The grey cob with the big head has turned up :)

[Mule]

I love a perky grey face
As for his way of going, he'll strengthen up with a bit of schooling. The beast was a lot worse when i got him, he couldn't do a 20 m circle without falling in or go down the long side of the arena without his arse pointing in and he was 7! In fact seeing a big grey head poking in the air is bringing back memories for me ?

 

[blitznbobs]

I am amazed at the negative comments ... first time she’s ridden him incredibly sympathetically ... you guys are obviously a lot braver than me as I’m not sure if take any new 4 year old out for a hack the first time I rode them .... as for the riding school bit well I can see the sad side but there are a lot worse lives a horse can have I suppose

 

[ester]

I see no circles or drilling though he seems obviously better in one direction than the other. I don't have an issue with him going to a RS. He wasn't cheap so they have plenty invested in him.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Big head? I think you mean "noble head" ?

I can't judge too much from the video. If this is her first ride on this very green 4 year old, that is still growing into himself, it's fine. Honestly, I'd be riding the same way. She does a bit of trot and asks for the canter on the long sides/straight away. Which is easier for him. Nothing wrong with getting on and getting a feel for him in the school. Obviously he's not a picture of perfection, but he's 4! He's got growing, strengthening, and much more to do!

 

[ycbm]

Not sure why they think he would look special in a dressage arena. looks a kindly sort though.

I think he has some lovely paces to be developed there and it would be fantastic to see that great big Roman head and cook's bum on a horse competing against the modern high tb % warmbloods. He might not win at a high level, but he'll turn heads!
.

 

[Bernster]

I think he has some lovely places to be developed there and it would be fantastic to see that great big Roman head and cook's bum on a horse competing against the modern high tb % warmbloods. He might not win at a high level, but he'll turn heads!
.

quite! He is kinda fugly but he’s got big old paces and I reckon he‘ll smarten up plenty with time.

 

[holeymoley]

Bless him. I’d keep him going in big open ridden spaces until he finds some balance and strength, he’s really struggling on those corners.

 

[Wishfilly]

I know this was posted on facebook, but I think it's a little bit unfair to criticise the rider/the way he is being ridden given they haven't posted the video on here themselves. To say it looks awful overall is a bit harsh when the horse is new, young and green.

I agree that I wouldn't take a big 4yo out hacking for their first ride- obviously it would be good for him, but also we don't know what hacking they have available and the rider needs to make sure he is safe before doing so!

 

[milliepops]

I know this was posted on facebook, but I think it's a little bit unfair to criticise the rider/the way he is being ridden given they haven't posted the video on here themselves. To say it looks awful overall is a bit harsh when the horse is new, young and green.

I agree that I wouldn't take a big 4yo out hacking for their first ride- obviously it would be good for him, but also we don't know what hacking they have available and the rider needs to make sure he is safe before doing so!

Completely agree.

 

[Shilasdair]

He's a big, immature and unbalanced baby, but with lots of power. I can see that he's very difficult to stay in balance with at the moment, and his paces are almost too big for him (and pretty uncomfortable for her).

I liked the video - the rider was kind and positive to the horse, praising him.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I think he is lovely. I wish he was mine.

 

[scats]

I know this was posted on facebook, but I think it's a little bit unfair to criticise the rider/the way he is being ridden given they haven't posted the video on here themselves. To say it looks awful overall is a bit harsh when the horse is new, young and green.

I agree that I wouldn't take a big 4yo out hacking for their first ride- obviously it would be good for him, but also we don't know what hacking they have available and the rider needs to make sure he is safe before doing so!

Totally agree. I think the rider is doing a pretty good job for the first ride on a big unbalanced 4 year old! He looks very sweet but it must be like riding a ship in rough sea at the moment!

The more I watch him, the more I like him... and he’s totally not my normal type.

