Showing help - traditional coloureds or cob?

Rh88

Rh88

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Showing fans I'd like your expertise: I have a 15.3hh (approx, need to get him measured) coloured cob. I've bought him as an all-rounder and I'd like to try some showing with him. He's currently trimmed with clipped feathers, but does grow a good amount of feather and flowing mane. I'm wondering if he'd be best suited to cob classes (and I'd hog) or traditional/coloureds? I have no great expectations, just like to have some fun and put him in the class he's best suited to. He's unfit and needs to build muscle, but he's a sweetie! Here are some pics of him currently and when he was hairier...Screenshot_20210117-162942_Photos~2.jpgScreenshot_20210117-165952_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20210117-163140_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20210117-163836_Photos.jpg
 
Meanwhile I don't think he's anywhere near hairy enough to be a traditional, and poss too big to be a native as not pony enough (bspa up to 15.2 tho). I'd prob trim and plait.
 
That's not his full feather pictured, they were mid-growth when I bought him. Good to know re height, thanks!
 
Local level you could do both but county he is too tall for cob classes and his not a typical maxi cob, but his a nice sort so I would get him out at some local events and go from there really.
 
Littlewills said:
If hes 15.3hh ish he will almost certainly measure in at 15.1hh without any trouble at all. Hog, clip and trim to within an inch of his life and he should be more than fine for local level
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After dehydrating him, putting him in a horse walker all night, or using a measuring stick with a pin in the bar for a while before the height certification? I've heard of all those methods used.

I don't know how else you get a genuine 15.3 to measure 15.1?
.
 
ycbm said:
After dehydrating him, putting him in a horse walker all night, or using a measuring stick with a pin in the bar for a while before the height certification? I've heard of all those methods used.

I don't know how else you get a genuine 15.3 to measure 15.1?
.
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My experience has been that most people are not very accurate when measuring and most horses people say are 15.3 generally measure in at around 15.1.

My lad is a full up 13.2hh and has several height certs to prove it. I’d have no problem what so ever taking him and getting a height cert at 13.2hh tomorrow with just the removal of some fluff from his withers but most people if asked will look at him and say 14hh easily. He is a big pony that fills your eye! Most peoples home measuring sticks are also not particularly accurate and often prople measure with shoes at home rather than without
 
ycbm said:
After dehydrating him, putting him in a horse walker all night, or using a measuring stick with a pin in the bar for a while before the height certification? I've heard of all those methods used.

I don't know how else you get a genuine 15.3 to measure 15.1?
.
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If he’s 15.3 at 11 years he wouldn’t measure in, but showing people get their cobs measured before they are matured and then they have a life height cert and get fed too much and just by looking at a county lineup you’d be pushed to see anything vaguely resembling 15.1.

And yes, lots of unpleasant strategies have been used to help bring horses within height.
 
Difficult...with hair he is (as someone else as said) more Native than Traditional, the most important thing for a cob really, is how he moves.
If he has knee action then Native (so think a coloured version of a Welsh D in trimming / turning him out)
If he moves from the shoulder and covers the ground that way then consider hogging and trimming. HOWEVER....the Maxis are really Sumos not Maxis nowadays.
If you're only doing unaffiliated you really could do either - but to hog a cob of 15.3hh you'd really need a good 9.5-10" of bone, and a really good depth of body & i am not sure your cob has enough depth of body to make a really good example of a show cob.
 
conniegirl said:
My experience has been that most people are not very accurate when measuring and most horses people say are 15.3 generally measure in at around 15.1.

My lad is a full up 13.2hh and has several height certs to prove it. I’d have no problem what so ever taking him and getting a height cert at 13.2hh tomorrow with just the removal of some fluff from his withers but most people if asked will look at him and say 14hh easily. He is a big pony that fills your eye! Most peoples home measuring sticks are also not particularly accurate and often prople measure with shoes at home rather than without
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That is also my experience with many being up to a hand smaller than the owners believe, a horse or pony with real presence and a good front often appears far taller than it is.

looking at the OP's photos unless the rider is very tall I think it unlikely he is over 155cm,
 
Rowreach said:
If he’s 15.3 at 11 years he wouldn’t measure in, but showing people get their cobs measured before they are matured and then they have a life height cert and get fed too much and just by looking at a county lineup you’d be pushed to see anything vaguely resembling 15.1.

And yes, lots of unpleasant strategies have been used to help bring horses within height.
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My heavyweight was measured as a mature horse, they cannot get a life until 7 and he was 8 or 9 when he got his, with no unpleasantness involved, yet at local level he would have towered over most.
 
be positive said:
That is also my experience with many being up to a hand smaller than the owners believe, a horse or pony with real presence and a good front often appears far taller than it is.

looking at the OP's photos unless the rider is very tall I think it unlikely he is over 155cm,
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Agreed. If he's measuring 15.3 at home, with shoes on he should easily measure 15.1.
 
minesadouble said:
Agreed. If he's measuring 15.3 at home, with shoes on he should easily measure 15.1.
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If he really does measure 15.3 on a stick with a spirit level on level ground, and it's not an owner guesstimate, then how do you get a 15.3 horse to measure 15.1 by taking off the shoes?

Genuinely confused.
 
ycbm said:
After dehydrating him, putting him in a horse walker all night, or using a measuring stick with a pin in the bar for a while before the height certification? I've heard of all those methods used.

I don't know how else you get a genuine 15.3 to measure 15.1?
.
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Because I am yet to meet someone who has accurately measured a horse. Hes about 15.3hh usually equates to 15.1hh on his tip toes no doubt, so will measure in with no problems whatsoever.

But should a life height certificate be needed for one thats on the cusp then a horse with trimmed feet, stood on a proper pad in a relaxed stance will measure much smaller than a horse with a stick shoved on it on the yard.

But as a life height certificate isnt needed and the OP isnt a pro, I have no idea why you think anyone will be dehydrating anything? Such an odd thing to say.
 
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Littlewills said:
Because I am yet to meet someone who has accurately measured a horse. Hes about 15.3hh usually equates to 15.1hh on his tip toes no doubt, so will measure in with no problems whatsoever.

But should a life height certificate be needed for one thats on the cusp then a horse with trimmed feet, stood on a proper pad in a relaxed stance will measure much smaller than a horse with a stick shoved on it on the yard.

But as a life height certificate isnt needed and the OP isnt a pro, I have no idea why you think anyone will be dehydrating anything? Such an odd thing to say.
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OK, so you can't reduce a 15.3 to 15.1 by taking off it's shoes.

I don't know why everyone suggesting that the height could be reduced didn't just say what they meant, that they are assuming that the horse does not measure what the poster says it does.

There are pros out there who know exactly how to get a horse to measure under height, and it's not nice. I am pleased nobody is suggesting their methods.
 
ycbm said:
OK, so you can't reduce a 15.3 to 15.1 by taking off it's shoes.

I don't know why everyone suggesting that the height could be reduced didn't just say what they meant, that they are assuming that the horse does not measure what the poster says it does.

There are pros out there who know exactly how to get a horse to measure under height, and it's not nice. I am pleased nobody is suggesting their methods.
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With removing shoes and a good trim of the feet (not crippling the horse, just trimmed on day of measurement) you can often lose at least an inch.
Clip hair of the withers can get you a bit of height.
Then stood correctly and relaxed on a proper pad, with a calibrated stick and getting a total of 2 inches off a home (pre trim) measurement is quite normal.
 
At local level they usually have a part bred class I’d probably do that, maybe the coloured class or if he has a nice jump then a working hunter class.
 
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