I'm sure you're going to jump down my throat for this, but I agree with SpringArising, he is gorgeous but your horse is painfully fat. Ignoring the sheer size of his barrel, you must be able to see the fat pads on his shoulder, chest, quarters and his cresty neck (could well be a slightly outgrown hog, photo isn't too clear).

I'm not a vet or a nutritionist, but it is obvious to me, regardless of whether he is a show cob, draft or TB. Sorry.

This - he is really fat. But you said pic was 2 years ago, is he thinner now?

Ets- I like showing, there are some really beautiful horses about. And I did a lot of showing when I was younger, from county shows to national championships. So I have seen some obese horses but they tend to be in the minority - the majority tend to be good condition, and well covered but not fat but have correct muscle so look stunning. The cob in question here is obese, sorry.

 

[EquiEquestrian556]

I have to agree with others, he's not a show cob OP. He's very pretty, and I'm sure he'd do well in M&M

jnb, I know that you didn't ask my opinion (and probably don't want it), and I do realise how annoying it is when other people get start giving you their opinions on your horse, but your boy looks fairly overweight. He's stunning, but he looks on the photos to be quite overweight. It's obviously impossible to tell from a photo, but from the photos he looks fat. But you've said that photo is 2 years old, so I'm guessing if he was fat, he's thinner now?

Just to add, I'm not against showing at all, (I do show sometimes).

 

[Tradcob8]

I have seen this horse and competed against him he is certainly not obese! He's a show cob not a tb !!!!

 

[SpringArising]

I have seen this horse and competed against him he is certainly not obese! He's a show cob not a tb !!!!

Why is the fact that he's a show Cob being used as an excuse here? Being fat isn't a requirement of being a Cob, just like being thin isn't a requirement of being a TB.

I don't care if it's a Shetland sitting in a field, a WB who showjumps every weekend or a Cob - fat is fat.