What to do with young cob

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maxapple

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I've just bought my first ever cob. Shes 5 in July and is an absolute angel.

Her previous owners had tried to do too much schooling with her, so she's totally fed up of that and is nappy in the school. Out hacking she's fantastic.

We don't have a school but can hire one 10 mins away.

I'm thinking that I'll do lots of hacking this summer and pop over to the local school once a week or so for a 10-15 min session max. It would be part of our hack and we'd have to hack home afterwards which she will like. We'll just focus on transitions and getting her going forward, starting big circles etc. I don't want to have lessons for a while as I think she just needs time to chill out this Summer, although we mighty have a little go at local walk and trot tests for fun to start getting her used to new places ( and come last!)

Any other tips on helping her to see the school As less awful than she has I'm the past. She's still babyish and clumsy bless her.
 
You could try TREC, a nice long hack with an obstacle course attached! The peeps who do TREC all seem friendly & encouraging & it's one of those things where you can set your own targets. If there is an obstacle you don't want to do you can just say I'm missing this one & just not score points for that bit - a lot of people do it who don't jump but still want to do something a bit fun. My youngster is not balanced in canter yet so I usually end up just trotting through the slow canter.
If you plan your hacks right you can add in training exercises by riding up/down slopes, riding through water, jumping logs or ditches etc. You could also put up some bending poles, s-bends etc in the field & just have a play.
 
I'd actually just hack her this year, with basic schooling done on hacks - bending, good transitions, leg yield - at 5 she will be growing still. When I got my cob at 5 he was 13.2, now at 10 he's 14.2!
 
I'd echo the schooling on hacks for now, & when you do go in make it fun, take a friend, poles, pony club style games etc
 
Bertha in my sig strip is 5... I started riding her in August, she was backed 2 years ago and turned away until I started riding her.

I've just taken things nice and easy, although I don't hack out we have a huge indoor & outdoor so I've just been keeping everything nice and big and loose. I started doing leg yielding and shoulder in about 4 weeks into riding her and I have just started some half pass with her last week, just a few strides and everthing nice and soft. She has taken to it very well as she is very flexible. I started jumping her late December, she really enjoys it, a little too much at times lol

If I could hack out then I would be doing this out on hacks as well, but just keep it simple and keep it fun for you both :)
 
Thanks everyone. I think schooling on hacks is a great plan.

Out of interest - when do cobs stop growing!? She's about 14.1 now and her bum is quite a bit higher than her withers - so wonder how big she'll get!? :)
 
She may yet grow a fair bit but she also could just be bum high. I think your plan sounds like a good one and definitely get some schooling in on hacks. As most horses are naturally more forwards on hacks it's a great time to introduce leg yield if you're on a quiet lane and this is an essential skill for hacking anyway. Just have a fun summer getting to know your new horse. And remember to take lots of pics for us lot :D
 
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