What do you do with your Cobs?

[NeverSayNever]

my advice would be not to discount any type. My 'taste' in horses over the years has changed a lot, as have my expectations and requirements. I used to hate anything with fluff and feather, now I have a sec a and a sec d. No way did I ever think Id have a sec d but this one kind of fell in my lap and Im so very glad she did as I dont think there is anything I wont do with her. Am somewhat restricted at the moment to flatwork and hacking due to growing a bubba

 

[Spotsrock]

Spotty lightweight cob - jumps. Spotty heavy cob - jumps, or will when I stop him naffing off with me!

 

[hcm88]

I'm currently riding a coloured cob for a lady and he's SO super. Every day I ride my event horses which granted I love to pieces but this cob is just hilarious fun. He schools so well, competed up to Elementary level dressage, jumps a 90cm course easily, complete machine XC and hunting! Super safe to hack, will plod round with a kid on his back. He's locally shown in the summer and everything. Such an allrounder.

 

[MiCsarah]

Don't discount any other breed. You can't take a character of a horse by it's breed or type. Mine is a poor doer, broncs when excited and seems to be starting to break easy. He's extremely opinionated and thinks he knows best. Saying that I live him to bits and trust him with my life

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Everything - With the exception of dressage, which we were working on our super cob did everything and was so bold (if in doubt give it an extra foot!), willing and fun, plus she was a cuddly girl too. We hoped to have a foal out of her eventualy, but sadly we lost her last month - Ours was a 15.1 show cob type - good luck whatever horse you go for.

 

[Shantara]

Ooh I'm so sorry Magic!! *hugs*

Don't worry MiCSarah ^^ I do want a cobbie, but if I find my perfect horse in a just backed arab stallion (Wouldn't even think of EVER getting one, just an example) then I'll get that

 

[dollymix]

love reading and seeign pics of some of your super-cobs!

I've done allsorts with my cobs too - from XC and showing to TREC, driving and distance riding. You can never generalise any horse, but basically a cob will do everything you could wnt to do at RC level...some will even do more than that!

 

[cob&onion]

I love my cob! broke her in summer just gone, she was so straight forward! we did a bit of dressage and hacking and had a couple of canters across open fields with other horses, proving to be very good in traffic and has a flair for dressage shes turned away now till Feb and i cant wait to start her again planning on starting a bit of jumping in the summer

 

[Shantara]

She looks gorgeous!! Especially since you say she's just been backed :O wow!!

 

[Lolo]

Henry cob was a 14hh (almost!) welsh cob with a massive attitude. He was kept with massive white feathers but his mane was pulled short so it could be fought into proper plaits for PC stuff/ hunting. He was astonishing and would jump literally anything- he jumped a BE intermediate fence at Burnham Market. For anyone who knows it there, it's the big curved palisade down the hill with the back bar on... Al literally couldn't see over it yet he just pinged! He BSJA'd round 1.10m courses and was amazing in jump offs, and he did several 1.10m ODEs with a decent dressage (about 35-39, not bad for a little cob with not amazing movement!) and a DC with a few time penalties.

He was astonishing, especially as when Al started riding him he looked like this:

(the photos are about a year apart!)

However, he was a nightmare in the stable, had to be lead everywhere in a bridle and was banned from PC camp as he was a liability- Al had to climb in and out of his stable as he was so bargey and it took 2 stable managers to lead him to the mounting spot whilst a 3rd threw her on... Not a novice ride either! Amazing pony though.

 

[JFTDWS]

******* me

has he been at the red bull

 

[Shantara]

******* me

has he been at the red bull

HAH! Was thinking the same thing XD

 

[tinap]

Our little (14hh) coloured cob mainly showjumps upto about 1.10m, but he also loves to xc & is amazing in a puissance!! Daughter has done a bit of dressage & mounted games on him too!!

 

[Lolo]

******* me

has he been at the red bull

Whatever he was on if you bottled it you'd make a fortune. He made mincemeat of the course, and as he was so small with short strides he never found technical combinations tricky as he had so much room to manoeuvre! He was terrifying to watch- he though nothing of taking strides out at this height.

Even more amusingly, the girth is so loose I could fit 2 fists in it. His daffy jockey forgot to do it up before she started warming up, and then didn't check before she set off... Who put the 12yo in charge?!

 

[Shantara]

Also, forgot to ask! I'm 5ft8, what size do you think would make me LOOK too big? I don't weight much, so that's not an issue.

Seriously (and don't shoot me down) I've been around horses for 16 years and height still baffles me. That said, human height baffles me too and I've been around them for 21 years...soo hah.

 

[Lolo]

In the photos, Al must be about 5'4 and was getting very leggy on Henry. However, she would have been fine to carry on riding him if she'd hitched up her stirrups some more as she is slim.

