Active Oldies.....horses that is!!!

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wizzi901

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My boy will be 25 in April and is still leading a very active life, ridden 5 times a week (thy loves thy sharer!) and competes couple of times a month.....

He is showing signs of finding turning tight a bit hard and doesnt like any sort of height these days, but thats fine. Still takes a damn good pull out on a hack and very quick and fast etc.

I have just bought a JW synthetic saddle which I have been after for ages, as his leather one is soooo heavy and I feel at his time of life he should have things a little easier!

Then I read about the poor girl who got killed after her horse had a heart attack.........then I started thinking (bad idea) am I pushing my neddy too much for his age?

50% of me says NO, he is obstinate enough to tell me if he doesnt want to do something and regularly does! - and is very very fit and active.....

50% of me says YES he has always tried most of the time for me and whilst he would gladly do nothing, he also gets grumpy and bored if he doesnt get to go to parties........

Vet said he will go one day either of heart attack or impaction.....(his speciality!).

Picture is 2005 middle just gone at 23.....do you see my problem?? he looks and acts like a 12 year old, but the occasional oldie sign shows through......where do you draw the line?

2005 Finals

He looks and feels just the same as when this was taken, so when do I decide enough is enough!! People keep saying he will let you know but sometimes I feel he kind of is, then he perks up again!! he acts no different now and was still winning classes last year, BUT if by slowing down it means I will get to keep him around longer then I'd rather do that....
 
Awww, he's lovely. I think I will have the same problem with Corroy, she loves work and is quite grumpy without it. I think you will know when he is finding certain things more difficult and just carry on as you are.
 
I have the same worries quite often. Chex is around the same age (we don't know exactly how old he is) and is still being worked normally (at least he will be when I get the all clear to get back on board!). Last year he did 2 cross-countrys and a 10 mile pleasure ride, at a rather fast pace! I worried so much about all these things, but he loved doing them, and showed no signs of slowing up and chilling out. Apart from his greying face, his arthritis is the only other ageing sign. I hope to carry on until I get definate signs that he not happy (which in itself is a worry becasue he's too honest to let me know). I think he'd be bored if he was permenantly retired.
 
If you stop riding him he will age quicker, everything that you are doing with him is what is keeping him going. I think if he goes lame then you know to stop. Otherwise keep going. The heartattack thing is a freak accident and the horse probably had something wrong with it and didn't die due to old age. As your horse is fit he is less likely to get any problems.

I would keep going as you are
 
You WILL know when its time to retire or semi retire.

My old chap will be 30 this year (I have had him since he was 13 and done everything with him) and last summer it became clear that although the mind was willing his body just couldnt managed the weight of my riding him anymore.

We spent the summer pottering in the school under saddle and lunging in the field until one day I put up a cross pole for him to jump (which he would get very excited about and drag the lunge line out of my hand to get at!) and although the front end cleared it well his hinds just couldnt get off the floor anymore. That was the point when I decided enough is enough and knocked the work on the head.

He is very much the happy chap, has the same routine as always just without the work.

He deserves everything he wants in his twilight years (and gets it) and is thoroughly loved and spoilt!
 
I would keep him going if I were you...some horses find adjusting to retirement quite hard. I was still riding my 33 year old until his liver failed and had to be pts. He would bolt with the best of them and race the bigger horses if allowed! He just loved going out and about. You will know when he has had enough because he will be less enthusiastic and tire easily.
 
Go with your instints....i can relate slightly as i have a 29 year old (30 in may!) who is just amazing for his age! I semi retired him a few years ago, he is a working hunter pony, but done everything xc, hunted etc, then the before last season he had about retired, just due to work, living away etc, i hadn't ridden him for about 14 months :-( i can honestly say he was at his worst, for the first time ever had laminitus, starting looking older and depressed!! The vet gave him the all cleam from his laminitis and he only doddered when he remember his feet used to hurt! So i decided to give him something to think about and get back on him....it was the best thing i have ever done!!!! since then we have not looked back, he is now ridden, once, twice a week, he competed all season in his ridden and in hand veteran classes and stood 1st and 2nd most of season....!!! He just looks so well...so personally, just make sure you keep him happy, whatever you do....if he is happy , he will keep well..........and look great!! You really will know when he wants to semi retire....i am waiting for mine to tell me.......wonder how long it will be, last year a 45 year old competed at Olympia in the veterans!!!! x
 
He looks a fanastic Horse... Mine is 17 well 18 now as he's exracer and born end of may!!! anyway as he's having 2nd childhood! he's enjoying his life so far... I would much rather keep going for their sanity! Time will tell you when they say i don't want to carry on. If he has heart attack on the spot or serious colic/illness (which my vet and i have agreed to have him put down.) At least he carried on doing something he loved to do...
He Hunts Regluarly and sometimes the next day he takes longer than others to get out of his stable, he would be so stiff but after few run around in the field he's like 2 year old again!

