Why didnt i buy a cob part 2!

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FrankieBoy

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3 December 2007
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Essex, UK
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Thank you all for your advice and kind words RE my last post.
To clear a few things up
He certainly didn't look 'flashy' when i bought him. He came from a dealer (So i guess i should have expected the outcome) and was in such poor condition I almost cried.
My instructor came with me to veiw him before i went ahead, As did the YO of the yard I kept my horse on loan, at.
He is FANTASTIC on the ground, in the stable... Everything. The Problems come when he is asked to do some actual work. He would bumble along quite happily in the school untill for example, He was asked to work correctly in an outline, Or... Something else that made life a little harder for him. Thats when the bucking/rearing/napping kicks in. He'll hack out perfectly in company... But I cant get him out alone for the life of me.
Anywho... I have had a chat the the guys at Wash farm, here in essex:
http://www.germandressagehorseuk.com/contact.php
They offer short term schooling livery etc and are aware and sympathetic of my situation. They actually breed westphalians, So were particually interested in meeting my chap. After a month or so working with frankie and myself... Hopefully it will soon be obvious to them and me if its going to work or not. If not, they may well be able to sell him on for me.
Thanks again for all of your advice.
x
 
That's a brilliant outcome!

Good luck.

Westphalians are such talented horses, it's no wonder they're quirky. I'm sure that once your confidence has grown, your horse's will too
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Again, best of luck!!!
 
Thats great,pleased you are prepared to give him a chance
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,i am sure you will both come on in bounds
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good luck with him and keep us posted
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That's a stroke of luck that you have these guys nearby
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. It sounds like a good plan, and I hope it goes well. Keep us updated...
 
Oh, that's great news. I read this morning's post and didn't really know what else to post except suggest selling him on before one or the other of you got hurt; but I knew that would be a hard decision for you to come to until you're really ready. So well done for coming up with such a good plan! My fingers are well and truely crossed things work out for the both of you
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That's great that you have found some help. Just keep in mind that it may take a long time to "sort out" your problems and one month is a very short space of time considering the years that it takes to train and school a horse.

Good luck
 
fantastic, I am so happy that you have not given up on him.

He is a very very lucky horse to have found somebody who is not going to give up on him.

Good on you!
 
well done! For what it is worth I think you are doing the right thing. He does sound like a bit of a nightmare. i have just made the exact same decision with my mare, i couldnt decide whether to sell her as she completely takes the mickey with me napping spooking etc. I have booked her in for a months professional schooling where they will take her for two weeks on her own and then teach me on her for two weeks so i can start from scratch with her again. If it doesnt work out then ill know i have done all I can and she is just not for me. At least if you send him away and it still doesn't work you will know in your heart of hearts that you gave it your best shot and it will be easier to put it behind you. Good luck, keep us updated!! x
 
I think that really is the best course of action. At the very least it will give you some time to think and get a professional opinion on what's going on. This way you will have a little more information to make a decision with and if you keep the horse you'll have more of a plan or if you decide to sell he'll be much more marketable. It also might allow you to see the horse in a new light and be able to judge more clearly where HE belongs not just what you might want for him.

One general comment I would make with regards to sending horses out of schooling. (Not to the OP, just in the course of the conversation.) I think it is an excellent starting point and/or way of getting a horse over a training "hump", especially if facilities and the amount of time/attention the situation needs are factors BUT in the end the horse has to function in the situation he's living in. This does not mean avoiding professional help (Why do people do that, by the way? I don't fix my own car.), quite the opposite, in fact. It means making the trainer aware of any and all factors that might be contributing to the situation and letting him/her make suggestions for any changes in management/handling/training that might improve things.

I cannot tell you how many times I've seen horses in professional yards change dramatically just as a function of the different circumstance. Everything from different feed, to changed turnout/workload/routine, to consistent professional handling, to a different saddle/footing/riding style impacts on how the horse goes and it's important to work out what factors are necessary to the horse continuing in a good way, which can be adapted, and which are really not that important to the horse. If one does send a horse away it's useful to at least take note of ALL the changes and how the horse reacts to them so that if something is working it can be continued at home.

Obviously working with the horse at the training yard goes a long way to helping the rider problem solve but it's also very important to take those improvements back home AND have a system in place for building on them. I've found it very useful, if the horse goes away to school, if the trainer can continue to work with the horse (and rider obviously) a bit when it comes home and tweak the program accordingly. For some horses that are "borderline" a regular schooling ride, perhaps becoming less frequent as the improvements prove secure, can make ALL the difference. Horses aren't machines - it's rarely a case of "fixed and done with it" - but proper management can make all the difference between a rollercoaster and a constant ramp of improvement.

By the same token if the person working with the horse and rider at home (and to the OP, not to be harsh but if you've had the problems you've had I would really suggest getting regular competent help at home, just for your own safety and confidence with the horse) is different from the residential trainer he/she should be familiar with what sort of system is currently working for the horse.

Anyway, that's all in the future! I hope you and your horse have a great experience at the trainer and whatever happens, you both find it an educational and confidence inspiring month.
 
Good luck with him, he sounds exactly like my friend's Welsh D (!).

He will never be 110% but with time and effort his behaviour has really turned around.

I still think you can't beat a good cob, although I harp on about cobs to anyone who'll listen
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Where are you in Essex, out of interest? (I'm near Southend)
 
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