Snobbery towards cobs

Mule

Mule

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A friend of mine has recently bought a beautiful cob. Her unpredictable sport horse type has damaged her confidence.The new horse is great. He's exactly what the owner wanted and both owner and horse are happy.

I've been surprised by the attitude of some people towards the new horse, people I thought would be more down to earth. Basically they think that cobs are lesser animals than horses with a lot of tb blood. I've heard a similar (strongly expressed) opinion about another friend's safe and sane cob that she hunts. If either of these riders were aiming towards Badminton I'd understand but they are just enjoying their horses, like 99% of the horse riding population.

I rode as a child and then stopped for years until I took it up again a few years ago. I never came across this attitude back then, although that may have been because I was in a riding school that had lots of cobs:) Anyone else experienced this and been surprised/ annoyed by it? Is it a common view among horsy types?
 
Each to their own - why worry what others think.
I’m a cob snob, always said I wouldn’t want a cob (coloured cob)and if that’s the only horse I could have I wouldn’t bother. BUT I’m currently paying for a pro to ride my horse as she’s rocked my confidence - whilst all the folks I know with cobs are happily plodding about having a perfectly nice time- so more fool me! I wouldn’t criticise someone else’s choice of horse and couldn’t give a stuff what people think about mine - We are all different and choose how to spend our hard earned cash- who cares what others think!
My faves are tb’s though and they tend to get bad press too :)
 
Evie91 said:
Each to their own - why worry what others think.
I’m a cob snob, always said I wouldn’t want a cob (coloured cob)and if that’s the only horse I could have I wouldn’t bother. BUT I’m currently paying for a pro to ride my horse as she’s rocked my confidence - whilst all the folks I know with cobs are happily plodding about having a perfectly nice time- so more fool me! I wouldn’t criticise someone else’s choice of horse and couldn’t give a stuff what people think about mine - We are all different and choose how to spend our hard earned cash- who cares what others think!
My faves are tb’s though and they tend to get bad press too :)
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I'm not sure why I care what they think. I don't own a cob, I just have a bit of a soft spot for them.
 
There’s some I really do like but still wouldn’t want to own. If we all liked the same it would be boring though wouldn’t it :)
 
Each to their own, surely? Who cares what other people own/ride if they are happy with their choice that's all that matters. i love horses with quite a bit of tb, can't ride one side of them, of course, but that's my choice. I pay for the upkeep and initial outlay. If folks want to ride cobs, donkeys or pigs, it's none of my business but I am allowed a preference if I'm the one paying,
 
I don't understand why anyone would tell someone their new horse was a lesser sort of animal, even if it wasn't your thing.
 
Nothing wrong with a good cob but there's also lots of fairly rubbish ones out there. You have to buy carefully in my view.

I'd never buy a cob for me though. I find them too wide to be comfortable and I like the silly sharp warmblood.
 
Ester- that’s just people for you! Same with dogs, cars, houses, anything you care to name, everyone has an opinion on what’s ‘best’.
 
......but it's not their horse, why do they even feel the need to comment.....?

People confuse me.
Just enjoy YOUR own horse and let people do what they want; no one is forced into horses, it's something you do because you want to.

I mean I am a self confessed arab sceptic (though have seen a purebred stallion and three crossbreds I like recently - one crossbred I outright want in my field right now actually, not that that's going to happen :( ) but wouldn't say that someone's arab is inferior to my nonarab, ever. I might say the breed isn't my taste. (They're growing on me though I must admit lol :p )

Everyone's bias to their own horse anyway. Was always taught that if you're not bias to your own horse, you shouldn't have it!!

I mean I know full well I can't cope with a full WB or TB, but I'm not going to rubbish every one of those I see just because I'm too inept of a horsewoman to manage one: each to their own doesn't mean each to their own and viciously attack everything that's not 'their own' lmao.
 
Evie91 said:
Ester- that’s just people for you! Same with dogs, cars, houses, anything you care to name, everyone has an opinion on what’s ‘best’.
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I definitely don't seem to know any of this sort of person! (Thankfully I suppose)
 
One of my favourite cob snob stories that happened to me was when I moved to a livery yard, my cob. The yard also ran an RDA and grazing was single sex, livery and RDA together. Another livery commmented that my cob only kept with the RDA ponies and didn’t hang out with the other liveries, she then pointed out as the others were Tb and Warmbloods it was class thing...my response slightly took her aback when I pointed out as the tb’s etc were a bit in bred they’d probably didn’t have much to say

Normally cob snobs are jealous, especially if you beat them
 
hollyandivy123 said:
One of my favourite cob snob stories that happened to me was when I moved to a livery yard, my cob. The yard also ran an RDA and grazing was single sex, livery and RDA together. Another livery commmented that my cob only kept with the RDA ponies and didn’t hang out with the other liveries, she then pointed out as the others were Tb and Warmbloods it was class thing...my response slightly took her aback when I pointed out as the tb’s etc were a bit in bred they’d probably didn’t have much to say

Normally cob snobs are jealous, especially if you beat them
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:D love it.
 
