Age? When is too old?

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**Star**

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Somebody just commented on a post saying at 20 a horse needs more turn out not riding and I have no issue with this as everyone os entitled to their opinion but I had a 37yr old Welsh A as a child who was ridden til the week before he died. And I have a 35yr old tb who is still ridden 3 times a week and he canters round like a nutjob at the best of times although he doesn't jump anymore. When is too old in peoples opinions? If horses like the work and have been okayed by the vet like mine is it still okay to keep riding or should they have a proper retirement?
 
**Star** said:
If horses like the work and have been okayed by the vet like mine is it still okay to keep riding
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Absolutely :) It's amazing how quickly (badly) some horses age when they are retired! If they are sound, healthy and happy then I don't think there is a cut off.
 
I've found in the past that ones who have been retired because their owners felt it was "time" were the ones who went downhill shortly afterwards.

In my experience a lot of horses like having a job to do so I think it's best to keep going all the time you know they're happy and comfortable enough to do so.

Obviously it's different if they're lame or definitely not enjoying it though.
 
Crikeys I know lots of older horses that are still being ridden,and competed. You only have to look at the veteren horse societys performance classes to see that is true. I think it is best to keep an older horse going. In my opinion they age worse if you stop
 
Just to add that the way I read it, I think the post referenced in the OP was slightly misinterpreted. The specific horse in question I would agree sounds like it needs more turnout and that should be the priority based on what was said re its nature and its behaviour in the stable. I don't think anyone suggested the horse concerned actually needed riding less than it currently is being. Apols if I misread it myself but there's my tuppence worth on the specifics :)

On the general q, depends on what the individual horse can take mentally and physically as it ages. No reason to really work down towards set points according to age provided the animal is happy and healthy in its work.
 
MissChaos said:
Just to add that the way I read it, I think the post referenced in the OP was slightly misinterpreted. The specific horse in question I would agree sounds like it needs more turnout and that should be the priority based on what was said re its nature and its behaviour in the stable. I don't think anyone suggested the horse concerned actually needed riding less than it currently is being. Apols if I misread it myself but there's my tuppence worth on the specifics :)

On the general q, depends on what the individual horse can take mentally and physically as it ages. No reason to really work down towards set points according to age provided the animal is happy and healthy in its work.
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Agree that it can be interpreted different ways and that everyone has different opinions, just got me thinking about how old people would keep riding horses/ponies, as mine are pretty old and I have had some hassle about it from people in the past and wondered what you all think :)
 
I have a 33 year old pony still in light work, he enjoys popping the odd jump and if he had a regular rider may even get out to a show, he lives out all summer, in at night over winter and shows no real signs of stiffness.
I dont see any harm in riding them at any age but I do think that keeping them in a stable at this time of year is not good for them. It has been wet and the fields are suffering but as a YO my horses and liveries are still living out, most without rugs and are very relaxed and happy even in the rain.
 
As long as those people weren't vets / welfare officers / otherwise relevant professional (which I doubt they were :rolleyes:), the one to listen to is the horse - but you knew that :)
 
be positive said:
I have a 33 year old pony still in light work, he enjoys popping the odd jump and if he had a regular rider may even get out to a show, he lives out all summer, in at night over winter and shows no real signs of stiffness.
I dont see any harm in riding them at any age but I do think that keeping them in a stable at this time of year is not good for them. It has been wet and the fields are suffering but as a YO my horses and liveries are still living out, most without rugs and are very relaxed and happy even in the rain.
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We aren't allowed to turn them out, they went out for 2 weeks about a month ago and were then bought back in until the fields dry up and it doesn't look like that is going to be very soon :(
 
MissChaos said:
Just to add that the way I read it, I think the post referenced in the OP was slightly misinterpreted. The specific horse in question I would agree sounds like it needs more turnout and that should be the priority based on what was said re its nature and its behaviour in the stable. I don't think anyone suggested the horse concerned actually needed riding less than it currently is being. Apols if I misread it myself but there's my tuppence worth on the specifics :)

On the general q, depends on what the individual horse can take mentally and physically as it ages. No reason to really work down towards set points according to age provided the animal is happy and healthy in its work.
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I think it was my post and yes you read it as I meant it, I have just posted on this thread to try and clarify my views, I see no harm in a horse being ridden 20 is no age but not being turned out and not ridden much is no good for any horse especially a stressy tb.
 
I'm another that thinks you should carry on if they're healthy & happy. My 23yr old stopped competing & hunting a few years ago due to a non age related injury. But still loves unaffil stuff & local shows. No sign of age whatsoever, plan for my daughter to move onto her in a few years & do the usual kid stuff.
 
MissChaos said:
Just to add that the way I read it, I think the post referenced in the OP was slightly misinterpreted. The specific horse in question I would agree sounds like it needs more turnout and that should be the priority based on what was said re its nature and its behaviour in the stable. I don't think anyone suggested the horse concerned actually needed riding less than it currently is being. Apols if I misread it myself but there's my tuppence worth on the specifics :)

On the general q, depends on what the individual horse can take mentally and physically as it ages. No reason to really work down towards set points according to age provided the animal is happy and healthy in its work.
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first paragraph is exactly what I meant OP!!!



dependent on horse!

i used to ride a 35 year old pony - fit as a fiddle.... with lots of turnout it was a happy horse !
 
