Adjusting to life with a Veteran ~ do you ever get used to it?

[Porkie]

I've loaned my boy for 4 years, so although he was already quite a veteran when I first started riding him, he is now nearly 29.

He's slowing a little but not much considering his age! he is still in work 5/6 days a week - but I am sensible and do 20-30mins schooling or up to an hour hacking, or play in hand or ride bareback to differ the workload. In the summer we mainly hack becuase he enjoys it and it's not hard work like schooling. Although most days he is the only one in the group misbehaving, jogging and cantering sideways!!

I am trying hard to adjust things, like when his hacking buddies go out we now do things like they give us a head start so we can walk up the hill then they trot to join us so he can take his time up the hills. Or yesterday we gave them a head start so they could do lots of trotting round the village and we headed off on our own for 30 mins and met them on their way home so we could then turn and do the 20 minutes back with them.

He is fine hacking alone but obviously loves to have friends so am trying my hardest to find different ways around things to give him the best bits of life!

Sometimes it's hard becuase I know he would like to do more, and I would like to do more but I won't as his health is more important to me than a few extra minutes work and I wouldn't give him up even if I couldn't ride at all (I love him far too much for that!!) - I don't resent it at all but do you ever get used to it??

 

[indiat]

Yes, you do! It can be hard, being restructed by a veteran but eventually, you just get used to having a certain way of doing things.

 

[Ruth_Cymru]

Yes you do. When I first had my boy he would be ridden 6 days a week, we would go for miles out hacking, or be jumping or schooling, but as he got older we slowed things down. His head never slowed down though, so it was difficult convincing him at times that jogging down hills was not sensible behaviour for an older gentleman, but you have to go by what his body's saying not neccesserally his head!
You sound like you're doing all the right things, so carry on enjoying him and I wish you many happy years of fun together

 

[251libby]

Is there not anyone you can hack with who horse has similar requirements, so you can ride the whole way with them and they are happy to walk up hills etc.

Jazz although only 14 has arthritis so we have to be careful on what ground she trots and canters on which means we can be pretty boring (but safe!) partners for hacking so we usually just go by ourselves or with people that just want to go for a gentle hack and dont mind alot of walking

 

[Daffodil]

Yes you do! The knowledge that you're doing the very best for your old boy more than compensates for any loss of longer hacks and more exciting rides.

Sounds as if your lad has a very caring and considerate mum who takes her responsibilities very seriously. Lucky chap!

 

[JessnGeorge]

My boy is 23 and I let him do what he wants within reason but you get to know when they've had enough. I don't go for daft 3 hour hacks up and down the mountains as to me that's a waste of energy and a bit risky for us but I have done cross country/showjumping and lots of schooling.

Like your boy he often wants to do more but I know if he rests a hindleg a certain way then he's done too much so you get to know an adjust eveything accordingly.