The gentle heavy horse slows down
Care changes for an older Gypsy Cob because his most loved features, abundant feather, a broad draft frame, and an unflappable temperament, all work to hide ageing. A cob who stands patiently for grooming may not object to sore skin under his feather. A naturally wide body can carry extra weight or lose muscle without the change showing. Senior care for this breed is therefore tactile and scheduled: hands in the feather, hands over the ribs, eyes on how he rises, lies down, and turns, rather than confidence drawn from his calm expression.
Feathered legs are a daily inspection, not a hairstyle
No part of an older cob matters more than the legs under the feather. That long hair traps mud and moisture against the pasterns, and thickened skin, scabs, or swelling can build up unseen, particularly on the hind legs. Part the feather to the skin on a regular routine, feel each pastern for heat, crusting, and lumps, and dry the legs thoroughly when he comes in wet. Sores that weep, legs that keep thickening, or a cob who stamps, chews at his legs, or resists having them handled needs a veterinary examination, and the vet will want to know how long the changes have been present and what has already been tried at home.
Honest weight on a naturally broad cob
Gypsy Cobs are built wide, which gives owners a permanent excuse for a growing belly. Condition-score him by feel: you should be able to find ribs under a covering without digging, and a deep gutter down the back or a hard, cresty neck means the frame is carrying more than bone and muscle. Excess weight is not a cosmetic issue in a heavy senior; every extra load passes through ageing joints and large feet. Manage grazing and hay with his thriftiness in mind, weigh or tape him on the same day each week, and record it.
Movement that suits a draft build
The right exercise for an older cob is steady and frequent rather than intense: walking in hand, long-reining, or gentle ridden work on forgiving ground keeps joints moving and weight in check without pounding. Warm up slowly, avoid tight turns and deep mud that wrench his legs as he pulls his weight out of it, and watch how he manages slopes, since a heavy horse descending on stiff forelegs works hard. If he trips repeatedly, shortens his stride, or struggles to rise after rest, have a veterinarian assess him before adjusting the workload further on your own.
Hooves, teeth, and the big-horse basics
Cob hooves are large and can flare or crack if trims slip, and a heavy horse on an overgrown foot strains everything above it. Keep a regular trim cycle, pick out feet daily where possible, and watch for odour or softness in wet conditions. At the other end, check his eating: dropping feed, packing hay in his cheeks, or new slowness at the bucket suggests his teeth need a veterinary look.
Coordinating a much-loved cob's care
Call the veterinarian for lameness that does not ease with a day's rest, weeping or spreading sores under the feather, a leg that stays thickened and hot, choke, or rapid changes in weight or appetite. Also seek advice if rising becomes a struggle or he lies down and cannot get up comfortably, because a horse of his weight faces real danger in that situation. Cobs often have several people grooming, feeding, and exercising them, which is affectionate but risky for consistency. KinsLe's Care Teams keeps this Gypsy Cob's feather inspections, weigh-tape readings, and exercise limits as assigned duties marked complete with a timestamp, so every helper works from the same senior plan.