What should I be paying for this cob?!

[YouOKHun]

I'd really appreciate some advice. I'm in the process of buying a horse for my daughter who is 14 years old but has only just come to riding so is a beginner. I had horses 30 years ago but I've been out of the equine world for years, however I'm having lots of support looking and the horse will be kept at livery so lots of knowledgeable support later. However, I am being left, having found the right horse, to negotiate the price and I'm not sure where to pitch things. I feel the horse is a bit overpriced and a couple of people agree with me but others at the yard say it's worth paying for such a suitable horse (and many of them spend major money on competition horses so see my negotiations as easy!). The horse in question is a 15.1hh 7yo (rising 8 in Jan) grey mare, a cob, schoolmistress, well schooled, easy to manage, the owner wants £4K (no tack etc inc) and there has clearly been some interest at this level. I'm thinking more like £3-3.5k (subject to vetting of course). The seller has an excellent reputation locally for horses she uses for teaching and the ones she's sold before. I know it's tricky but does anyone have thoughts about the price?

[GuinefortGrey]

Rather late to this post! But yay! How exciting for you and your DD. I was coming on to say £4K for an honest, safe and willing, Irish horse, well schooled in the basics would be a fair price. You could probably go to Ireland and buy a straight-forward 4-5 year old that had done some hunting for half that cost, but schooling and experience-wise, other than hunting and hacking, it would probably have done and seen very little else. In my experience, you are paying the "extra" for the amount of work the seller/producer has put in since bringing them over from Ireland as essentially blank canvasses schooling-wise. The producer/seller then puts in their own time, energy and experience into assessing the horse, establishing their paces, and taking them out and about for show/pc/riding club experience.

This has certainly been my experience. My daughter's horse is from a very similar background to yours. He has a fantastic willing nature and just gets on with whatever is asked of him. He and my DD have grown and learnt together and in the past 18 months gone from knocking 4+ jumps down in a round of 70cm show jumps to going consistently double clear at BE90 .


I do think it is important though, when buying them fairly young and inexperienced for a novice rider, to keep up their schooling and education, so I have had a professional rider school our horse regularly, although my DD is an excellent rider, she only knows as much as her horse, so it really benefits him to be ridden by someone more experienced to teach him and keep him progressing, which then allows my DD to progress too. So in terms of this, it sounds like your school set up will be ideal

[Rosieposy4]

Oh how very exciting. Saved you a couple of hundred on the transport and bridle at least. Hope your dc has lots of fun.

[Polkadotties]

I got my first just over a month ago, I've ridden in equestrian centres and loaned/shared for years and years. He's a 16.3 (and growing!) 5 year old Irish draught. I love him to pieces.

[Ditsy4]

Lucky girl.
It sounds ideal.
After a long wait I got my first pony ( for free) and in school he was fine but head him for home and he bolted. I soon learnt to ride him! He would still gallop on part of the way home after 8 miles to Pony Club and the whole day there. I loved him to bits.
I went on with my love of horses and worked at a top stud and showed all over the country with them. Best year of my life!
She may get the bug.

[Garthmarenghi]

Excellent update. To be fair a grand either way when buying a horse is neither here or there - the expense comes when you own them!

[Polkadotties]

Congratulations! I hope you all have many happy years together

[YouOKHun]

Thank you to you all for responding, Ive taken all that you say into consideration and really appreciate it. I offered £3,500 aware of other interest which the seller didn't mention as leverage but I found out about a couple of others going to see the horse. Five stage vetting was fine and I have ended up paying £3800 but the owner is giving me her bridle and is transporting her to me (which is 70 miles each way). The owner gave me quite a grilling to check my suitability which I found reasuring. I think she'll make a great first horse; very steady and kind but with some reserve in the tank as progress is made.

[buckyou]

I don't think that price sounds too much, I don't think it's fair to offer 3, I'd think that was cheeky personally. I would perhaps offer 3.5 and expect to meet her half way.

