17 year old TB Mare - is she too old to buy?

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Frances28

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I am debating whether or not to buy the horse I have on Loan. She is a TB mare (ex race horse).

Mentally she was a 4 year old but recently I have changed her feed and she has completely slowed down. I hope its the food that's taken out the fizz and not because she's getting too old to ride. Bit worried.

She's a healthy girl and hope she stays that way (touch wood) but not sure whether to invest.
 

The benefit of buying her is that you presumably know her already which can be a help when buying the older horse.

Realistically, guess it depends on how much she costs to buy, what long term plans you have for your riding and whether or not you will be able to offer her a retirement home once she needs one?
 
Why not continue to loan?
Can't see there is much advantage in buying a horse that old if you could loan her instead.
Whilst some thoroughbreds are really tough and strong, and go on for ever, ( I've had one) 17 for a horse is not the same as 17 for a human!! sure we all know that.
17 is pretty old for a horse and I would never knowingly buy an old horse. All the ills and ailments are going to be more likely to crop up as the animal gets older.

Why buy what could be a whole heap of trouble if you can continue to loan. She maybe un-rideable in a few more years just due to wear and tear and old age, but live `til she's 30. So you could be lumbered with a few years of useful ridden work followed by perhaps a decade of retirement.

Unless you have your own land might you not find yourself in a position where you have nothing to ride and no way of affording keeping two horses?

Sorry, I don't know your circumstances, but I would always advise against buying an old horse unless there is no other option.
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I bought a 16 year old and we had ten fantastic years together before he was PTS. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if it was the right horse.
 
Theres a TB that shares with my mare, shes 29 and the other day jumped the electric fencing

If shes not too expensive I'd buy, if you like the horse and she does what you want then why not. If not carry on loaning or look for another.
 
I bought my dressage schoolmaster at 18 and he is still going at 24 and can still do passage and flying changes. My other horses are 25 and 30 though you'd never believe it when you see them charging around and are still rideable to varying degrees. My youngest is 16 and on loan as a school horse to a university and in regular work and very fit. 17 is no age these days with better feeding and care and if she hasn't been worked into the ground and you like and know her and feel she is the horse for you, then why not? Any horse, no matter what it's age, can break down or fall over or something ten minutes after you've bought it.

Also depends on price of course, but horses are in my opinion only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. Check out the recent vet negligence case reported in Horse and Hound where the vet won. Horse had had two operations to one front and one back leg, splints on all four legs, something up with it's eye and turned out it's right fore. It was being sold as a dressage horse. The Claimant in that case still managed to pay £45,000.00 for it! I paid £3250.00 for my dressage horse, so 6 years later he doesn't owe me anything.
 
Cariad: thanks for the information, very useful.

She's being sold for next to nothing as the owner just wants to see her have a bright future. Your horses sound very impressive and gives me hope!

I could keep on loaning her but I want her for my own if that makes sense!
 
It sounds like you have made the decision already!
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My old boy is 28 and is still going strong.

It would be lovely if you are able to give her a home for life in return for the fun that you have had together and you will no doubt continue to have in the years to come.
 
i agree with carid...the horse in my sig is 24 and going strong ,shes a TB lives out...some of horses/ponies over 15 still have at least 10-15 years in them and can act as the younger ones
If you really like this horse and the price is right ..go for it
REGARDLESS OF HIS AGE
 
I don't really post but felt I had to reply to this! My TB Mare is 14 and was a 'bag of bones' when I bought her. She cost me £1400 and I didn't even get her vetted as I 'thought' I knew what I'd be told and I would be heartbroken.
Got her home and then got a vet out to her who told me ..... and I quote "You have a good 10 or more years with this horse if you look after her"

She's a spring chicken and out classes most of the youngsters on our yard!!!!

I say GO FOR IT
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xx
 
Mine tb x is exactly like MrsC 's!! 16 year old going on 6, actually i wish he did act older as he's rather sprightly atm!
cost me £1000 as looks amazing, knocks the socks off all the chubby cobs in the area.
 
Go for it. You actually sound as though you have made your mind up but want to see if we agree
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As someone else has said 17 is no age for a horse these days. I don't think you will regret buying but you may regret if you don't if the owner is determined to sell
 
Awww, Sounds like you have a real mate there.

Re buying her. Are you being asked to buy her? Or is it something you would like to do so you feel like she is yours and no one can take her away from you?
 
Realistically, you are obviously not going to desert her in her hour of need... ie when she gets old and decrepit.... so why not buy her and then she is all yours.

Sounds like she is priced correctly, and you want her, so go for it.

There is nothing as worrying as a loan if you feel the horse could be taken back at any oportunity (not saying this is the case) but security is everything..... for both of you.

Good luck
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MrsC & JakesMD - THANK YOU. I love her so much and will go for it! Thanks so much for the help and advice. #

Many thanks!
 
Mine's 17, had him since 4 but he's fit and well and juts did his first intro yesterday. I've done tonnes of BSJA and unaff ODE's etc over the years but his first aff event yesterday and he flew it and came back hardly blowing at all, he thinks he's an event horse now and I plan to do many more with him this year. If you like the horse then just go for it, why not!
 
I ride a 27 year old TB (ex-racer) at a riding school and he is extremely forward going and generally full of life! OK in the school in winter he needs an extra 5min to warm up but he is far more flexible and nimble on his feet than anything else there. Generally fabulous, and rarely off work. In my experience if you are going for an older horse a TB is quite a different proposition in terms of longevity so add this to your calculation...
 
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