Why are show cobs (usually) overweight?

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CobsGalore

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I was just looking on the TOYs website at the previous winners, and shocked at how overweight many of the horses are (not all though).

My cob is no where near as big as them, and I am constantly worrying about how I am going to keep the weight off him.

I'm sure if anyone posted a picture of their horse on here being that size, they would be given advice on how to restrict grazing, etc.

Please don't shoot me down, this is a genuine question and something I am interested in.
 
its not just cobs pretty much all show horses I have seen are overweight as the judges place them higher if they are fat. its not going to change until the judges start putting horses at the top of the line who are fit and covered rather than fat. there are a few who could actually do a job and can manage more than 100 yards at a fast canter but they are in the minority
 
I agree, far too many show horses are fat - isn't it an old fashioned thing that they used to be humungus (sp) to be seen as "healthy".

I hope things are changing now - I have to bite my tongue very hard (and I know others do too) of "champion horses/ponies" pics put up on here. :rolleyes:
 
I've been on both ends of the stick with my dartmoor. As a 4yo inhand in the morning I was told he would want no more weight on him as he was perfect condition wise for his age and workload and 3hours later in a ridden class I was told he needed to have much, much more weight on him to be sucessful. 2 different judges at a Royal show and both judge HOYS qualifiers.

I then took said dartmoor out under the second judge 5 years later as an overweight tub of lard (working hard to reduce that at the time!) and was told that he was far, far too fat. So some judges are learning.
 
Not all judges place fat horses I know two people that were put at the end of the line as the horse was overweight this year, but it is the normal thing in some cases, but while they are. Being placed people will keep them fat I suppose.
 
It's a common showing theme unfortunately. And lots of people in general mistake wobbling crest & fat padded quarters as wonderful topline. Fat also disguises confo faults.
 
I think most horses are fat in general! x Doesnt mean the owner isn't trying to get weight off but i think people have started seeing them as the norm and think that a fit horse is too thin! x

There is a welsh section D is the stable next to my boy and I'm suprised it's still stood up!! x Its huuuuge but the owner thinks he's cute being tubby!! :rolleyes:
 
There was a pic in last week’s H&H of a well-known producer winning on her middleweight hunter and I know sometimes picture angles can be deceptive, but this horse appeared to be huge, especially across is backside and I wondered if that was a middleweight, how much bigger would it need to be to be a heavyweight, assuming it was 16.2 plus. I have a full ID who has nearly 10in of bone and is a good 16.2 but because he’s fit and trim he never stands up well in hunter classes because he gets lost behind all these massive horses. At his height and with his bone, he should be in the HW classes, but I have seen horses bigger than him in the lightweight classes. In fact, I’ve seen riding horses with more flesh than him. I constantly have no idea where to enter him, so don’t bother so much. Even in pure bred classes he looks small. I’m amazed some of them can even move the weight they carry and I know if mine starts to carry too much condition he struggles with his work.
 
Mine was overweight when I bought him, still is but I'm trying so hard to get it off him. He's slowly losing it but it's not been easy. He really can live on fresh air. Other than starving him, which I would never do, I'm trying my best.
 
Some people try sooo hard to keep weight off their cobs, restricting grazing, special diets and exercise routines, them and their horses should be rewarded and instead its the ones who were standing around on the verge of lami...

We know cobs are often hard to keep weight down, but as above it happens in the other classes too - I am sure those people genuinely must try to get their horses that fat so they look 'well muscled' Restricting exercise and special eating regime maybe?!
 
i was at HOYS this year first time and i was amazed at the size of some of them.. i wonder how they manage to get them nicely schooled or is this another misinterpretation due to most using double bridals and 'looking' pretty not saying all here as i know some people work very hard to train their horses correctly, just wonder how horses are so fat when you would need to be imo schooled to a pretty decent level and to do this requires regular exercise!! not having a dig here at anyone before im pounced on :) runs and hides.. just a curiosity??
 