[Booboostwo]

Cob is not a breed, it is a type description which usually means a small, stocky type of horse. I would also assume it was a mix breed as otherwise you'd say a Welsh D not a cob. As for temperament it really depends on the horse.

[Polkadotties]

All those feathers, fingers start twitching on clippers

[BaldricksWife]

My friend found the coloured cob above Backinthebox! Been a bit of a star

[backinthebox]

The three horses here can all be called cobs (and are all top examples of their types.) Other than the name they have nothing in common to suggest they should all have similar temperaments. I've also seen many a ropey-looking, hairy, often coloured, fat thing called a cob. It is a very generic term. Very difficult to tell what price a cob should be from a brief written description.

[Polkadotties]

Brilliant post backinthebox I hate the way that cobs are all lumped together. I think it's due to riding schools using cobs and people assuming all cobs are like these.

[backinthebox]

The problem here is that the term cob is used to describe so many different types of horse. Any well-built 15hh-ish horse, whether native, hairy, traditional, hogged or just fat is generally called a cob, but they are not all the same. There was a well known cob on the show circuit who is the happy accident between a Heinz 57 and a Derby-winning racehorse - there is no way his characteristics can be lumped in with a Welsh D. Just being the same height and build does not mean they are all bolshy tanks! Nor are they all safe and sane. Just as with all horses, you get good ones, and you get bad ones. The good ones are generally so good though that people tend to really sing the praises of a good cob.

My own horse was advertised as a cob. He's not really, but he is hogged and came from a cob-dealer and doesn't fit into any other bracket so that is what people describe him as. He came over from Ireland as a 3yo already with experience of hunting (not saying that is right, but it is what they do.) By 7 he had 4 full seasons under his belt, including a season whipping in, he had attended RC with an adult and PC with a teenager, been placed showing, XC and eventing. He is 9 now, has won the last 2 competitions he has been out to (I don't get out to many - too busy taking my kids and their ponies out!) He is well-known locally as a schoolmaster. I certainly paid more than £4k for him and I would also certainly get more than that for him now.

£4k is not an unreasonable price for a horse that theoretically is just beginning the best years of their life - by 7 they ought to have seen a bit of the world and have developed their personality as far as it is going to go. There will still be education needed, but by this age the basics should be in place and there should be plenty to build on if you want it, but enough in place if you just want to enjoy more gentle riding pursuits.

My friend is looking for a new hunter this year, and there don't seem to be many decent horses out there for less than £5k. You'll always get someone who says they never pay more than 20p and a packet of crisps for a horse, but they are either lucky or very, very knowledgable. For the most part a horse that someone has spent £1000s of pounds and years of time getting to the point that it is a safe, sensible, enjoyable animal to have around is not going to be going for peanuts. And don't believe it when people say this is a cheaper time of year. It is cheaper for outgrown kids ponies and show horses and eventers at the end of the outdoor competition season. But if you are looking for a good hunter for the season, or are a dressage rider or show jumper who is looking to buy next season's prospect to get to grips with over the winter by getting out to few indoor winter competitions, now is as good a time as any to buy. You 15.1hh cob could potentially be a decent hunting horse - it is a popular size for mother/daughter shares, older riders and riders accompanying children on ponies (i.e. people like me!)

If it were me I would have a vetting done and subject to that pay the £4k. The greatest cost in having a horse is the keeping of it, not the purchase price. If you buy the right one, the extra 500 quid will soon be forgotten.

[mrslaughan]

I what I would ad - is that really if your bosses enough has nothing to do with experience - but all to do with personality of the rider. My son and I who are beyond novice, and very capable,but struggle with this side of our personality when it comes to riding. My DD - who has just got her first pony, does not struggle with this at all - intact I am teaching her to tone it down!!!!

