Those who event with cobs?

Wont comment on the fitness training as lots of advice already but re the BE80(T): the T is for training, so rather than heaping loads of pressure on yourself worrying about whether you can make the time, why not look on the event in August as a practice run to see what you then need to work on over the winter, and make your main aim to be ready to be competative at one next spring?

Does it really matter if you dont make the time? The first BE I did I had about 17 time faults and a couple of showjumps down but was so thrilled to complete. The first BE you do can be a bit of a learning curve working out all the rules etc but if you treat it as a training day (which it is), listen to the advice from the wonderful coaches BE provide for dressage and SJ, go on the course walk and learn more about how to ride the different XC fences, and most of all experience the atmosphere, then you'll be much more prepared for your next one.

I'm not saying you shouldnt try to get your horse as fit as you can, just dont worry too much if you dont make the time. Go in with the attitude of having an educational outing, getting a dressage score you can use as a baseline for future competitions and winter training and experiencing how everything works. Most of all, go to have fun, as long as you are safe and confident jumping an 80cm course then whats stopping you?! :D
 
When I was younger I had a Sec C mare who was 13.2hh and evented up to BE100. She always had an active, forward thinking brain, which I guess was the key to her being fit and speedy at events. I struggled on the flat with her, but she was a chestnut mare and was feisty!

Her:
DSC_0096_2.jpg


And my horse Tam is a Welsh Cob x TB, but we think she's more cob than TB! She's also got a good forward thinking brain, but we struggle to keep weight off her and fitness is an issue, so she is on next to no grass and Lo-Cal balancer, as naturally she has fizz, but can be lethargic when on the fatter side! She's in my signature.

Her(have permission from photographer to show this):
propic.jpg
 
OK so here's a few videos (sorry they are so blurry!) from last week. I was being a bit more assertive - but being like that round the course does wear me out ! I wasn't wearing spurs as trying not to do that - but did have a schooling whip. Apologies in advance for my, ahem , vocal encouragement!!

Keep on cantering - part 1 (!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQrqC9z_E6w

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LbgPLZhpSI&feature=related

Part 3!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JA2tEO5XVU&feature=related

Freezeframe:
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I see in the vid that you do lots of little *nagging* kicks, horses can switch off quite quickly from this and it seems that your kicks don't seem to create a reaction at all! Have you tried one or two big kicks and if then no imediate reaction back it up with your stick? Also try to keep more of 2-point seat inbetween fences. Other then that he seems fine and quite forward going? :)

I hope that helps!
 
I think that's the problem - i'm so lightweight i find it hard to keep any position (get left behind a lot) - and try to keep off his back but then my legs have minds of their own and I'm not sure how to keep them still (I know it sounds daft!) So a few strides before the fences I do a big pony club kick and flick the whip if that doesn't have any affect - and then stop - and try to stay out of the saddle but then it wears me out so i have to sit down to do the pony club kicks!
 
I think a real core of good stamina takes a long time to build up. Steady trotting, in a contact, uphill if you can! I've been doing 30 mins of solid trotting twice a week in build up to me and welshie tackling a BE80(T) last weekend, and I was very proud when we came 4th with only 2.4 time penalties on the XC.

Jumping confidence helps a lot too, if you can approach jumps without changing your speed and rhythm too much you get a much more flowing and energy efficient round than if you have to slam the anchors on in front of every fence and then kick on after.

Like someone else has said I think canter/gallop work is a bit overrated and does risk injury unless you have a top notch place to do it. If your horse can trot continously for half an hour or more in a proper working manner then fast canter/gallop for 5 or 6 minutes will be like a walk in the park!
 
My mare is tiny - 13.1h, and she always makes the time. She is fit - we go to the gallops, 3/4 mile, uphill, and canter up several times. She also does lots of trotting, in the arena & out hacking, for 30-40mins.

One of the key things is getting a good rhythm and being able to jump out of that rhythm, without lots of time taken to set up and ride away from the fences. Its also good to develop a good open cantering stride, so you cover as much ground as possible, rather than going up & down.

