To plod or not to plod?

[[131452]]

I've had horses for nearly 20 years , would describe myself as fairly capable but not hugely confident rider. I over horsed myself late last year and broke my back falling off my then WB mare who was very sweet but very green.
I'm now looking to buy again and I'm viewing this total sweetheart cob who has come from a trekking centre. She is super safe to hack and hacking is my favourite activity. But she has done nothing really but hack so her schooling is pretty much non existent.
You see I'd like to do some basic schooling , pole work, and jump but only about 2ft6.
I don't know if she is able to be brought on to do this - I would keep her at a friend's yard who is a professional rider and she could school the horse.
But how would I assess if there is scope to bring her to say prelim level?
My friend isn't able to go view with me unfortunately.
The mare is 9 years old, she's a cob.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[HashRouge]

Unless she has major conformational flaws, pretty much any horse should be able to do what you describe. Get your friend to have a look at some photos and videos of her if you aren't a confident judge of conformation. But assuming her confirmation is reasonable, she sounds absolutely lovely!

 

[NinjaPony]

IMO all horses (bar any medical issues) can be schooled to prelim level, and most can be schooled at least to elementary. I think getting someone with you is definitely a good idea, but if you mainly want to hack and she is an excellent hack and passes the vetting then go for it. I'm currently schooling a 4 year old cob who most definitely isn't built for it, but I fully expect him to be able to do a prelim when he's got some more miles on the clock.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I think you ought to be able to school and improve a 9 year old cob ...but if from a trekking centre please try her out and about on her own before buying. I recall posts where seemingly placid and confidence giving ponies had been bought from trekking/riding school scenarios and the new owners had to contend with napping behaviours as ponies came to terms with operating on their own and not in a confidence giving group.

 

[[131452]]

This is a very short clip of her.
My friend thinks I might get bored of something ploddy but then she has massive show jumpers herself!
At the moment safety is a priority

OK video didnt work - sorry!

 

[[131452]]

I think you ought to be able to school and improve a 9 year old cob ...but if from a trekking centre please try her out and about on her own before buying. I recall posts where seemingly placid and confidence giving ponies had been bought from trekking/riding school scenarios and the new owners had to contend with napping behaviours as ponies came to terms with operating on their own and not in a confidence giving group.

I agree and intend to ask to hack her out alone.

 

[milliepops]

it's that thing of buying the horse you need now, rather than what you might want in a few years time.
If she's as sensible as you think when you take her out alone, then she sounds ideal. I agree with the other posters, there is no reason why with a bit of time and effort she can learn to do the other things you want

 

[[131452]]

She is on Horsequest under
Ref #: 232463
If anyone would like to look. Her description is absolutely spot on for what i need right now, I just don't want to be under horsed in a year's time.
But having said that, my accident has made me so much more wary of things , I am so safety conscious as breaking my back was such a shock. And I had a lucky escape in that I havent been left with any residual damage, like nerve damage.
She does seem to have a decent amount of neck (i know cobs with short necks can find schooling difficult) so i was thinking of basing the assessment on whether I can get her forward in the school.

 

[[131452]]

it's that thing of buying the horse you need now, rather than what you might want in a few years time.
If she's as sensible as you think when you take her out alone, then she sounds ideal. I agree with the other posters, there is no reason why with a bit of time and effort she can learn to do the other things you want

Thank you ?
I definitely need to get the horse I need right now. Something I can take out on my own safely and not be scared. She seems ideal for that.
I want a kind , calm and gentle horse that I can spend time with as well as riding as I really miss the connection you have when you bond with your horse.

 

[[59668]]

Ooh I think she's gorgeous! Totally should be able to do what you want. Cobs are the BEST honestly.

 

[Circe2]

I agree with the posts above - unless she has any medical problems that limit her to light work or serious conformation issues that would render her uncomfortable when for example ridden in light contact, there is absolutely no reason she couldn’t do prelim dressage - or, like others have said, all the way up to elementary/medium. What I would say is that the dressage might be an issue if she’s unwilling to be schooled at all (ie gets very lazy/checks out completely in the school) - you will expend a lot of energy on it and it might not be all that fun.

I’m pretty sure there are cobs that have been national prelim/novice champions though, so I don’t think you should assume she’s unwilling based on her type! ?

Safety does after all come first, and it’s far better having something too easy-going that you might need to use spurs on in the arena once in a while, than a horse you’re scared to ride / have to dedicate a lot of time exercising just to ensure it doesn't explode.

Also, don’t pay heed to your SJ friend.. horses for courses, as they say - and it sounds like she could be exactly the right horse for the job (unless you change your mind and intend to bomb her over 1.40 fences, in which case the SJ friend might be right ?).

 

[ester]

way too much white! lol!

I'd have no doubt re. the dressage, some cobs their jumping can be a bit limited/they have their own 'style' but at 9 I think definitely buy what you need now and if you outgrow her capabilities than great, if you love her you keep her

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I’ve had a look.....ouch....surely that price is double what the mares worth.

 

[ester]

Not at the moment it isn't.