[Booboostwo]

The price sounds about right for me as this is the type of horse that a lot of people want, however I would also question why you are buying a horse for a beginner? Are the college pushing you into this? Beginners progress best when they can ride a number of different horses and be appropriately challenged by different horses to develop their skills. Also, a horse suitable for a beginner could be easily outgrown very quickly but selling a first horse can be quite tough. I wouldn't be buying a horse for a new rider until they could jump a small course, hack alone (fast hack including a canter), and know the basics of working a horse in an outline, including transitions and basic lateral work.

[tootsietoo]

I echo what mrslaughan says about cobs - I have two cobs, a heinz 57 and a Welsh D, and they are rude and tanky! They are so much fun, sane and safe as in they would never kick or buck or go too fast, but they are really quite strong both to ride and handle and they would walk all over someone who wasn't bossy enough with them.

Youokhun, a horse really will be a great thing for your daughter for all the reasons you mention (although I'm not sure about the social media thing - my two just spend ages following teenage eventers on instagram and posting pictures of rosettes!) I hope it works out well for you and her.

[Frouby]

I think if the horse is ideal I would be offering 3.5k and taking it from there. 4k is a lot of money. But if she is as genuine as think, well put together and no lumps.or bumps she is worth it.

You can pay a lot less but it's usually a risk. And with a novice rider it isn't usually worth the risk.

[mrslaughan]

I have been horse shopping for my son - who is a really good rider, but lacks confidence and had lost confidence in himself.

as others have said a 7 year old is not a school mistress, however I wouldn't discount it, if it is well schooled and done a lot - interns of different experience. £4k seems market, if it has done a little PC, maybe some little shows, has 3 balanced paces. Understands about moving up and down within the paces and truly has a fantastic temperament.(my sons first pony was 4 3/4 when we got her and she was amazing - his 12yr old 2nd pony was tricky).
You say she is a cob? What sort? I am not a fan of cobs as my experience has been of them being bolshy and using there strength against the rider. You need one with a willing and trainable mind - has someone you trust ridden her and challenged her, in terms of asked more of her then she naturally offers? What was there feedback? was she willing to try? Did she seem trainable?
if she ticks all of the above - then £4K is reasonable - but I would also want a vetting.
However, on the other hand, if she has just been used on a riding school - and that has been her education, I think it is too much.

[Garthmarenghi]

I would think 3k would be the most I would pay, but if it's a good match, then it's a good match.

[DraughtyWindow]

Offer less and see what happens! There's always room to negotiate. Has the horse a proven competition record? Has it done PC? I would say at £4k they're hedging their bets! There are a lot of good safe horses out there at less. And they're cheaper at this time of year.

[BaldricksWife]

Honestly? If this horse ticks all the boxes and whoever is guiding you says it is the 'one' then I would pay that price. If other people are interested it would be heart breaking to miss the boat- yes, there are plenty of horses out there but at your daughters stage of riding it is very easy to be put off by a bad fall. Safety and enjoyment when riding are priceless.

[YouOKHun]

Fenella I've considered that and we originally spent the last few months looking for a loan - nothing, zero (and that's with all the contacts the school has). We've all come to the conclusion that purchase is the only way to get what we need. At 14 her window of interest could be small though she's been keen for a long time but only in the position to start really learning in the last year. The thing is, her school hours are long and she can't have riding lessons outside school hours (and the school is not a riding school teaching on others' horses) and the only way to really learn is to have access to good teaching and consistent contact. To be honest there are a host of reasons I want her to have a horse aside from riding (physical fitness, confidence, healthy distraction from social media, responsibility and care,, learning frustration tolerance, helping her with a recent bereavement), that if she loses interest in 18 months time it will still have been worth it and any horse will be sold on to a good home (or if I get my way, kept for me). But I do take your point.

[GinIsIn]

I wouldn't be buying a horse at all for someone of such a novice level TBH - she could easily lose interest soon and you'd have committed to the horse.

[TheCompanyOfCats]

Maybe on the basis of the last few posts you could try to knock at least 500 pounds off OP