I DONT KNOW IF I SHOULD ADMIT TO THIS....

but i agree with everyone
(there's a rarity!:D )

I have a 26 yo TB who is still ridden 3/4 times a week
who can still act like a 4 yo on a ride if the mood takes him

vets have always advised the absolute worst thing i could do would be to retire him

obviously the level and type of work he does takes his age into consideration

but the exercise keeps his circulation and joints going
and most importantly keeps his brain active...

if you want to know why healthy horses shouldn't be retired...
just picture old people in retirement hostels

if just left in their room in front of the tele they go quickly down hill

if out doing aerobics and 'nipping down the dance hall' they can stay active and 'with it' for years

so to the other part of the discussion - turnout v stabled

well the above example also addresses that
(bedroom and tele = long periods in stable)

using my horse as an example,
he is very high mileage,
having been ridden 300+ days pa for all of his competitive life

around the age of 20 he was typically turned out for around 7 hours every day - but stable kept
and as you would expect for a horse with that age and background had been put on the 'bute every other day' diet...

as an experiment,
which i firmly expected not to work,
i moved him in with my other horses who 'live out',
fully expecting him not to cope with this more rough and ready lifestyle

within 3 months he was off the bute,
and still is at 26,

he was prone to lymphangitis all his life - no longer

and he's come through the last few years of hard winters in better condition than he ever had whilst stabled....

(though sometimes he resembles a Michelin man in all his rugs :D )
 
I see no reason not to ride old horses, as long as its within their capabilities they enjoy it. IME horses don't really like being retired. Especially if its the kind of retirement that means they don't get groomed or fed or rugs checked, because nobody is bringing them in to ride. Or the retirement that sees a horse stabled nights all its life suddenly turned out 24/7 with no consideration given to whether or not its coping. I've seen this sort of thing happen a lot & the miserable horses it creates. Better to PTS if no longer capable of work IMO. Retirement with a caring owner is a different matter.
 
Thats not very old....

Oh, I see, you mean the horse...:D

Lenamore is 19 and in the team...

btw - i know you said need i say more but could you - which discipline, who and when?

thanks
 
labruyere said:
Thats not very old....

Oh, I see, you mean the horse...:D

Lenamore is 19 and in the team...

btw - i know you said need i say more but could you - which discipline, who and when?

thanks
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Im sure it was eventing and either the last olympics or the one before, and then there was a plethora of 18 and 19 yr olds competing at hickstead this year.

cant remember who, just remember thinking ':D:D:D'
 
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The ginger one at 19 - winning the pairs and 3rd in the open (hunter trials - he had the fastest time but it was too fast so we dropped back to 3rd with time penalties :D :o)
tamht.jpg


Winning ODE
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This little grey fella was lent to me by a fellow HHOer last year for a common ride - which last all day and have a lot of fast work. He was late teens/early 20s and a fantastic pony
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Another common ride, another oldie :D
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Lovely photos rhino!

However, I have a 21 year old pony who just isn't interested in work! He has no enthusiasm whatsoever, I'm sure he's is a winter pony as he much prefers going out when its cold!

Our 19 year old is the opposite, turns into a phsycho in the winter but much calmer ( not a lot calmer ) in the summer.

So one has the winter off and one the summer, works out quite well!
 
My horse had to semi retire for health reasons at 29. She fully retired at 31 and in the last year has aged about 5 years. If she was physically able i'd still be riding her or letting a kiddy ride her couple times a week.
 
Definitely keep on riding and doing things within the capability of the individual horse.

Even creaky horses benefit from regular exerise and pushing themselves a little just like the determined granny who refuses to let a little arthritis stop her getting on with life. Exercise keeps muscles and tendons strong, joints mobile and the mind stimulated - what's not to like? :)

I would also be aiming for extra turn-out for those creaky joints but not chucking out with no attention to care. My boy has a few issues at 17yrs which is not that old but I know managed exercise will keep him healthy longer and I'm hoping we will have many years of enjoyment together hacking out and about ahead of us.
 
Yep my old boy hates not being in work despite having company!!

Hence why rather than stick him in a field on cheap grass livery and do nowt with him I have chosen to loan him out to someone who wants to hack or do low level dressage as yes he can be an opinionsated wee sod at times he does love to be doing something :)

Hes 21 BTW and I have had him ten years and anytime h has been off work for any reason (mines or his) his behaviour has just went down hill through sheer cheek :D Love him really lol!! But I agree with Rhino leaving oldies in fields with no stimulation ages them quicker I feel than individually managed stimulation, the old adage about older people who live to have a job to do??? I apply that to my horses :)
 
I kept riding my first pony Scampi up until the age of 34. Eventually I was just too big for him but despite even that he was as keen as mustard! Had a habit of launching himself at jumps and landing smack bang in the middle, breaking anything and everything in sight...

We gave him to my cousin who was learning to ride but she quickly lost interest in her 'new' pony and within 12 months he passed away :(

My dad rode his TBx up until the age of 27 and again he was keen as a bean whenever he was ridden. He was mainly used for gathering the sheep off the mountain/taking them back up the mountain so his work was hard but pretty spaced out. Other than that he acted as a first horse for my mum who learnt to ride so he wasn't working overly hard in his later years.
 
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