 

[Patterdale]

She’d look totally different clipped and pulled with those feathers off.
I like her. As long as she hacks alone.
Also question why they’re selling - if she’s so amazing is she not invaluable for their clients?

I was in your position two years ago, no confidence and bought a lovely steady confidence giver.
I’ve just sold him as I outgrew his ability which was heartbreaking, but he’s gone to an amazing home and I’ve bought something a few gears up.

Even though he didn’t do my job forever, I have no regrets about buying him as he totally restored my confidence.

 

[milliepops]

She is on Horsequest under
Ref #: 232463
If anyone would like to look. Her description is absolutely spot on for what i need right now, I just don't want to be under horsed in a year's time.
But having said that, my accident has made me so much more wary of things , I am so safety conscious as breaking my back was such a shock. And I had a lucky escape in that I havent been left with any residual damage, like nerve damage.
She does seem to have a decent amount of neck (i know cobs with short necks can find schooling difficult) so i was thinking of basing the assessment on whether I can get her forward in the school.

agree with ester, if a year or 2 down the line you find she's a bit less than what you want, you'll either keep her because she's grown on you, or else you will not struggle to sell if she's been trained on a bit. Safe, steady and a bit of an allrounder is always going to be a popular combination.

it's so good to be realistic about what horse you need, because that's the way you will get your confidence back

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Ouchy ...I m not seeing cob prices in Scotland at that level...come north to buy....

 

[ihatework]

I’ve had a look.....ouch....surely that price is double what the mares worth.

No it’s not. There are people up and down the country that will happily pay 5-6k for safe and steady.

OP, there are cobs and then there are cobs. If she enjoys work and is forward thinking then she should do your job all day long. If she is a bit of a slug then anyone used to sportier models, even with a confidence loss, will probably get bored pretty quick.

Best you can do is have a sit and see what feeling she gives you.

This one might also suit Horsekaren if she doesn’t suit you.

 

[[131452]]

Prices are crazy at the moment! I've been offered a similar cob , great hack but no schooling but a nice looking boy , for over 6 grand !

She is being sold by a dealer who bought her from a trekking centre so a genuine reason to sell.

I really look forward to seeing her, hopefully she has enough oomph to go forward in the school in which case bringing her on especially with a professional help shouldn't be a drama.

Thank you for all your input.

 

[Surbie]

Mine is a heavy cob and was a bit ploddy when at the RDA. He got used to being nagged with legs and ridden primarily by beginners. But that isn't how he stayed once he changed to having just the one rider.

It took 6 - 9 months of consistent retraining but he is now a responsive and forward ride. We are going out to do prelim soon (please let him start loading more reliably!) and are starting training for novice. He jumps 80cm with ease but doesn't enjoy lots of jumps in a small space. He is brilliant on fun rides with company - screams like a set of bagpipes if I try to take him round on his own tho.

 

[[59668]]

TOtally worth that money. I genuinely don't think you can overprice safe, willing, genuine, and good fun. Cobs do it all, and quite often are the envy of those with flashier types that are messing about in a clinic or something, while you, on your cob, happily go round with no issues.

 

[abb123]

The ad shows the horse doing the things that you say you want to do in a couple of years time (popping some cross country jumps and schooling) so not sure why you think she couldn't do it? She sounds perfect for you!

 

[Misty 2020]

I wish I bought a plod cob I bought a sporty types that didn’t do much for my confidence. I would definitely try her she sounds perfect for you.

 

[ester]

The only issue sometimes with having a plod is that they get outwalked by hacking companions .

 

[Lintel]

The only issue sometimes with having a plod is that they get outwalked by hacking companions .

Yes.

My life story.

"catch up boy"

 

[stormox]

I bred an irish draught cob of about 15hh. I sold him to a young lad who jumped and hunted him. When he outgrew him he went to a local trecking centre for beach trecks. Age 13 he was bought by a young girl who sold him a couple of years later to a novice middle age lady at the livery yard.
This lady brought him on and improved herself jumping up to 60-70 cms and starting dressage with the local riding club. they won loads of rosettes and age 20 there was an arcticle about him in the Irish Field with lovely pictures he had just won the overall dressage championship at the big Riding Club festival at Stradbally.

 

[Ossy2]

She looks absolutely ideal. I compete a cob for a friend that has no interest in competing herself but loves the fact her cob can go out to competitions. We are competing elementary and training medium but he’s also Super safe for the owner, will hack, go on farm rides and school in arena quite happily With his owner, cobs really are fab and don’t need to be boring at all.

 

[Sarahkinks]

She looks perfect Looks as though she can do everything you need. You may not get bored as she’s not the finished article and needs some education, the process of bringing her on a bit is super rewarding so you’ll enjoy doing that I’m sure.
You can of course sell her in a couple of years if you do get bored, and if you educate her a bit more she will sell really easily and for a good price.

Good luck with the viewing, fingers crossed she’s exactly as described. Let us know how you get on x

 

[Spottyappy]

She looks perfect.
the price, however, does seem on the lower side for the market at the moment.
please, also, throughly research the dealer whom is selling her, as there are far too many dodgy ones out there.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I really like her, sounds perfect for what you want.