My old mare couldn't retire so i had to keep her going but her problems were getting worse i had her put down as i know she won't enjoy her retirement as she loved her work.
 
Thank you for replies!! I have been sitting here stewing on it all morning, and whilst sometimes he switches off from jumping its hard to tell if he is just sick of it (was ex BSJA for 15 years) or whether he is just feeling a bit off, I cannot do XC anymore on him as I just cannot stop him!!! - he will jump anything XC and is a lunatic, at his age I cannot risk injury now!!

It's useful to know about your 30 year old Spaniel, in that I mean that he gave you a very definate sign rather than the odd trip here and there.

He gets evil when not worked, he has worked all his life and has been lame once for 2 days, had some other nasty injuries and colics but never really a sick or sorry horse at all.

I have to keep reminding myself that he is very fit boy and wont keel over!!

We also knocked hunting on the head this year as brain was up for it but he was pooped after 3 hours!!

He is indeed my horse of a lifetime, he was retired to me at 16 for non affiliated stuff, he knows more than I will ever learn, grumpy so and so but once the tack is on he is fab!! - he has nearly dumped me many times but usually when I GET IT WRONG!! he just likes to let me know!! Excuse position in pics but he is VERY bouncy!!! and jumps from bottom of a jump like a true pro!!
 
Your horse looks stunning for his age!!

You have all just lifted a massive weight off my shoulders as i bought my horse a few months ago and he was aged at 14years old and alot of people at my yard said that, it was old, but it just shows by you lot that is your do everything right they will last a hell of alot longer then that!
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No 14 is a superb age!! We got Freddie (other halfs horse) at 12 which is young for us to take a biggie on!! Ponies come younger sometimes but I like something that large to have some experience of life!!

Get a horse at 14-16 years just about perfect, got plenty of life left in them, in fact Titch's old owners say he looks fab too so thats always a nice compliment!!!

They are still in touch which is lovely and I think even they are suprised sometimes he is still going!!

I adore him!!

Dont be put off by an older horse as long as they are sound and healthy they are sometimes (not always) a lot less hassle!!
 
so proud of him, this was our proudest moment at Hickstead Riding Clubs Teams of 3 in 2004, I'd say he peaked around this time!!

(Excuse hogged mane and tail, gets very very bad sweet itch!!).

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Such a sexy boy.....


Oh blimey I am getting all sentimental!!
 
Jodiew.......that pony you have just bought is the same age as i bought my (now) oldie....i've had nearly 16 years enjoyment out of mine...and still going...so on that basis, look after him and you will be just fine

Marsden, your horse looks amazing, if he is a little bored of show jumping ...there is soooooo much more out there you can do, just think outside the box a bit, find something else which you both enjoy and mix that in too....the main thing is that both of you keep enjoying yourselves, that is what it is all about!! x
 
When i bought him i had him vetted, the vet said all is fine, he was just a tiny bit stiff behind (but he is an hunts mans ex horse) and that his presents owners had kept him in abit of a poor state. He said he would wouldnt be good for a top jumper but i dont do much to be honest so it didnt bother me.

Another girl on our yard bout a 7year old showjuper and all they have had is problems! they struggle to keep him clam and he just tends to go mental whenever they take him anywhere. We had a jumping instructor down and her words about him were "he is ither very very brave or extremely stupid" LOL

So i think i will stick with my old man! lol
 
Wow yor horse really really does look amazing! I like hogged main and tail think it look tidy! want to do mine but everyone says he will look silly! lol
 
old men (the horsey type) rawk!!! We have tried dressage but he went in like a turkey looking for jumps and jogging!! May have to get a little 14.2 whizzy type to play on while he slows down a bit!!
 
That is the only thing that i am finding abit hard at the monet slowing him, i just need to get fitter though and just need to get used to him more.

Has really cheared me up though looking at the pics of yours, gives me hope
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He itches like crazy if I leave it long it ends up sore etc, tried potions lotions jabs etc, he is happier like that and gets plenty of creams etc and not sore!!

Have hope!!! - you will be fine, sure you will have many years ahead of horsey times with him!!
 
I got my first pony when she was 35. She probably speeded up a bit again when I got her. When she got to around 28+ she started to slow down a bit, but she still loved going out for hacks and exploring. She died at 30 but she was still enjoying her work even then. Just used to take her out for walking hacks, for hours on end and she loved it. He'll tell you when he's had enough.
 
Marsden, I tried to retire him a few years ago and he most definitly wasnt ready. After a few weeks he got really bouncy and cheeky and gave the distinct impression that he was up for whatever I could throw at him! I reckon he was about 26 at that point and I thought I was being kind. I obviously wasnt as once back in work he was much happier and more settled.

You can only really go on what they are telling you and if, come the spring, my lad starts getting uppity and seems to be bored then Im quite happy to start doing a little something with him again.
 
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