 

[Sparkles]

For heights, it really depends on how they're built and how you're built - ie if you're long and leggy, you won't want a 14hh pony type cob, you'd want a heavier one which takes your leg up more and fills it....or rather, if you're shorter in the leg department, then obviously you wouldn't want a big full up 15hher as you'd feel like you were doing the splits!

For height examples, I'm 5ft10ish and about 11 - 12 stone [I'd guess approx]:

This is C, who's just under 13.3hh and heavy gypsy cob.

Here is Hairy, who's 14.3/15hh heavy irish cob:

And Dukey, who's our 15.1hh light weight cob:

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/29689_437054571752_708806752_5341011_1410048_n.jpg

And a 12.3/13hh little cob [who I am too big on...he's the more pony build]:

 

[Shantara]

Thanks Christmas Sparkle! Very informative
I'm a very leggy 5ft8. Sadly not model style leggy just lanky!

This is me, minus horse..ignore the pose.

This is me on a a 14-something-nearly-15hh horse.

 

[hairycob]

My sons cob, HP, has hunted, been on Pony Club SJ team, loves XC. Would do dressage/showing but son hates flatwork! I have a sharer for him at the moment who is a relatively novice rider & he hacks out haoppily with him.
Mine is still a youngster but has done bit of TREC. He will probably do some XC next year as well.

 

[AprilBlossom]

I went from a neat little 15.2 cob to a whacking great warmblood and can't say I've found it hard, as I enjoy my horses rather than have them for a particular purpose. Both have similar personalities in that they're 'old men' who get a grump on from time to time but when no ones looking can do affectionate

Te one thing that would put me off a cob now, having ridden a cob x tb for a while is that they seem to take a loooonnnnggg time to fully grow up, and if you make an error with it before it's fully learned all the ropes it's bloody hard to correct!

I'd liken my experience to the cob being a reliable old 4x4, a few nicks here and there but generally ok, never going to clean up to be shiny but a good few miles left in the tank, an my warmblood to a bentley - needs to be kept with a little more care and don't try rag it round a field but polish it up and everyone will be jealous

If I were you I'd look out for a middle aged cob who will give you years of fun still but means you dont have to worry about fudging up any basics! Be prepared to spend more than on other types though, youd be looking for something of a holy grail in what I've suggested I think!

 

[cob&onion]

Also, forgot to ask! I'm 5ft8, what size do you think would make me LOOK too big? I don't weight much, so that's not an issue.

Seriously (and don't shoot me down) I've been around horses for 16 years and height still baffles me. That said, human height baffles me too and I've been around them for 21 years...soo hah.

Going from my pics

Am 5ft10 (almost) and mare is 15hh dead on.....because shes wide she takes up the leg really well. I look bigger on my friends 15.3 TB!

 

[Shantara]

If I were you I'd look out for a middle aged cob who will give you years of fun still but means you dont have to worry about fudging up any basics! Be prepared to spend more than on other types though, youd be looking for something of a holy grail in what I've suggested I think!

^^ thanks, yea! I'm looking for something age 6/11


I rode my friends cobbie today! He's gorgeous! Hard work to get going, but I just managed it hehe. He's 14.3 and didn't seem to small, so it gave me a good idea of what size I'd need.

Here's lovely Storm!
Quite a small pic, but you get the idea ^^

 

[Theresa_F]

My gypsy cob is a master jack of all trades.

He happily goes round a 3' course of jumps when doing workers and SJ competitions. Can do a decent dressage test, though I don't do it that often as it is not my fav thing. He is shown to county level and went to the RIHS this year.

Hacks out, with a kid onboard carefully and with an experienced rider is forward going, great fun and safe.

Not many horses can show at high level on a Sunday and on a Tuesday give a novice kid a lesson in the school - mine does.

The previous gypsy cob I had was the same. Not such a good jumper, whilst Stinky can clear 3'6, her limit was 2'9 but she was a heavier built mare than he is.

I hope you find a good one and if you are interested in the gypsy cob, go to www.tgca.co.uk. The solid coloureds are still cheaper than coloureds but many are better quality than the coloureds.

Stinky is very light to ride - he has been schooled correctly to move from behind since a baby and is 14.3.

 

[JFTDWS]

I'm 5'8 and longer of leg (not in a "good" way either, just in an annoying "can't get my leg on the highland in dr length stirrups" sort of way). My lad is shy of 15hh and I don't ever feel too big on him. He's carried 6ft4 of my (rugby built) brother and used to hack out with an ex of mine who was tall and lanky

Theresa makes a good point - be very careful when buying if you choose a coloured - particularly if you go for a younger model - as being so popular at the moment, they seem to be being bred very indiscriminately by some. I've seen a few shockers, and while that's not necessarily a problem for a pleasure horse, some faults can affect their working lifespan and certainly will limit you if you ever wanted to show your beastie.

