Why are cobs so expensive?

BuzzLightyear

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I'm in the market for a new horse as the one we had on trial didn't work out.

Im looking for a sensible 15.2 cob, no world beater or anything, but all of those advertised appear to be ridiculous money! So much for the credit crunch!

am dispairing that i'll ever find something
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you should be more likely to find something advertised privately at a reasonable price.The Dealers yards seem to be holding their prices for some reason. I paid £2200 for a relatively sensible but very green young cob privately.He does have a bolshy and quirky nature but I am working on that.My YO who also sells horses occassionally reckons that he is easily worth double what I paid for him already given the work I have put into him.I cannot help but wonder where that figure comes from but I don't want to sell him anyway
 
Everybody seems to be looking for safe sensible cobs, hence why they are holding their money, they are low maintenance and tend to be fairly hardy so are relatively cheap to keep.

One word of caution, they are not all safe and sensible some can be sharp and sensative.
 
I've just spent £1500 on an 18 year old cob! He is very low millage, looks and acts years younger, and so far is totaly bombproof ( I've had him on loan for two months) He's just started to school nicely, he loads by himself, infact 100% in every way
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I think that was a little pricey, but having had an unsafe cob for 5 years, to me he's worth every penny.
He lives out, eats just Hi Fi lite and speedi-beet, so cheap to keep too!
 
Yep, i bought a 5 year old cob last year - which cost not far off £4k, he isnt, as Gypsycob says a 'novice ride' however - he is very sensitive, forward going and spooky at times. He isnt a bucker, rearer or napper though. Im hoping once he turns 7/8 he will be exactly what i want - he has very expressive paces and can jump 3.5 - 4 foot!
 
Zig the cob in my siggy was £2500 nearly 6 years ago but coloured cobs are much more expensive now. Coloureds seem to be more than plain cobs.
 
I paid £1200 for Bear 3 yrs ago as an un broken 3 yr old, Ive was offered 3k for him last year!
If you want he will give you a nice quiet ride or he will give you a fast fun ride!

He's worth his weight in gold to me
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If you dont mind getting a youngster, you can pick irish cobs up failry cheap. A mate of mine got one- literally from the side of the road for £300 ! and he is cracking. I know it means you have to wait to ride him/her but it may be worth thinking about, especially if there is something else you can borrow to ride in the mean time. Know what you mean about the price of cobs tho, I paid £2500 for mine in 2003 from a dealer and I thought that was a lot, although he's an ace horse in every way, but if you look at safe cobs or similar websites theyre fetching up to £5500 - Crazy money!!!
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Yeah, I've been having a poke about for a cob, I see what you mean about the prices.

I think maybe long term loaning is an option - if they can't afford it financially and/or don't have the time to do it, they can still own it but know that its being taken care of.

My sister has done this and has a lovely horse on free loan and she picks up all its costs - she's also done this for a pony that she has for her daughter.

May be worth considering, seeing if people will go for a free loan - that way they don't have to sell their pride and joy.....
 
I have a 15.1 9 YO Piebald cob I am very reluctantly decided to part with, he has been there and done it all- Even Polo!
But when it comes to deciding on a price I really do not have a clue what to ask for him!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Because they are worth their weight in Gold!!!
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My share horses are both cobs, they are both perfect allrounders
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[/ QUOTE ]

Just what I was about to say
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Because the majority are completely safe and sensible and great allrounders. Id pick a cob anytime, certainly worth the extra money in my opinion
My gypsy cob cost me £520 when he was around 5 months old, although i have had to wait to break him in etc all the hard work is worth it if you have time to wait and are prepared to put all the backgroud work in! Id hate to think what he would cost to buy him now as is rising 4 broken to ride and drive and coming along very nicely as is extremely willing to learn.
 
beacuse they are the best!!

and apparently they are very much sought after abroad ATM and people are willing to pay anything for the perfect one!!
 
Im hoping to buy my loan Horse in July when the agreement ends, they are asking for £2,500 which is more than I've ever paid for a horse but he is worth everypenny - I ride him, my step daughter rides him with her friends (shes 9 and only been learning for 2/3 months) and the local RDA use him, he hunts, XC and dressage, what more could you want?!?!
 
That's interesting to see that Lexi - I've wondered whether I should buy an older horse that's been there and done it and so would be happy just to hack about.

I wouldn't want to be buying a youngster that has the potential to do other things - do you know what I mean? I wouldn't want to stop a horse from doing what it could be good at.

Mind you saying that, I could end up having a horse and then want to do other stuff!!

I youngster does appeal though, so it can get used to me and I can get used to it - I've ridden western and must say I do enjoy this more compared to the english riding lessons I've been doing - Maybe I could train a youngster to understand both!
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Why are they so expensive? Because they are fashionable. It is a case of supply and demand. Twenty five years ago they were regarded as low-grade, (ie common) and coloured horses were the equivalent of a 60 year old prostitute ( you had to desperate and broke to want one!!!!!) I suppose you could argue that if all the family can ride it, and they live out on fresh air, then they are better value, so what you save in running costs, you can spend on purchase.
 
They are very expensive... We ended up with a v sharp WB as cobs are just too expensive, but that's much more my type anyway
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A lot of the time they're NOT worth the money they're advertised for. Yes, a good cob is worth their weight in gold, but a sh*t cob is stubborn, nappy, and very difficult to train. I've met TBs who are far more 'ideal cob' than cobs.
 
So, just a thought, maybe widen your search? Why does it have to be a cob?

There are loads of sensible allrounders on horsemart for under 3k.
 
I paid £4k for C a year and a half ago

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He came with full tack and extensive wardrobe - is is a fab first horse but was very green and unbalanced and is by no means a push button - he needs a lot of work but he'd sensible for his age (he's 6), loads like a dream and is generally unfazed by most things (although he does occassionally make for an interesting hack)

A lot of people thought I paid over the odds but he's worth his weigh to me!
 
According to loads of people on here you can get my 100% bombproof 15.2h cob who shows and wins at county level does a good novice dressage test also competes and wins affiliated workers for £3000?

So where are they all??
 
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