Quietly nappy, ploddy cob, to buy or not to buy?

[horseymum]

Thoughts please everyone! I have today paid my second visit to a pony that's offered on loan about 1 1/2 hours drive from me. I am looking for something on loan (can't afford to buy right now, but view to buy). I have a 3 year old shetland pony at home and have sadly just lost our 11.3 old mare. The new pony is needed to be a lead rein to my 5 year old daughter although she'll be on the shetland this summer, my 11 year old son wants to ride and, at 13hh and a cob, this pony to be is big enough to carry me so I can ride out with my daughter eventually. We are very limited on winter grazing so can't go for anything much bigger. So back to this cob, he is a lovely looking, 7 year old irish cob, very friendly, very laid back, very good to be around (all these are VERY important factors when my children are involved). History: Came over from Ireland, went into a riding school, then into an auction aged 5, with current owners for 2 years, outgrown and child wants to move on, got new horse, no room for old pony although they love him very much and would keep him as a pet. So at his worst he naps in the arena, naps back to the gate, doesn't go forward, has very tiny buck then he walked and trotted for me albeit very slowly. Took him out for hack today and was surprised that he went (owners haven't hacked him alone), very slowly though. On way back he stopped several times. I'm not into smacking and kicking so we stood there for a while and I asked him on every now and then, eventually he did walk. This happened a couple of times and then I stopped him and got off as, to be fair to him, I am a bit heavy, he's unfit and unshod so I lead him the last bit home (still very slowly). So, I really like this pony's character, current owners 'play' with him like a toy really and he's very tolerant and very kind to them. I can see there's been no really positive handling or riding for the past two years although apparently he's improved a lot from when he came out of the riding school. Will hack out happily with other horses and will happily follow someone walking along with him. Do I give him a chance and hope he improves with time, kindness, positivity (I'm not inexperienced with horses) because the basic nature is good or do I save myself aggro and wait for something else? I feel like he needs to find out that it's nice to go out and have a bit of fun, needs a few miles on the clock. That's my gut feeling. But if he comes to us, he comes for life, I would never want to give him back so I'd be stuck with him if it didn't work out. Oh, what a headache! Thoughts and experiences please!:confused:

[Crazyhorse]

I would say give it a go. He sounds very nice and as you sound like you would handle him well and consistently I'm sure he would improve. Your not committing yourself by buying him, so may be worth the gamble. Sounds like he would have a very nice home with you. Good luck x

[horseymum]

Thanks very much. It is my gut feeling that he'll improve, can't see him ever being lively enough to get silly with the napping, he's just not that type! He is a typical riding school pony. When I saw him this morning, mum of the owner said she had thought of putting him back in the auction which I think would be awful for him. I'll sleep on it for a couple of days, or not sleep for a couple of days which'll be more like it! Thanks again.

[neen]

If you like him otherwise, I wouldn't be put off by low-key napping. If he's never been pushed through it, he won't even realise it's wrong.

If you can try him again, and if you're confident, it might be worth really pushing him next time and asking him to do more. Then you'll find out the strength of his opinions, which might make all the difference. For instance my loan pony can be a bit nappy, mostly because he's unsure, sometimes because he can't be bothered. But the conversation goes like this:

Fluke: Nope not going, it's too far and it might be scary
Me: Yes we are going, it'll be fine
Fluke: No I really don't think it will
Me: I'm telling you it will, go on
Fluke: Oh, okay then

So while he has the inclination to nap, he doesn't really have the stength of will to argue. So the napping's not really a problem and hopefully he'll grow out of it altogether.

What you don't want is a response like this:

Pony: Nope not going, it's too far and it might be scary
You: Yes we are going, it'll be fine
Pony: No I really don't think it will
You: I'm telling you it will, go on
Pony: No, I bl**dy won't and you can't make me

Etc.

So just for your own peace of mind it would be good to see what he does under pressure to work hard, maybe in the school. I wouldn't have had the nerve to do this with Fluke not knowing how he might react, so his owner did it for me, and I watched, so I could see that actually after a little bit of reluctance he's very biddable and responds well to discipline.

