----- Original Message -----

From: Jennifer Ashley

To: welshcobs@...

Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2003 4:06 PM

Subject: Re: [welshcobs] Re: cob arab for and against?

Hi Joelene, my name is Jennifer.  I have just signed up on the welsh cobs email group so have read your mail (attached).  I live in the Melbourne area and have been in love with the Section D cob since 1994.  Problem is, in this area I have searched high and low for the exremely elusive typey pure Section D cob or TB x Sect. D and have come to the conclusion that they just don't exists for purchase unless you go out of state or they are so expensive the average horse rider/lover can't afford one.  I am not a breed show person so I am not in need of the perfect absolutely stunning horse for the show ring, but do want a horse with good confirmation and temperament so that we can have a healthy lifelong relationship with all sorts of riding challenges and fun.  Do you think I can find such a horse in this area?, and secondly, if I do find one it is a youngster whom is untried under saddle with a really hefty price tag.  For me as a pleasure rider with mid level riding ability and relatively limited funds to gamble with, this poses an unacceptable risk. In the end, I have always ended up going with the flow as most others do (for their own personal reasons, probably different than mine) and buying from the existing pool of average priced average horses. My feeling is, that the reason why cobs are not selling has nothing to do with the drought (cobs by nature do not need anywhere near the amount of feed as does the average thoroughbred, so are much cheaper to feed!) because as far as I can see horses are selling quite well in general and for pretty darn good money.  Even an aged horse of average ability and experience is selling in excess of $3,000 and more near the $6,000 - $8,000 mark.  I know this because I have been in the market for another horse for the last three months.  I was completely stunned when I opened the Horse Deals last month and could only find a handfull of prospects at around $3,000. My feeling is that specialised breeds (Welsh Section D, Andalusians, Freisans, Lippizaners, Tennesee Walking Horses, etc.) are always going to attract a smaller more specialised market in general.  Especially in a country where the horse industry has a fairly narrow field and is dominated firstly by the thoroughbred, then the warmblood followed by the riding pony.  Quarter horses also seem to have a potent following of their own but theirs is a closed society. There are the Arab folks whom are also doing their own thing but to a lesser extent than the QH folks.  I have a lovely Quarter horse x Stock horse whom I have retrained from western to english.  She has as good movement as many thoroughbreds but is looked down upon in open classes and in general because she is quarter horse bred.  I reckon that cobs may have a similar problem with stigma ("They are only good for pulling carts", "Their leg action doesn't suit riding classes" etc.). It is a shame that all horses are not treated equal according to their ability in a given sport rather then on breed! I used to get upset with people and felt really embarassed for my mare.  Here she was out there trying her heart out and people were making comments like "gee quarter horses really have big bums" and "quarter horses don't have very good movement do they?".  Then when they see her going I get comments like, "oh she's got movement, must be stockhorse in her". Oh well, I got used to it.

I apologise if I do sound a bit frustrated.  I am because, you are up there in QLD with stock you would like to sell and I am down here in VIC dying to own a good natured allround cob or TB x cob for an affordable price!  The TB x cob you have mentioned would definately suit my riding style (hunter under saddle, dressage, Adult riding) and his temperament sounds ideal for my needs. But I just can't take the chance of buying site unseen and the shipping costs would be prohibitive, so I go on searching locally hoping I'll find the right one someday. I wish there was some way to get breeders/enthusiasts all round Australia to help each other promote the breed.  Like, breeders in VIC providing a place for QLD or NSW or WA breeders to send their stock to be viewed and sold, thus providing a wider market.  And of course stock from VIC going to other states in the same way. Maybe the exchange could be something like access to different breeding lines interstate to widen the pool of quality stock? Just a thought.

Please feel free to openly question anything I have said.  I am open to others points of view.

Cheers,

Jennifer Ashley

Joelene Thorburn wrote:

Hi everyone Thanks for your advice re the Cob x arabs.  Currently I have three mares which I solely bought to breed to Trouby.  2 TBs and 1 pure welsh Sec C.  I still have the yearling here TB x Cob, he was born Dec 2001.  I had advertised and advertised him and he hasn't sold.  To me there is no market for Cobs pure or part bred in Qld.  The yearling is so quiet, been handled since he was 1 week old,  I have taken him to two shows and into pony club to be around other horses and he is fully rugged etc. In September I will have two foals on the ground (if the pure mare doesn't sell) - another TB x Cob and the Pure Welsh - it will be interesting to see how long before I can find a home for them!  With the new mare I bought I decided to put her to a purebred stallion to get an Anglo with the hope that there is a market for them. The other problem with the Cobs especially in Qld (from what I have found) is there is not many classes for them.  I hate getting an Ag show program and reading it and to find there is only classes for the Welsh A and B and never anything for the Cobs and they won't put them on, and very rarely do they have any other registered breed classes.  At least with the arabs every Ag show has classes for them and they have specific arab only shows more than once a year!  From my experience over the past year I have enjoyed my pure arab geldings rather than the cob.  And at least everyone knows what an Arab is!  So many times have I been to an ag show and people say,. "What kind of horse is that?" I would really like to see my stallion end up down south to where he would be more utilized in the show ring and for breeding and have competition! Sorry for rambling on and I hope I haven't offended anyone. RegardsJoelz

----- Original Message -----

From:mailto:Mona <mona5@...

To: welshcobs@...

Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 10:51 AM

Subject: [welshcobs] Re: cob arab for and against?

 I think the fastest growing market is the thoroughbred x cob for
performance horses. That is where the money will be. The arab x cob I
guess works on the same theory that the cobs sturdiness and character
x the atheletic arab/thoughbred gives a hell of a performance horse
either way.

Mona
--- In welshcobs@..., "Griffin Park" <dazzleme2@b...>
wrote:
> Cant read your email Julie, try a different background or font
> cheers
> Deb
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Julie Frauenfelder (Fluerdelys Welsh Cobs)
>   To: welshcobs@...
>   Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 11:59 PM
>   Subject: [welshcobs] cob arab for and against?
>
>
>   HI joelene,I have done this cross several times that is cob x
arab mare;crabbet type mareswith bone] and it works very we;; but you
find that most of them end up in eventing  or pony club homes. but
the4 i have bred have go to different uses,farm pony for kids,show
harness home in SA,Adult riding club    [this person is coming back
for another one]and the last one is just being broken in but the
important thing ic that they have the temprement to do anything you
want with them and as Megan said they would make excellent show
hunters .YOU SROULD CONSIDER THIS SERIOUSLYAS i HAVE BREED ARABS
BEFORE COBS AND i KNOW WHICH ARE THE BEST  COBS Julie
>
>   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>   welshcobs-unsubscribe@...
>
>
>
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