29 pictures to prove that cobs CAN do dressage (and excel at it)

"This is my boy Charles (Colombard). I have owned him since he was three-year-old. I started competing with him at BD last year, and have competed in affiliated novice classes and up to medium at unaffiliated. He has qualified for Petplan festivals and won a local dressage league in that time. We have regular training with Nikki Crisp, and I hope to eventually compete him at PSG. We gave already started teaching him piaffe and passage, which he has a super aptitude for." — Zoe King

"This is Scooby, who I have had for five years from a three-year-old — he is a complete all-rounder. He regularly competes at working hunter, showing, showjumping, cross-country, side-saddle and dressage. He's winning at novice level dressage so I'm moving him up to elementary this autumn. I also compete regularly at side-saddle dressage. I would never part with him for anything in the world. He's my total dream cob." — Suzi Hill

"Hollybank Dolly Mixture turns her hoof to everything asked of her. She regularly wins her unaffiliated dressage classes at prelim level. Dolly really is one of a kind however her most exciting time is out on the hunting field." — Sandra Woods

"This is our family pony Burnt Fen Bobby. He is a 13.3hh traditional gypsy cob. We have had him from a a yearling and he is now six years old. At the moment we are doing unaffiliated dressage but looking to affiliate him next year. He is a superstar pony and I am looking forward to seeing how far he can go." — Samantha Peggs

"This is Bobby Sox who is 18-years-old. I've owned him for 15 years. Unfortunately I had to retire him recently due to him having arthritis in both his front pasterns. He has been a superstar in dressage over the years and owes me nothing." — Nicki Barker

"I bought Sir Bazil late last year and have recently affiliated with British Dressage. Prior to that we were competing unaffiliated and placed every time out no matter how large the classes. Baz has fabulous paces and a long way to go having only just started his BD career." — Louise Kemp

"This is my five-year-old traditional gypsy cob, Splash of Cash. He started doing intro tests as a four-year-old and is now starting prelim tests with great success, placing in the top three at every outing." — Emma Lievesley

"This is my 15hh eight-year-old cob Charlie Bear, who I've owned for two years. When eventing, cross-country is his favourite bit but he tries his heart out in the dressage and judges seem to favour him over the more typical event horses! We also compete at unaffiliated pure dressage competitions." — Laura Leggett

"Here in my seven-year-old traditional gypsy cob Jiminy Cricket. We have taken part in seven dressage tests and each time this little cob gets better and better. It's me that lets him down when I get lost on my test!" — Lorna Jarrald

"I'd love to tell you about a horse of a lifetime called Jago. He's a 15.1hh piebald cob, who is schooled to medium at home but competed initially at elementary. However for the past 14 years he has been a mount for disabled riders and has taken numerous riders to regional and national championships and won consistently over those years. He is truly a versatile cob, who has literally had a go at every discipline." — Samantha Peck

"Moo is a 14.3hh, eight-year-old Gypsy cob and our official saint pony. I grew up owning and riding a variety breeds and I am ashamed to say like many I overlooked the humble traditional cob. That was until my poor mother was finally persuaded (bullied) into buying a horse of her own. We heard about Moo through a livery at our yard and thought he sounded perfect. Of course the pony that arrived at our doorstep was a not quite as described. Hot-headed, sensitive and green he wasn't the ideal plod we had been looking for. To cut a long story short we took a chance and three years of repetitive hard work later, we couldn't imagine our family without him."— Olivia Courtney

“I brought Billy as a young, unschooled cob in 2011 as my second pony to bring on and enjoy hacking out on, however with gentle schooling it soon became noticeable Billy had so much to offer. We joined British Dressage in 2014, where we have worked up the levels. Before Billy I had never done much dressage but he has opened up a huge world to me." — Melanie Summer

"This is Jerry. He is a 13-year-old Irish cob. We have had him for one year and have had a great time with him. When we got him he had only ever hacked but we took him on and began schooling him, finding he had natural talent for the work. We took him out early this year to complete his first novice test which he won with 69%. Since then we have found out he is blind in his left eye due to a cataract which just makes him that bit more special. Our aim is to school him up to medium level over the winter." — Maisie Church

“This is my lovely Login Dancer. He is a 16.2 full-feathered traditional Cob. We are currently working at prelim and novice level, but hopefully will be moving up the ranks as he is scoring 69% and above consistently. He is ridden by Jade Algeo in the picture as I, as the owner, am disabled, but I am hoping to maybe do some para dressage with him soon. He is my world.” — Christine Sullivan

"I have had Jacob (The Cobfather) for the past two years. As you can see, he is a hairy beast, but he does not move like one. His trot is becoming more pingy by the week and he keeps a lovely tempo, which is always being commented on by the judges. Virtually every time we compete he just does his stuff and we come home in the placings. Jacob is a brilliant example of 'the hairy cob does good'!" — Liane Deacon

“This is my Welsh cob mare Toyside Lucky Lowri that I compete at elementary/medium level. Lowri has 192 BD points and I have owned her since she was a two year old.” — Lisa Evans

"This is Ted, a 17.1hh six-year-old maxi cob, currently competing at novice level." — Emily Lambert

“Here is me and my girl Penny (Celtic Beauty). She's a 14.2hh seven-year-old Welsh cob type who I have owned and produced myself. This year we have moved up to novice and we have been consistently gaining over 69%. She tries her little heart out for me and I love her to bits. She may be small but she sure is mighty!" — Ashley Anderson

“This is my 14.1hh traditional cob Mister Jack. He is 10 years old and we rescued him from York horse sales from the meat man. We now compete British Dressage and county level showing. We are currently scoring approx 70% at BD prelim and working towards coming out at novice level later this year after some down time due to my shoulder surgery. We have ventured to a few unaffiliated novice tests scoring 63-65%, last year. We train regularly with my partner who is also a dressage rider and monthly with Becky Moody.” — Jenna Whitaker

“During April 2016 Janey Mac came to us unbroken from the Irish Horse Welfare Trust, after being found abandoned in the Dublin Mountains. After only seven weeks Janey Mac was entered in her first Welcome to Dressage class. Janey Mac is a very special traditional Irish cob and has a very bright future ahead.” — Lauren McKenna

“I am 59-years-old and this is my boy Ringo who is six-years-old. We are based on the Isle of Wight.” — Hilary Box

“My gelding is called Leo and we compete at BD novice level at present. He is 15.1hh and is 12 years old. We train with Jezz Palmer, out of Paul Friday's yard. We are based in Chichester.” — Helen Reynolds

“This is Barley (show name Barley Mow) and he is 23 years old. I've owned him for nine years now and he was originally bought just to hack and have a bit of fun on. However he got me into competing and as he grew older I decided to give dressage a go to keep him supple and do less jumping. He is still loving his work so we will keep going!” — Becky Howsam

“Our daughter Pip is a member of BYRDS northern region and competed at the regional championships in April coming home with a third place, being the only traditional cob there . They definitely turn heads at BD competitions!” — Steve Sinclair