I'm sure it stems from coloured traditional cobs being long associated with gypsies and travellers. I'm 55 and as a child anyone who owned a piebald traditional was thought of as a lesser person. You never saw any patchy ponies competing either, they were very frowned upon. Thankfully times have changed and we are generally less judgmental of horses...and people. But there are still a few old school folk about.

I have owned feathered traditionals for years, they are my favourites. Mine have not all been plods.... my current 7yo can turn her hoof to anything, willingly, but we do get airs above the ground from excitement that would put any TB to shame!!!
 
I had that from a couple of people, I've got a strange mix ive got atraditional cob and a Holstein warmblood ... I took them both to a competition the other week where the Holstein was competing at prelim / novice and the cob did a medium test... I've had comments about the cob - usually that he is beautiful but occasionally that 'he shouldn't be doing dressage' this is usually just before I wipe the floor with them in the results ... I prefer his results to do the talking he's ace (and entirely nuts) but I've ridden alsorts of horses thru my life, the cob is the most generous horse I've ever ridden but also the most unpredictable- but he tries his heart out for me every time I get on... who wouldn't like that.
 
People just like different things. If they haven't said it to your friend OP, I don't really see what the problem is. I'm not a huge fan of cobs myself - I like all horses really but personally it's not a type that I would want for myself. But then I like Arabs, so I've been on the receiving end of a different type of breed snobbery. I don't really care what people say though - I like what I like, they like what they like, and that's fine.
 
Handsome is as handsome does, horses for courses, and all those sorts of platitudes....I've had some great cobs, to do cobby things, and horses of other types to do other things. I'm not a huge fan of the annoyingly feathered ones but if that's your thing, good on you. I don't pay much attention to what other people think.
 
I had similar when I had a tb and my little arabxwelsh, I also have a cob now too.
Everyone has their 'type'
Don't take offence to it, if she's happy that's all that matters
 
There are plenty of horses I don't like out there. I really don't care for the conformation or movement of some of the modern warmbloods I see (and I'm aware they're very diverse, which is why I say some). I don't like the extremes of breeding in many spheres. I don't say that to their owners, though. If I have to say something, I find something positive, and say that - unless they tell me they're going to take their cob round Badminton, when I might suggest that's not their best idea. A well schooled, keen cob, can be a delight. A poorly trained, hyped up blood horse can be a nightmare. And the opposite too. In many ways, I'm more interested in what buttons have been put on a horse, than what they start out with.
 
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People are often just as critical of thoroughbreds and warmbloods. There’s many a post here and comment IRL saying they’re nuts, prone to injury etc. Whilst that’s got some truth in it many are also fabulous horses and good all-rounders. Mine is much easier than many a cob I’ve encountered although he does have his moments.

Criticising someone’s pride and joy just means that they’re a horrible person lacking emotional intelligence.
 
I really believe in taking horses as individuals rather than going for a breed. Of course some breeds are known for certain characteristics and temperaments but I think if we concentrate too much on breeds rather than the individual i believe we could miss out on a real gem of a horse.

My horse was born in a rescue centre. He's half tb with fantastic jumping ability. He's a cracking eventer, has a lovely calm personality and with a better and braver rider could do very well in eventing. I think he blows stereotypes out of the water.
 
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I think some people say it because they genuinely want to express an honest opinion but most of them are just being unpleasant, maybe through jealousy or a need to feel superior. Its amazing how many of these people only seem to need to make comment when its negative, they are never quite so quick to jump in with their opinion when it means paying somebody a compliment.

One of my neighbours refers to my lovely cob as 'your common mare' because her horses always have well known bloodlines. It actually makes me laugh now although I was furious the first time she said it to me.
 
I've heard a lot of snobbery towards cobs too. Although I probably wouldn't choose one to buy for myself now (though Henry-elephant-feet is not far off :D ), I absolutely love a good old "supercob" to have some fun on occasionally! My first pony was a little irish cob, who would have made an absolutely cracking hunting/jumping/eventing pony if I'd been a more experienced/confident rider! Unfortunately I was 11yo and straight out of a riding school, and without the right guidance and instruction he learnt that he could get away with things. I'd have him back in a flash now though!
 
WandaMare said:
I think some people say it because they genuinely want to express an honest opinion but most of them are just being unpleasant, maybe through jealousy or a need to feel superior. Its amazing how many of these people only seem to need to make comment when its negative, they are never quite so quick to jump in with their opinion when it means paying somebody a compliment.

One of my neighbours refers to my lovely cob as 'your common mare' because her horses always have well known bloodlines. It actually makes me laugh now although I was furious the first time she said it to me.
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I find dressage is an interesting one because it's about training more than anything else. If a horse can't jump then he can't jump but they can all do correct dressage. A friend of mine has a trainer who's ridden at grand Prix. He says cobs are good at piaffe.
 
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WandaMare said:
I think some people say it because they genuinely want to express an honest opinion but most of them are just being unpleasant, maybe through jealousy or a need to feel superior. Its amazing how many of these people only seem to need to make comment when its negative, they are never quite so quick to jump in with their opinion when it means paying somebody a compliment.

One of my neighbours refers to my lovely cob as 'your common mare' because her horses always have well known bloodlines. It actually makes me laugh now although I was furious the first time she said it to me.
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what a vile neighbour to have to put up with.
 
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