If you were looking to buy a safe happy hacker type cob…

[Bogspavinkate67]

Would you look at any of the specialist dealers prevalent on sm atm who are buying up youngsters and putting work in to them and then selling on?

Please I am deliberately not mentioning any names because there are quite a few sellers doing this and I think some are good and some are not so good so I don’t want to give the impression they are all the same.

I am looking for that holy grail, the safe plod, the good in traffic, mother-daughter share! But I don’t need it immediately, only in about a year or so when my old boy finally retires.

So just looking around atm but I am not sure that I agree with the concept of selling four and five year olds as reliable hacks.

To me, hacking nowadays is one of the most unpredictable things you can do with a horse. Plenty of these cobs are aimed at novices too and I was always taught novice rider > older horse.

I am not a novice but I want something very very steady now as I am in my sixties with osteoarthritis in my knees and my DDs are away studying and only ride in the holidays.

What does everyone think? As it will probably be my last ever horse, I am really nervous of making a mistake.

There's some really good dealers. Don't know what area you are but Trinas cobs might be a good place to start. I've only heard good things about her & know several people who have fantastic cobs from her.

I’m not commenting on individual dealers but thanks for your post.

If you're on FB, there is a dodgy dealers group that you can use to search any dealers who you were thinking about using.

Thank you. 👍

Since starting this thread, a friend has directed me to H&H Forum too which has some good info.

I know exactly what you mean OP.

I was looking for a similar safe hacking type and SM and the main websites are covered in 4 year old bombproof hackers and I just know that is not the right thing for me or the horse!

In the end I found a lovely 13 year old, we are still very early days but she comes with her own confidence which is what I needed! Getting to know a mare who immediately came into season and is now too clingy with her field mates is another matter and a work in progress!

Another thing to consider is using one of the services who help you find a good match. I did and it was very successful, she ruled out dodgy dealers, unsound horses and then horses that just wouldn’t be a good fit for me and my ability etc. She also understood the market so nothing was crazy priced. Some of the prices atm are eye watering, but to a degree I understand we are paying for safety.

It meant every horse she shared was a real contender, and the first one I saw in person was the one!

Well worth the cost imo

This…100%.

I bought a four year old coloured Irish cob that was sold as a happy hacker. He grew to over 16 hands in 3 years, was huge, powerful and a total bully. Changed beyond recognition from the horse he was when I tried him out.

I have a horse I bought from Sheans. He was only 5 when I had him but they are very well started and see a lot of life.. The family are also lovely and the have a fantastic set up.

Yes totally agree. The cob sales market is a murky place.

I was looking for a safe first pony (type) for my daughter having bought her a Connie cross that was just way to sharp and all I could see were

1. young 4 year olds fresh from Ireland being sold as great for novices or
2. renowned dodgy dealers selling cobs for novices that were anything but.

There was no way I was buying another young horse for my DD so ended up buying a 14hh 14 year old cob privately- who has turned out to be fab.

She was slightly older than I originally wanted, ideal age would have been 8-10 but there was literally nothing for sale in my price range up to £10k

One of the dealers mentioned you thread seems to sometimes have slightly older cobs but they tend to be re-starts.

I would just also caution after the Broadhill debacle that lots of people state you have more rights if you buy from a dealer. That might be true on paper but some have very few assets and actually trying to get them to play by the rules can be very difficult.

Regardless of what promises are made by anyone

Don't buy unseen, don't pay a deposit before e viewing, have it vetted before purchase and view/try it more than once.

If it's too far away, its not the right horse for you.

I bought a wonderful Fell pony last year after loosing my polish warmblood to old age. I'm nearly 52 and it's years since I last rode due to children and retiring my horse and pony in their mid/late 20s for various issues. He's 15, nearly 16 but is forward going and sensible. If something happens or he sees something strange he will stop and look rather than run away. He's made riding fun again and I'd love to do some showing and trec this year. If you like m&m join Facebook breed groups, there are more for sale than you might think. Definitely don't discount the slightly older ones, ponies live longer lives and generally hold their heath and build your confidence. Good luck, I hope you find what you're looking for xx

I bought a cob from one of these dealers, I wanted the same as you do and it turned into a nightmare. I found out they’d bought him from Ireland as a driving pony, put a saddle on him and sold him as a happy hacker.

im in my 50s with a dodgy knee and needed something that was safe and bloody, I was also willing to pay for it, which I do both monetary and emotionally. I ended up selling him back at a fraction of what I paid.

i ended up buying an ex racehorse who is really chilled out, happy to just hack and is perfect on the ground, I’d not touch another cob.