15 too old?

M

MasterMacAndCBH

Active Member
Joined
10 June 2012
Messages
32
Visit site
I have recently got a 15yr old welsh cob on share and he hasn't been schooled in an outline. Is he too old to try and get him to work on an outline? He is very trippy and often goes along with his head up high. In my lessons he is starting to drop his head in walk and for a few strides in trot, should I continue to encourage him to work from behind?
 
Yes, I used to loan a 15yo who was the same, she eventually went into a beautiful outline and work correctly after a lot of determination from my half hehe :)
 
15 isn't old:D Yes you can accomplish this but it will take time. Don't forget pony will be using muscles that he hasn't used properly before so do little and often so as not to make him ache too much!
 
I have been asking the same about my new pony who is 15. She has never done dressage just jumping and hacking. I have been working on large circles etc. Anyway long story short had a lovely dressage lesson on her today and she would bend really well making lovely outlines and working well. So very pleased with her.
 
Nope not at all! Never too old & it will prolong his fitness in his later years to be working correctly & using himself properly.

Unless you have a poor auld soul like mine who has alot of muscle memory pain from too many years ridden in a riding school & learnt self preservation by holding himself completely the wrong way around! :( Its just a bigger challenge though!
 
Never too old just as everyone else has said.

BUT you may just have to do little and often if he isn't that flexible yet maybe do carrot stretches with him

I bought my girl a year ago she's 15+ not entirely sure but she's learn over the year to accept a contact.

I'm even starting to teach her new things we had our first go at side-saddle on Sunday!
 
thank you everyone :D His is very stiff and is prone to falling over sometimes so we do lots of carrot stretches :( He has had a very bad back but he has been given the all clear the chiropractor so he is pain free now and he has a all new tack as well so anything that may have been stopping him working properly tack wise should be sorted. We have changed his bit from a dutch gag to a snaffle as he was starting to spin on hacks and he is very head shaky (we are just about to get the dentist out but the vet has checked everything else) so hopefully with a lot of hard work we should be working well in the future! thank you again for your help :D
 
I started my mare at 27years old - by that time she was very set in her ways but it did help keep her supple to encourage her to soften and she was still in ridden work aged 33.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top