Discovering your perfect cob is very much like finding your best friend – someone you can trust and share endless adventures with.
Whether you want to compete every weekend or just be able to enjoy a lengthy hack once in a while, there is a cob out there for everyone. This can make things tricky when searching for your new partner in crime.
Cobs tend to be all-rounders, and are renowned for being a sensible, comfortable ride. But of course, we shouldn’t pigeonhole them, as some cobs have proved to be freakishly talented in a discipline they simply weren’t designed to do.
Ben Hobday describes his four-star ride Mulrys Error (who is thoroughbred x cob) as having “power and drive and can carry the whole family”.
Jayne Lavington has a part-bred Clydesdale PSG dressage horse called Boston Deluxe. Jayne says: “His trainability and willingness have made it possible to to teach him to use his body in a different and more efficient way. He has that special X factor.”
Equally, cobs with good conformation can make fantastic show horses. Take, for example the late, great Super Ted, an Irish draught heavyweight cob who was a multiple champion in the show ring.
8 cracking cobs for sale
1. ‘Will give someone many days of fun’
Height: 15.3hh
Age: 6
Sex: gelding
Price: £5,500
Selling points? A super safe, smart, well put together hunting cob who is easy to do in every respect. Unflappable and would take a novice rider who can also pop a course of showjumps and is excellent in even the heaviest of traffic.
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2. ‘Real star quality’
Height: 15.1hh
Age: 5
Sex: gelding
Price: £6,500
Selling points? This show cob is light, pliable and responsive off the leg. He has natural presence that could turn his hand to anything such as riding club or Pony Club. He is also good to hack and have around.
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3. ‘Cob of many uses’
Height: 15.3hh
Age: 6
Sex: gelding
Price: £5,000
Selling points? ‘Ted’ has an amazing temperament and will make a loving family all-rounder. He has well-balanced paces and would make a top class maxi show cob with no lumps or bumps. He is snaffle mouthed and will happily jump a course of fences.
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4. ‘A very biddable mare’
Height: 16hh
Age: 13
Sex: mare
Price: £3,500
Selling points? This mare is easy to handle in all ways who is good to hack, school and jump. She has done some dressage where she was always first or second and has also enjoyed hunting and a fun ride.
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5. ‘Rolls Royce’
Height: 15.1hh
Age: 9
Sex: gelding
Price: £7,950
Selling points? This handsome heavyweight show cob has manners and presence to burn. He has won and been placed at county show level and has even competed at HOYS. ‘Spencer’ has competed lightly in dressage winning every time out at prelim and novice level.
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6. ‘Mum’s dream pony’
Height: 13.2hh
Age: 5
Sex: gelding
Price: £2,500
Selling points? This traditional cob is broken to ride and drive and has been ridden by both lead rein and experienced riders. This chap loves being fussed over and could either take a child to the top in the show ring or equally he would be a fantastic family or pony club pony.
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7. ‘Mr. Fantastic’
Height: 14hh
Age: 10
Sex: gelding
Price: £4,995
Selling points? This chunky, old fashioned chap who has manners and would never be rude or unkind has hunted six seasons with the Croome and West Warwickshire. He will happily and safely hack out in big, open country and will never hot up. He has done abit of everything from pony club rallies, showjumping and dressage to horseball, driving and even racing!
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8. ‘Not your average cob’
Height: 14hh
Age: 5
Sex: gelding
Price: £3,500
Selling points? This gelding has been professionally schooled and has three fantastic forward paces. He won his first ever dressage test with 76.5% and never fails to stand square in the ring. A top quality cob who will go onto many wins.
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NB: Horse & Hound has not checked the accuracy of the claims made in these adverts and cannot be held liable if the information included above is inaccurate in any way
Have you picked up a copy of this week’s special cob issue of Horse & Hound magazine yet (30 October 2014)? It includes an analysis of cob health, a look at the cobs who have belied their breed and reached the highest level and we bring you a tribute to Super Ted, one of the most special cobs in history.
