Young cob - height

[sollimum]

I bought my rising 5 year old cob last summer last summer and he measured 14.2 with shoes on. He is now 14.2 with shoes off. He is a cob x connie type. I have lost weight over the winter. He is currently away being rebacked and I really hope I will be light enough to hack him away. I am 70kg though and would be grateful for your thoughts on what a youngster can carry. I would love him to grow more but not sure he will. Thank you

 

[pistolpete]

Impossible to say without seeing him. How you ride how much bone he has how well he moves how he’s put together if he’s over or underweight all has a bearing on this. It’s a how long is a piece of string question. I’m similar weight to you and there are 14.2 ponies I definitely wouldn’t ride and some i would! As a newly started youngster ideally I wouldn’t be putting top weight on them.

 

[sollimum]

Thank you - I will have a chat with my trainer who is backing him this week - she is tiny and see what she thinks about us a combination. If she is concerned then I will not ride him until I have lost more weight or potentially look for a new home for him.

 

[SEL]

Mine only grew an inch between 4 and 6 but he did get broader. He's still got some filling out to do I reckon looking at his parents but I think 14.1 is where we're stopping

 

[sollimum]

Mine only grew an inch between 4 and 6 but he did get broader. He's still got some filling out to do I reckon looking at his parents but I think 14.1 is where we're stopping

Thank you, I remember my older cob changing hugely in shape but not height as a youngster so I don't think my young cob will put much more height on now either but I don't know his parentage as he came from Ireland. He has a cobby body but a connie looking head (sort of!).

 

[pistolpete]

Aww he sounds very cute and likely quite strong once muscled up.

 

[KatieDM]

Thank you - I will have a chat with my trainer who is backing him this week - she is tiny and see what she thinks about us a combination. If she is concerned then I will not ride him until I have lost more weight or potentially look for a new home for him.

This sounds really sensible and thoughtful. There’s somebody on Instagram who is overweight (well, obese) with an equally overweight mare and it shocks me whenever I look on there. I just wish common sense would prevail!

 

[KatieDM]

This sounds really sensible and thoughtful. There’s somebody on Instagram who is overweight (well, obese) with an equally overweight mare and it shocks me whenever I look on there. I just wish common sense would prevail!

Just to add: I’m not suggesting you’re overweight, by the way!! I’m about 68kg at 5’7”. Just using the example of an owner who really seems to have blinkers on…

 

[Jambarissa]

I started hacking my broad 14.2 6yo cob when I was 68kg. Saw no balance issues and several years on she has a lovely strong back.

The issue is the age/bone strength and muscle rather than your weight. I can't imagine a bit of light riding in a well fitting saddle would be a problem. Get someone to watch you regularly and tell them to be brutally honest if they think he isn't finding it easy.

In terms of height mine broadened and stopped looking bum high without seeming to grow much at the withers.

 

[sollimum]

Aww he sounds very cute and likely quite strong once muscled up

Thank you. He has obviously been through several dealers yards but I contacted the dealer in Ireland who passported him and he remembered him and sent me a photo of him as a 3 year old and he has chunked up since then. He said he was purchased from Ballinasloe Fair from a farmer and apparently Dad was a cob stallion and Mum a connie mare. They sold him to a dealer in Wales and then he went through another home and then to me. He has a connie face but a bit of feather and more bone than a connie.

I did set out to buy a 15/15.2hh Irish cob so not sure what happened tbh but the saddler has confirmed he can take a 17inch saddle so that's helpful and I have changed my way of eating completely and do feel a lot better for I so I am committed to losing a bit more and I would only want to lightly hack him this year as I know he will continue to broaden and mature. I guess if I put shoes on him he would make nearly 14.3hh but he has incredible feet so he will stay barefoot at present.

 

[sollimum]

UPDATE So trainer was happy for me to ride my young cob - we are doing short rides. I am doing rider pilates 4 times a week as well (trying to!) and doing my best to eat healthily - I just think of him and do my best.