[Tizer]

My thoughts are exercise a bit of caution, is there a reason for him being so slow... could be it is just his temprement but it could also be a million and one things, ask if he has ever needed the vet.. is he shod/trimmed ?? is it a good job ?
One thing worth checking if he is heavily feathered, has he signs of mites or mud fever/grease, this can slow a horse up considerably, as also can anaemia.
The list goes on and I suppose what I am trying to say is have an open mind with a view to loaning and be prepared to send him back.

[capalldubh]

I think he sounds lovely and is likely to improve with lots of nice consistent handling and after getting to know/gaining confidence in the person handling him.

If he walks out without stopping when with others, most likely the problem is due to not having confidence in rider and feeling a bit unsure.

I would think if you bring him home, this might get a bit worse before better since he'll be in a strange place with a new horse and new owners, but he sounds as though he'll respond well to getting some attention :)

HAving said that, there are lots of reasons for stopping/hesitating during a hack and they can include uncomfortable tack, other pain/discomfort etc. so worth getting all of those checked out. However if he doesn't nap in company, on balance these seem less likely. Just something to think about.

Sounds like you clicked with him, I would go with gut feeling. Maybe agree a trial period to give him a chance to settle and see if he's what you think he is :)

[lizzy]

Adam is an Irish Cob - he too is slow, although he is quite bombproof and is happy to go out alone, although he does nap sometimes in the school if he has to move away from his mates and has to be encouraged slightly. Unfortunately I think it comes with the territory of being used in the Riding School. I have never thought of his slowness of any kind of medical problem, it's just him, I've seen him tear up the field when he's been turned out and yet sometimes on the cross country course I can't even get him into a good trot never mind canter and yet he'll fly for other people, I think he just looks after his nervous mum!!!!

I think he sounds like a good sort, I would give him a try with say, a months notice to return if necassary if he is going to be a loan and possiblity to buy if it works out

[horseymum]

Thanks everyone. As regards health, he looks a picture and I know they have not been tight with the vet visits. He has had his teeth done, his feet are done regularly and were trimmed a week ago, they're nice feet. Has new saddle that was professionally fitted recently. I get the feeling that no expense has been spared in the welfare of the horses. With regard to pushing the napping. The first week I saw him I asked to see him at his worse. His rider took him into the manege and he does a sidewards walk back to the gate and the people (loves people), think she smacked and kicked and he gave a little buck and went on. Not sure if she got him into trot, it was pretty unimpressive and he never really went away from the gate. So I got on and he stopped, I kicked, he bucked (small, think one leg out job) then he walked on although he did wipe my leg along the railings on the way! This of course is very naughty but also very funny cos ponies are shrewd little things. After that he was pretty ok and I walked him and trotted him around the top end of the manege but when going near the gate he wanted to nap towards it but still did walk on past it so it was a pretty positive picture overall. Yes, I fully expect him to be worse if he does come here. I wouldn't try to ride him out until I'd lost a few pounds, got him some front shoes and long reined him around and about to get him going forwards with confidence (he long reins ok apparently). My children can ride him lead rein as he has no probs whatsoever following someone so he will get experience of our area. I was thinking that it would be a good idea to request a vet check of teeth and back, just to be sure but I doubt health reasons, he's been backward for a long while although maybe his first ridden experiences weren't comfy so that's enough to get a pony unhappy from the start. Thanks everyone, keep them coming.

[Herbie's mummy]

Go for it:)
A bit more schooling.....mabey get some lessons with you on him then he will be all ready for you children to ride:)
Napping is nothing a good bit of schooling can not sort.
If/when you get him just make sure you get his tack etc checked out:) this may be a factor to his napping.
But i would say YES.

[Kecka~Rocka]

Yes i think you should go for it!! My cob was lazy and nappy, after having my lessons he has transformed he much more forward going, i just think he never had to rush and so plodded everywhere. Dont get me wrong he still slips into being major plod (almost stopping) but generally hes better and i can canter him which nobody else can manage!!!

