To sell my horse or not

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COBSFOREVER

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Need advice please I have no confidence I have always had cobs but my horse is I'd x tb very quiet kick along but don't know any history about her as she was a swop she's good to do stable catch ect but I just wish she was a cob great bond and love with her have only walked in menage little trot but good my friend got on her and she started a mini bronc now that has unnerved me totally so what do I do I'm at my wits end please help
 
In all honesty yes sell her. Sounds like you only feel confident riding cobs. In which case, especially after what has happened you are unlikely to trust her.
I've had a very very similar experience and at the weekend went and tried a 4yr old green cob. I could not stop grinning, in fact I was laughing so much

I don't suggest you get a young cob as I don't know if you are truly experienced to bring on a youngster. I'm a little long in the tooth but done it several times
 
Thanku I had bad accident a few years ago ridden all my life but have not been able to regain my confidence since but really want to be back how I used to be I lobe my horse to bits but now there is doubt in my mind although she hasn't done it with me the thought is still there
 
Unfortunately the mare I had on trial bucked my rider off in walk. I had been hacking her around a scary area no problems. But as soon as she did this I wanted nothing to do with riding her. It may have been a one off, she may have been stung I DONT care what the reason. For me it was the end as there was no warning, nothing!
Others may have felt differently and that I should have kept trying and given her more time etc etc
it's my choice, my bones!
So I decided I only feel safe on cobs now, in a way silly as I've had some naught cobs lol
 
Could have been the rider... my friends husband went to get on her laid back super mare...who promptly bucked him off. This is so out of character and the mare has to be one of the safest horses I know!
 
My bombproof safe, coincidentally a cob, boy has done similar twice and scared the hell out of me! Both times its been very, very competent riders who just havent gotten on with him. I'm disabled and cant ride for toffee but I can get on him after months off and hes never put a foot wrong. He has a family share him, the older kids ride him and the tiny 5yr old bimbles round on him as well. Hes super safe, but those two people just really upset him for some reason. Hes had other very competent people ride him with no issues, but those 2 he just decided he hated them! Horses are funny things! I wouldnt write yours off on the basis of that just yet :)
 
A girl i knew had to get rid of her cob because he kept bolting, broncing and trying to kill her. If your horse is usually very quiet, there is a reason that it bronced, it could be a tack or pain issue or maybe it just did not like your friends style of riding.
 
Pick your horse on its character and its behaviour rather then its type. Just because its a cob does not make it a safe kick along. I have two cobs, both are forward going rides, both safe but neither are novice rides. If the mare does not suit then do sell but don't think that just a cob will sort out your issues, you need to build your confidence yourself. Maybe try some lessons on a school master with a sympathetic instructor before buying again. Good Luck.
 
I say sell before you ruin a perfectly good horse. I would put this down to rider error this time BUT that's not going to help how you think and feel about the horse ... I know how you feel trust me. I agree with another poster I don't think you should judge a horse by type alone. I don't (didn't?) like mares after a horrendous experience loaning one but recently I've met two mares that have totally changed my perspective to the point I might have a mare as a next horse. My old horse was a thoroughbred and he knocked my confidence ... I rode a thoroughbred mare the other day and felt really safe and happy .. Horses for courses really. Good luck :)
 
Antw23uk said:
I say sell before you ruin a perfectly good horse. I would put this down to rider error this time BUT that's not going to help how you think and feel about the horse ... I know how you feel trust me. I agree with another poster I don't think you should judge a horse by type alone. I don't (didn't?) like mares after a horrendous experience loaning one but recently I've met two mares that have totally changed my perspective to the point I might have a mare as a next horse. My old horse was a thoroughbred and he knocked my confidence ... I rode a thoroughbred mare the other day and felt really safe and happy .. Horses for courses really. Good luck :)
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I do agree about not judging horse on its breed. However personally I think I've got into a stuck mindset of just feeling safer on a cob even if it's not as quiet and good as my ex racer. Sometimes our minds are strange things
 
Echo a lot of what people are saying here.
Character rather than type, I had a Welsh X Cob mare who was a very strong, very strong willed maniac. I now have a recently gelded Andalusian who is like a dog.
I do think it will be worth selling this mare of yours, I'm sure she's a good type but obviously not for you if you are already feeling like this. (excuse the assumptions)
Maybe look at loaning for a little bit to regain your confidence without the added pressure of buying/selling/owning? Just an idea.
Either way, good luck :)
 
Look for character definitely. You say you love your horse have a great bond and that she's been very quiet with you. I would consider getting an instructor in to work with you and the horse and see what they think? If the instructor sees you together and can see your nerves/confidence issues are upsetting the horse they might agree that you should see and have some lessons for a while before buying another horse. They also might say that the horse is at ease with you and that they can help you build your confidence with your horse. I wouldn't judge her on one mini bronc with another rider.

