17/08/2025
I’ve kept this one quiet as I wanted to see his progress over a few months first before I went ahead spamming the page and boring you all to death 😂
Sadly Jasper’s owner hasn’t been able to ride/exercise him for a while due to their ill health, and asked I would like to take him on and help with weight management/exercise. I did give it some thought as I was worried how I would fit him in with already having a loan and working full time elsewhere. Thankfully they’re both on the same yard so I thought, “Why not?” I’ve always had a soft spot for a cob.
Unfortunately I didn’t have a starting weight, but I would’ve had a guess that he may have been just over 700kg. He is a big lad standing at approx 15.2/3hh’s and is as broad as he is tall. But that extra weight needed to come off.
The first month we went out for in hand walks. Which he thoroughly enjoyed, despite puffing and panting the whole way. He was rather unfit as he had been out of work for some time through no fault of his own or his owner.
The next month I purchased a ba****ck pad and started taking him out for short rides to get him used to being out and about again. He well and truly tested my seat and balance as he was rather full of himself, and really struggled to contain his excitement 😂
As the weight started to trickle off (with the help of a grazing muzzle) his saddle finally fit him 🙌🏻
His fitness was improving massively, and we have been able to go out for longer walks and adding in the odd trot here and there.
Fast forward to this last week 🤩 we have been in the stubble field having little bouts of canter on the softer ground, adding in plenty of trot to walk transitions. He is feeling incredible.
I am absolutely chuffed to bits with him, he has been no bother at all bringing him back into work. He loves having a job and is constantly trying to please. I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to work with him and treat him as if he were my own. I have had a weigh tape on him last week, and was very surprised to see him weighing at approximately 650kg 🙌🏻
I do love a project and his hard work is finally showing. Onwards and upwards big lad.