Mind you, mine has the hocks straight off a cow, and he's a decent pony regardless


(As it happens T_F, now you've added photos, I recognise your cobI think! He's fab!)

 

[tiga71]

I do a bit of everything with Izzy. He is 13 and is my first horse. My RI loves to ride him as she says he always makes her smile even when he's naughty.

Jumping up to about 2'9 - my limit atm, not his, endurance, Trec, cross country schooling (hope to compete next year), adult gymkhana, bit of dressage, and lots of hacking. He is so much fun to ride and there is always a long line of people to offer to ride him if I am away. He does have a wicked buck, usually just on the first few canters of an endurance ride though. He is pretty bomb proof and I am hoping to have a go at horseball next year although don't think we will be fast enough.

 

[Theresa_F]

I'm 5'8 and longer of leg (not in a "good" way either, just in an annoying "can't get my leg on the highland in dr length stirrups" sort of way). My lad is shy of 15hh and I don't ever feel too big on him. He's carried 6ft4 of my (rugby built) brother and used to hack out with an ex of mine who was tall and lanky

Theresa makes a good point - be very careful when buying if you choose a coloured - particularly if you go for a younger model - as being so popular at the moment, they seem to be being bred very indiscriminately by some. I've seen a few shockers, and while that's not necessarily a problem for a pleasure horse, some faults can affect their working lifespan and certainly will limit you if you ever wanted to show your beastie.

Mind you, mine has the hocks straight off a cow, and he's a decent pony regardless


(As it happens T_F, now you've added photos, I recognise your cobI think! He's fab!)

You are correct there is some real *****e coloureds out there that are trade cobs and not gypsy cobs - most of them used to go for meat but now get sold to folks who have no idea what a gypsy cob should be.

Thanks for the comment on Stinky - he is a good cob but not a top class gypsy cob - there is a bit of TB in him somewhere, hence not having as much hair and a big longer in the neck, back and legs. Makes him a great riding type and he does well in the coloured classes with his more flashy movement as their idea of a gypsy cob is different to the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association's breed standard.

I forgot to say I am only 5' but Stinky has riders of 5'8 on him and they do not look out of place. He has had a few 6' plus judges on him and yes, they did look a bit big on him with their long legs but he carried them fine and gave them a good ride.

 

[kinnygirl1]

Ooh yes - love my cob! He is middleweight, we have been hacking all over the place, he is very sensible and I have attempted dressage on him for first time in my life and he is so good!Just intro level so far. We are just starting to pop a few little jumps as well and he is taking a good shape over them (he is only 4). Also my little girl who is only 8(but a good little jockey) has walked trotted and cantered on him in the school and he looked after her impeccably. Love him so much -links to photos attached! http://s1188.photobucket.com/albums/z411/kinnygirl1/

 

[superted1989]

Mine is older, 19, but easily does a bit of everything, and does it well. He got into the championship every time during the summer, hasn't stopped or knocked a fence right up to 2'9", been clear around all of the XC courses here (minimus and novice) and hunted for the first time at the opening meet last month.
People do think of 'common, ploddy cobs' but mine is anything but a plod, the fitter he gets, the livlier he gets! His much younger, 'blood' horse hunting companions looked like they'd had a days hunting the following day, Markie looked like he'd had a leisurely few days off! He has way more stamina than me!
Back in the summer, a friend's daughter used him to 'nanny' another horse round XC. She's about 5'9".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0ryDB5HJJU&feature=player_embedded
She'd never ridden a 'common' cob before, or an older horse. She was convinced he wouldn't make it round!

 

[Shantara]

Wow! Great pictures and videos
Cobs can truly do everything (Except maybe - like someone said earlier - point to point hehe)

 

[JFTDWS]

I am hoping to have a go at horseball next year although don't think we will be fast enough.

I do horseball with my cob and my highland - although they couldn't play the higher leagues as they'd be out paced, I will be playing in the novice national league next year - it's advantageous to have different "types" and different skill sets on the team. Mine aren't the fastest but I'm one of very few who can reliably pick up the ball, so I do have my uses on the team! Where abouts are you?

You are correct there is some real *****e coloureds out there that are trade cobs and not gypsy cobs - most of them used to go for meat but now get sold to folks who have no idea what a gypsy cob should be. exactly - it's well worth researching what your type of horse "should" look like before buying it

Thanks for the comment on Stinky - he is a good cob but not a top class gypsy cob - there is a bit of TB in him somewhere, hence not having as much hair and a big longer in the neck, back and legs. Makes him a great riding type and he does well in the coloured classes with his more flashy movement as their idea of a gypsy cob is different to the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association's breed standard.

Ahh, that's probably why I think he's so nice I find the TGCA's breed standard a bit extreme - prefer the "coloured" show type