[LokiSofi]

Loki is also slow to hack out and sems very lazy but this is because he was only broken recently and was ridden by a novice child who didn't push him on andjust let him follow the other horses so out alone he is confused about what he should be doing and dawdles. He also hates schooling and will apparently nap and buck or flatly refuse to move again I think this is because the little girl who rode him wasn't experienced or clear enough in her requests so confusing him resulting in him thinking all he has to do is throw a wobbly everytime he doesn't want to do something.

[H & Bailey]

I would definately try him as your main thing is that you want something that is quiet round the kids which he is.If he hasnt done any hacking he did well to go out with you-who he doesnt know.
It just sounds like he needs to be shown that you are the boss( not nastily) but by making him go round and away from the gate and like you did hacking out even if it means stopping for 5 mins until he is brave enough to go on.long reining and voice aids will help.
He maybe bucks when being asked to school as he doesnt want to,he is maybe more suited to a hacking type?
Im sure if you can lead rein the shetland and have the cob infront with your son you will be fine,if you have problems then your son and yourself could swap.
If he is just a loan if he isnt right he could go back?

[NoviceNic]

When I first got Captain he only walked. Once I got him to trot he trotted straight to the gate. So I workd on keeping him in trot and away from the gate. Then we went upto Canter and again straight to the gate. So we then worked on maintaining the canter and keeping away from the gate. Now he is light off the leg and no longer naps. My only thing with him is I tend to niggle with my legs to keep him going. I now have decided that I back my leg up with a tap of the whip. And although he doesnt like it, he knows why I do it and then doesnt particularly need the reminder for a while longer.

Temperament is everything when buying something for the kids to be around. I am sure it sounds as though you will be able to teach this pony how to enjoy himself again. :)

[Kate 05501]

I am happy you found your dream cob. I think you should try the cob out. I hope everthing goes well. But be carefull because when I got Robin she was my dream horse too. Robin walk and never spooked and everything was great. But as time went by things wasn't perfect. Small things at first like starting to spook alittle and tossing he head and I sovled that problem. Now she doesn't want to leave the field were she use to live. But Robin lives in the barn. The lady said she has no bad habits but that't not true. So beware that bad habbits might show up. I wouldn't give her up for the world. Every day brings joy in my life. I hope you the best and keep us posted.

Kate 05501 and the gang

[KarinUS]

I really don't think you'd be stuck with him as you are just loaning him. If he turns out not to be a good match for you you wouldn't be doing him any favors keeping him as his family does seem to like and take care of him.
With so many positive characteristics about him I would take him for a 30-day trial. I just don't see why you feel he'd be with you for life. A loan could be dissolved by either party at any time.

[colettybetty]

I think he sounds lovely, but a little green and unfit.Cobs are such sensible characters, why use all that energy going in circles round a school? If you enjoy the prospect of educating him then I bet he'd be great.As others have said, his reluctance to co operate may be due to tack or physical problems, check under the feather for scabs behind his knees or cracks in his heels.He may be too stiff, unfit/unbalanced to cope with schooling or his tack may be the cause of him not going forward.
With a fitness programme of walking out and short,gentle lunging 2/3 a week, lots of variety in his work (after he's settled ), you could well see a different horse.

[horseymum]

Thank you everyone for your help and positive messages. I'm kinda 98% on him now and think I should follow the gut feeling, he's a nice guy. Hopefully in time he'll grow to enjoy forward movement! I know I can send him back if it doesn't work out, it's just that I wouldn't want to do that because I'd be attached to him probably straight away! Even though it's a loan, I'd be committed to him for life - just the way I am! Also, my dear little shetland is still sad from losing Cider at christmas so I'd not want to take another pony away from him, poor guy! I shall hopefully make arrangements to collect the cob at the weekend, we're all ready for the arrival of a new pony and it'll be great to see the shetland with some company. I'll let you know how we get on - watch this space!