This years ultimate star champion :eek::eek:

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wildcard said:
i was at HOYS this year first time and i was amazed at the size of some of them.. i wonder how they manage to get them nicely schooled or is this another misinterpretation due to most using double bridals and 'looking' pretty not saying all here as i know some people work very hard to train their horses correctly, just wonder how horses are so fat when you would need to be imo schooled to a pretty decent level and to do this requires regular exercise!! not having a dig here at anyone before im pounced on :) runs and hides.. just a curiosity??
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Most of them are very well schooled, yes some are fixed but not many at that level. The trick to keeping them obese whilst working is to only ever work them in a school and just shovel the food down their throats - ad lib pretty much everything. Some of these animals are fit enough for their work load but struggle because they have too much weight around the throat and thus make it hard to breath.
 
Twinkle Shy said:
I have to bite my tongue very hard (and I know others do too) of "champion horses/ponies" pics put up on here. :rolleyes:
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Don't bite too hard. Here is one of the pictures that seem to offend. A multi championship winning horse and if anyody thinks producing a horse to look like this and compete all season, is merely a case of feeding it, I am afraid you have a lot to learn about producing hunters. Feed does not put top on. Hill work, correct schooling and miles of road work results in a topline and a horse fit enough to travel and compete regularly.

The Op question is valid and at this years Hoys the cobs did look fitter than in previous years, but there were still plenty with a wedge of fat on their brisket that forced their forelimbs apart, giving them a rolling gait. So many cobs are not true cobs, which is a type of course, not a breed, they are just fat ponies or small horses with no bone to carry the massive tops.


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AA - to me your horse is perfect for the job required of it.

I think most people forget that different horses have different jobs and have different builds and requirements. Some people think that racehorses are skinny - no they are stripped as fit as fit can be. Some say show horses are too fat - yes some are but most are covered muscle and they don't need to be supremely fit for their job. Proper hunt horses will need to be fit but with a bit of a covering so they have a store to get them through the season. An eventer will be fit with big built up muscles, same with dressage horses but their muscles will be built in a different way. A happy hacker will like as not have no real topline or muscle definition as to how people see them against competition horses BUT every horse is different and every job requires different things.

Look at the whole thing and you will see horses that are fit for purpose.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Don't bite too hard. Here is one of the pictures that seem to offend. A multi championship winning horse and if anyody thinks producing a horse to look like this and compete all season, is merely a case of feeding it, I am afraid you have a lot to learn about producing hunters. Feed does not put top on. Hill work, correct schooling and miles of road work results in a topline and a horse fit enough to travel and compete regularly.

The Op question is valid and at this years Hoys the cobs did look fitter than in previous years, but there were still plenty with a wedge of fat on their brisket that forced their forelimbs apart, giving them a rolling gait. So many cobs are not true cobs, which is a type of course, not a breed, they are just fat ponies or small horses with no bone to carry the massive tops.


045-1.jpg
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^^^^^^ A beautiful example of a show cob, the horse looks amazing :)
 
Fantasy_World said:
^^^^^^ A beautiful example of a show cob, the horse looks amazing :)
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Surely that is a hunter not a cob!!

FWIW (ducks for cover) AA's horse in my mind is carrying a smidge of fat, a fraction too much over the ribs and a pad at the shoulder. That said it is clear the actual top line is muscle. One of mine carries his fat exactly as AA horse does and it is neigh on impossible to shift.
 
I think the main problem is so many people have no idea of what a healthy weight is, whether that's human or horse. Every spring I get looks of suprise when I say my 14.2 is on the too slim side. Because her good topline distracts from the ribs. (intentional, its how I manage weight on good doers, they gain over summer). Conversely, daughters finely built pony is often called thin when she's not. Certainly last autumn, not long since turned 4 & backed that spring, she had little topline. But certainly well covered ribs. However plenty of people assumed she was thin, when she wasn't. Even this year when she has a nice topline from work, I've had a few funny looks because I've commented on the fact she'll look better mid winter with less belly. Because her natural daintiness distracts from her well padded ribs. And yet both ponies are the same condition wise.2.5 in spring, start winter above a 3 but not as big as 3.5, then lose again by spring. Yet people view one as fine & the other thin.
 
Fantasy_World said:
^^^^^^ A beautiful example of a show cob, the horse looks amazing :)
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Excellent sense of humour, I hope.

I was thrilled when SHGB agreed he could be the only plaited cob at Hoys and they waived the height limit rules, but to be fair he is only a smidgen over 15.1hh, at 17.2hh, and as long as he puts his head down he doesn't look his height at all.
 
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