 

[blitznbobs]

I wonder if they know he has a fan base

 

[AdorableAlice]

It will be 3 years before he is mature, there is a lot of horse there to find it’s balance. He has a bucket for a head but as long as there Is a brain in the bucket he will be well loved by someone. Good luck to him and his, hopefully patient owners.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Am I the only one who wishes he wasn't going to be in a riding school?
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No. Dreadful shame, IMO, although I obviously don’t know the RS, they might be amazing, hopefully.

If you look at the video, he's not doing circles.......

But one presumes he will be, as he’s at an RS? I think it’s very young and I hope they don’t put him on lessons for a good long while. I”m a total convert to him, look at that feather! ?

 

[ester]

I know this was posted on facebook, but I think it's a little bit unfair to criticise the rider/the way he is being ridden given they haven't posted the video on here themselves. To say it looks awful overall is a bit harsh when the horse is new, young and green.

I didn't anticipate such a reaction when posting it or I might not have done. Nor that people were so down on RS. I just thought people might like to know given that he had his own thread. I should have picked one of the photo ones, like how giant his hooves are.

 

[shortstuff99]

Anyone that knows/follows the rider knows she is a good rider, no need to worry for the horse!

 

[Flicker]

Everyone’s an expert, ester and none of us learnt to ride in riding schools. We all had super ponies who lived just over the road in the rectory garden and the kindly but psychologically damaged former cavalry officer gave us lessons and we all won the village mounted games and had cake and lashings of ginger beer. Of course ?

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Anyone that knows/follows the rider knows she is a good rider, no need to worry for the horse!

But she says he’s for the RS. She looks lovely and sympathetic, but if they want bigger learners on him, I hope they give him the time to mature and she schools him, she looks like a lovely rider.

 

[shortstuff99]

But she says he’s for the RS. She looks lovely and sympathetic, but if they want bigger learners on him, I hope they give him the time to mature and she schools him, she looks like a lovely rider.

If he ends up showing talent she will probably keep him for herself, either way I'm sure she will school him and let him grow as appropriate.

 

[fiwen30]

Everyone’s an expert, ester and none of us learnt to ride in riding schools. We all had super ponies who lived just over the road in the rectory garden and the kindly but psychologically damaged former cavalry officer gave us lessons and we all won the village mounted games and had cake and lashings of ginger beer. Of course ?

Laughed way harder than this that I expected to, thanks Flicker, needed that!

 

[ester]

I mean he's not really any good for a beginner learner right now so I am sure he will have plenty of work put on him first!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

But she says he’s for the RS. She looks lovely and sympathetic, but if they want bigger learners on him, I hope they give him the time to mature and she schools him, she looks like a lovely rider.

The caption with the videos says 'with time and some strengthening...' so it sounds like they don't plan to rush him, and perhaps some good experience for their more advanced RS clients before getting beginners on him

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Am I the only one who wishes he wasn't going to be in a riding school?
.

Definitely not the only one...because it sounds like several wouldn't mind having him for themselves! (including me; if there's a waiting list I'd like my name put down for him! )

 

[doodle]

I don’t like this attitude to riding schools. Where I work 2 cobs arrived when they were 5. I can imagine the bigger one in particular would look like this guy. Both of them have turned into amazing horses. Both had their own rider who worked with them and both have gone be eventing. They do everything from rda to being borrowed for competitions/taking people XC schooling. Riding schools are not all bad.

 

[shortstuff99]

I used to back ponies for riding schools, I would like to think they didn't all have terrible lives!

 

[babymare]

I just think he is gorgeous with so much to give.

 

[ycbm]

I don’t like this attitude to riding schools. ...... Riding schools are not all bad.

It's not about any riding school being bad. It's about it being their job to be ridden by many different people a week, especially beginners, who with the best will in the world will make mistakes.

I couldn't sell any horse I owned into a riding school. Given a choice between a good private home and a good riding school it would just have to be the good private home.
.

 

[Rowreach]

Ah, judgemental HHO at it’s finest. He could be a lot worse off I imagine.

 

[doodle]

One of these cobs needs an mri. The school will pay for it no question. A lot of private homes wouldn’t.