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Had a welshie for a few years. I would say think differently about the feed - some cobs do not get the energy you want from oats - go high oil instead look at linseed or similar

I found that with mine you worked him 6 days a week...and over the years he got very fit. If we ever did a pleasure ride etc he was always the one still walking out well and going at the end of 15 miles.

Make sure you do the different work - so you do the schooling work and build that fitness and do the interval work when you can. I had a ride I did a lot and used to time myself on it - knocked 25 mins off it over the fitness campaign

also do you ever jump with spurs? I would want to do x county in them really
 
He's fab and he does seem to have a rhythm there, i think he's just a laid back boy hun, which is great in many ways. He needs some fizz i think to get faster, see Molly was constantly fizzy so i was holding her back a lot of the time.

I would try hillwork, and you say you have no hoills but you have the long one up from the steps on the XC course, thats enough to work with for the moment :)
 
I'm in a similar position to you with my HW cob - we've done a few XC's and he seems to be getting the hang of it this year. We have our first ODE at the end of the month and I've started doing some interval training - at the moment it's just in the arena as it's been so wet up here that the tracks are too wet for fast work but been doing canter sets with walk in between and he definitely is much fitter but still has some way to go - it will always be harder to get a heavier horse fit.

If you feel your struggling to keep him going doing some work to make sure he's really in front of your leg will also help. I don't ride in spurs every day but for XC/jumping lessons and competitions I wear rollerball spurs just to allow me to be more effective in asking him forward and it seems to work.

Good luck with him :)
 
cheekywelshie said:
I think that's the problem - i'm so lightweight i find it hard to keep any position (get left behind a lot) - and try to keep off his back but then my legs have minds of their own and I'm not sure how to keep them still (I know it sounds daft!) So a few strides before the fences I do a big pony club kick and flick the whip if that doesn't have any affect - and then stop - and try to stay out of the saddle but then it wears me out so i have to sit down to do the pony club kicks!
Click to expand...

I think you both look good in the video - better than you had made it sound! Agree with the other poster about avoiding the nagging type kicks, and trying to stay out of the saddle more. It looks like your stirrups could do with going up a few holes to make this easier. Also, if you watch lots of pro eventers they stay up in two point seat between fences and then sit deep for the last few strides before each fence - doing this would allow you to be sitting while you're kicking iyswim!
 
Thank you everyone for your comments :)

I ride with spurs on competitions but try not too other times as don't want him to go dead to the leg.

I wonder if I should change from oats to comp mix? My friend was giving hers a full scoop I gave him about half a scoop of oats- maybe it isnt' enough for the work he is doing

I will try doing the 2 point and then sitting before fences - it is hard cos he pulls me down but I'll give it a shot.

Oh and i'll try the trotting tomorrow!
 
I have a welsh cob who used to be quite backwards (but he was only young so that would contribute!) and is often to an extent. When I get into a xc warm up I insist on a marching walk. In your videos he looks a bit like he is slopping along- I know if I'm feeling a bit lazy and let my welsh walk along a bit dobbin like he becomes a dobbin in all paces! Don't nag on at him, just a little 'salt and pepper' shaker on his sides (squeeze and realease) if no response, big kick, if no response, big kick and smack on the bum. If he goes into trot try not to pull him up straightaway or pull on his mouth- he is going forwards which is good!

In the warm up you want to insist that he goes forwards as soon as you say- do a rediculas amount of transitions- it doesn't matter how messy they look just insist that he goes forwards when you say! vary it with halt to trot instead of just walk to trot. Try to keep your lower leg truely underneath you so it is 'there' as soon as he decides actually I don't feel like going forwards- even try popping your stirrups up a bit. When you start cantering, work on getting him bouncy then extending- adjusting it as much as you are able to. Try and make the warm up fun and interesting.

Welsh's are like little children- you have to make them see whats in it for them! don't just tell him that he must do this because you say so- you have to make it seem like its fun and it was his idea! I've found that if you give them an inch they take a mile so thats why its important to insist on go from the word go! Good luck but they do get it! I've got the opposite problem with my welsh now who thinks this is very exciting and enjoys his warm-up far too much!!
 
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