Why are show cobs (usually) overweight?

Twinkle Shy said:
AA - absolutely beautiful (the horse, not you !!!!). Nope, tongue totally unbitten by that pic. ;)
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Thank you. He is our horse of a lifetime. This one was taken when he was about 25kg heavier and tape weighed at 785kg and was too heavy really.

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In the hunter ring the judges will comment and mark down very heavy horses. I have no idea if pony judges do the same but if they don't I think they should start.

Here is our next show project for the 2013 season. A heavyweight novice cob, 10 and a half inches of bone. This one is far more difficult to decide if it's overweight. There is little muscle on this horse, the hind end does not match the forehand and the second thigh is very weak, to ride she is weak and tires very quickly. When, or if, her tummy tightens and she gets a top line of muscle she could easily look very overweight. Although only 15.1hh when she is fit she is going to be a lot of horse. Interested to hear what you think to this one ?

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AdorableAlice said:
Here is our next show project for the 2013 season. A heavyweight novice cob, 10 and a half inches of bone. This one is far more difficult to decide if it's overweight. There is little muscle on this horse, the hind end does not match the forehand and the second thigh is very weak, to ride she is weak and tires very quickly. When, or if, her tummy tightens and she gets a top line of muscle she could easily look very overweight. Although only 15.1hh when she is fit she is going to be a lot of horse. Interested to hear what you think to this one ?
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I like her, young? At the mo she is front heavy but she should mature up quite nicely.
 
EKW said:
I like her, young? At the mo she is front heavy but she should mature up quite nicely.
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6, but done nothing other than bully previous lovely owners. Only good pace is walk ! trot excellent for 6 steps 8 on a good day. She found canter at the weekend and frightened herself and us to death. Transitions are our best friend and she learns quickly, but this is the first ever ridden mare for us and she certainly has an opinion, but I am sure when she thinks everything is her idea she will be a little cracker.
 
Fantasy_World said:
^^^^^^ A beautiful example of a show cob, the horse looks amazing :)
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Not a cob and IMO not far above ideal. Skinny for a show hunter and I wouldn't really quibble much.

Once fat is activated, it stores in pads and is the very devil to shift. The secret is to not let it get there in the first place. To do it deliberately is worse, IMO, than to let it happen in ignorance.

I hate seeing fat horses.
 
Here is our next show project for the 2013 season. A heavyweight novice cob, 10 and a half inches of bone. This one is far more difficult to decide if it's overweight. There is little muscle on this horse, the hind end does not match the forehand and the second thigh is very weak, to ride she is weak and tires very quickly. When, or if, her tummy tightens and she gets a top line of muscle she could easily look very overweight. Although only 15.1hh when she is fit she is going to be a lot of horse. Interested to hear what you think to this one ?

Martha1stOct12002.jpg
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A stripped-down cob. Sadly I think you're going to have to stuff her to capacity and work her to death to get topline from fat. Or do what the others do and forget the second bit. :o
 
We have an ID here who was shown in his past he was shown as a cob although in my opinion he's between types being neither a heavy wieght hunter ( in showing terms ) or a cob in type.
I have dieted him for over two years now steadily getting his wieght down he's gone from 760 kilos to 577 kilos at his last weigh in hes a different horse so much fitter and happier.
He still looks 'well ' but definatly hard fit now.
 
It isn't just show cobs that people struggle to 'see' the correct weight on...people on my yard are frequently suggesting that my cob could do with a bit more weight on him - as he's a cob he 'should' have a clear gutter down his backside and 'needs' bigger shoulders... Yes, he could do with a bit more muscle on his bum, but that will come with getting him more off his forehand with schooling etc - not by feeding! When turned out 24/7 over the summer with a token bucket feed of chaff & supplements once a day a concerned friend said that it was no problem to feed him in the morning for me as he must be losing a lot of weight with only one feed a day...plus of course the 24 hrs worth of grass!

At our little local show this year, my friend rode my cob in the working hunter class - ridden cob was hogged only :eek: He went in the minimum tack and gadgets (as was the norm when she showed as a teen), and to be fair, pulled like a train in his snaffle, but was manageable, did a decent show and jumped everything nicely without even looking, but came 4/5 as 'he needs more condition and covering to look like a cob, and working hunters are expected to wear a breastplate and martingale' the winner looked like a lollipop from the front, and the others higher up the line were festooned with gags, flashes, martingales, boots, bits of sheep etc. Mine was the only one there who had ever actually hunted... Politely said at the end that he could do with more muscle but no more condition as otherwise he wouldn't be fit enough for me :rolleyes:
 
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