Also if you do keep her, look into confidence building activities you can do, people local to me get an instructor in that works on ground work almost like handy pony obstacles and building on the bond and trust between the horse and rider.
 
epeters91 said:
Look for character definitely. You say you love your horse have a great bond and that she's been very quiet with you. I would consider getting an instructor in to work with you and the horse and see what they think? If the instructor sees you together and can see your nerves/confidence issues are upsetting the horse they might agree that you should see and have some lessons for a while before buying another horse. They also might say that the horse is at ease with you and that they can help you build your confidence with your horse. I wouldn't judge her on one mini bronc with another rider.

AlTso if you do keep her, look into confidence building activities you can do, people local to me get an instructor in that works on ground work almost like handy pony obstacles and building on the bond and trust between the horse and rider.
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Agree absolutely with this.
I once owned a cob which bronced for England. Try to judge as individuals, not breed or type.
 
soulfull said:
I do agree about not judging horse on its breed. However personally I think I've got into a stuck mindset of just feeling safer on a cob even if it's not as quiet and good as my ex racer. Sometimes our minds are strange things
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I do understand where you are coming from. I have ridden some nutter ponies and cobs and seriously if anything over 14.2hh did any of the things that the little guys have done I would be seriously terrified! It's all in my mindset and I know that. Maybe because I am closer to the ground, or its just the pony brain thing. I find a horse bucking going down a steep gradient far more terrifying than a pony.

Saying that, my horse Bilbo is 15.3hh. Always an "exception to the rule"! I feel we have a good bond. He is a breeze to handle on the ground, and OK he can be spooky, but not extremely reactive. I have time to get off and lead him in a situation where he is getting scared or worried for example. I have had him since he was 3 1/2 and we have that groundwork to fall back on, I know when he is getting upset and I know an effective way of helping him and avoiding a disaster. If he was a horse I had just met I would probably lead him back if he got spooked whilst riding out! If it was a pony/cob I would not be fazed as he has never come close to some of the things I have experienced riding out! I think it's really important to trust your horse. If you don't trust them, they can't trust you. A good "been there done that type" will be less likely to be fazed by your lack of trust, but I know Bilbo is more reactive when I am feeling less confident about his ability to deal with a situation. I think of it in my mind as he knows I am worried, he thinks I am scared of the monster so he will be more reactive. He doesn't understand I am anticipating a bad reaction from him.

I would say to the OP, that if you are not feeling confident on her and don't feel its something that would improve with groundwork, riding and time then sell her. You would probably be happier in your "comfort zone" of a cob type and it probably will chance your confidence. Your mindset will be better when it comes to dealing with the problem if you feel confident.
 
9tails said:
Really? Wow. SO not the right attitude. My motorbike may suit you.
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I should have said there was no reason to think she had. If she had just bucked and rider fell fair enough but she didn't, she deliberately dropped shoulder too. didn't give any warning either
 
Bilbo. It's really strange isn't it. I really am more confident on a 4yr 15.2 cob than a 16.2 been there done it.
I can't explain why as I now a cob 'can' react just the same as a bigger horse.
 
soulfull said:
Bilbo. It's really strange isn't it. I really am more confident on a 4yr 15.2 cob than a 16.2 been there done it.
I can't explain why as I now a cob 'can' react just the same as a bigger horse.
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Yea it is really weird and I can't explain it either!!! But, I am getting confidence in Mr Baggins now, just took time rather than the just being able to jump on any pony/cob and go! I dunno I think horses and ponies/cobs have very different brains a pony doesn't generally give a stuff if you are worried or not (or if they sense weakness will take advantage!) horses I find need the extra guidance from me and if I am being scared they have a meltdown.
 
I loved cobs as well until one bolted round an arena and eventually fell over throwing me off. Sounds silly but it was actually enough to make me completely switch around into not wanting one ever again! I actually ended up with what I thought would be my worst nightmare, a ginger part Arab mare (pony as well when I wanted a horse)!! She was soft, friendly, loving, kind, genuine and never put a foot wrong.

An unhappy rider makes for an unhappy horse, let her go to someone who gels with her and spend a good amount of time looking at a variety of breeds on you next purchase, don't rush into anything and don't be swayed by what others say, you'll know when you've found the right partner.
 
...and breathe! So you have recently got a new horse. You presumably tried her and liked her, and she's not put a foot wrong with you, even though she's just moved house and everything familiar has changed. But your friend has ridden her and she's misbehaved.

We will all have stories of perfectly pleasant and safe horses who have simply not got on with a particular rider for some reason.

They are not machines, they are living creatures and they are all capable of having their moments regardless of their breed or type.

If you really think you've made a mistake and this isn't the horse for you, then sell her.

But from what you have said on this thread it doesn't sound to me as though you'd be well advised to go straight out to buy another one, cob or otherwise. Maybe some lessons on a riding school schoolmaster would help build your confidence, which sounds pretty fragile. Nothing wrong with that, it happens to most people at one time or another. But it's not the best place to start from when you're trying to get to know and build a partnership with a new horse.
 
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