Been asked to show a horse, BUT I don't think its fair... your thoughts?

RuthnMeg

RuthnMeg

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I had a call earlier, a man wanting me to take his TB to a not-so-local level show entering the veterans.
I know the horse, he is lovely, but has been retired from being ridden for a while now, and is currently 31. Back when the hunting bill was passed was the LAST TIME he was sat on (how ever long ago that was?). He looks well, is sound but looks old at the same time. His tail is very whispy and he has no muscle tone what so ever. He lives on his own, and raced back in his day.
I have said no to riding him at the show, I really don't think that is fair on the old boy personally - do you agree? But, there is an in-hand option for 25yrs+. I am planning to go to the show anyway with at least one of mine, and this owner has already stated he would take him so transport isn't an issue.
Do you think, that for a horse his age, would it be fair to take him to this show - as quoted by the owner ''a final send off''. I fear the occasion may get to him, being in company again all of a sudden, yet the idea sounds lovely as a larger picture??
 
Why on earth would the horse want to do that? This is the owner's fantasy, surely, not what a quiet old horse who's been retired a long time would want? The owner doesn't even want to show him themself? What do they want to do it for - do they think he will win??? I would refuse to take him.
 
I think its quite a sweet idea. As the owner has transport and could therefore take him home if it was too much for him, he wouldn't have to stand for hours waiting for a lift. It might just give him a boost. Sometimes we underestimate these old timers.
 
I am with horserider - take him into the in hand if he is behaving, if not just take him for a graze...so many horses LOVE going out and they do miss it when the time comes for retirement :)
 
My friend has a 30 yr old ex-racer TB.
I transport him from her summer pasture to a winter stable and I have to drive ridiculously slowly and take extra extra care going round corners.
He too has no muscle tone yet he is ridden at least 3 times a week.

Personally, I think it's a bit unfair to expect the old lad to travel unnecessarily, let alone partake in a showing class :(.
 
Thankyou for your replies. The more I think about it, in this case it is best to stick with my gut instict and decline the offer.
If the owner so wants to do it then he can, and it won't involve me and my decision should it go wrong.

Thats that solved then!!
 
A friend of mine had her retired HOYS Hunter Champion retired for many years. He was nearly 30, stiff, a bit sway backed and long retired but happy. She was asked to show him at the opening of an indoor arena and was against bringing him out because he was well past his 'best by' date.

I persuaded her otherwise and she finally agreed but said she would only lead him at the walk.
They came into the arena and the old horse was carrying himself and jogging. I read out a list of all their winnings and then said "D., the younger ones cannot see what was so special about this horse, please run him up!"
She cussed me as she came past the commentary box but ran him up the long side. That horse dropped his nose in and trotted up, every stride having a moment of suspension. They walked the short side and trotted the diagonal a lot faster and the audience clapped. The old horse loved it and when reaching the corner he gave an enormous buck and fart - they did the next diagonal at a trot before leaving the arena. That horse was not nearly 30 he was six or seven under the Wembly spotlight.

Once she had seen to the horse D. came to the box in tears and just remarked that she hoped he would die that night because he was so happy.

He didn't but I am sure he loved that night, when all paraded together he got the loudest applause and stood out from all the others just by his presence.

I would give the old boy his moment of glory, I am sure he will love having memories brought back to him.
 
Foxhunter49 said:
A friend of mine had her retired HOYS Hunter Champion retired for many years. He was nearly 30, stiff, a bit sway backed and long retired but happy. She was asked to show him at the opening of an indoor arena and was against bringing him out because he was well past his 'best by' date.

I persuaded her otherwise and she finally agreed but said she would only lead him at the walk.
They came into the arena and the old horse was carrying himself and jogging. I read out a list of all their winnings and then said "D., the younger ones cannot see what was so special about this horse, please run him up!"
She cussed me as she came past the commentary box but ran him up the long side. That horse dropped his nose in and trotted up, every stride having a moment of suspension. They walked the short side and trotted the diagonal a lot faster and the audience clapped. The old horse loved it and when reaching the corner he gave an enormous buck and fart - they did the next diagonal at a trot before leaving the arena. That horse was not nearly 30 he was six or seven under the Wembly spotlight.

Once she had seen to the horse D. came to the box in tears and just remarked that she hoped he would die that night because he was so happy.

He didn't but I am sure he loved that night, when all paraded together he got the loudest applause and stood out from all the others just by his presence.

I would give the old boy his moment of glory, I am sure he will love having memories brought back to him.
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This!
 
Foxhunter49 said:
A friend of mine had her retired HOYS Hunter Champion retired for many years. He was nearly 30, stiff, a bit sway backed and long retired but happy. She was asked to show him at the opening of an indoor arena and was against bringing him out because he was well past his 'best by' date.

I persuaded her otherwise and she finally agreed but said she would only lead him at the walk.
They came into the arena and the old horse was carrying himself and jogging. I read out a list of all their winnings and then said "D., the younger ones cannot see what was so special about this horse, please run him up!"
She cussed me as she came past the commentary box but ran him up the long side. That horse dropped his nose in and trotted up, every stride having a moment of suspension. They walked the short side and trotted the diagonal a lot faster and the audience clapped. The old horse loved it and when reaching the corner he gave an enormous buck and fart - they did the next diagonal at a trot before leaving the arena. That horse was not nearly 30 he was six or seven under the Wembly spotlight.

Once she had seen to the horse D. came to the box in tears and just remarked that she hoped he would die that night because he was so happy.

He didn't but I am sure he loved that night, when all paraded together he got the loudest applause and stood out from all the others just by his presence.

I would give the old boy his moment of glory, I am sure he will love having memories brought back to him.
Click to expand...

Oh bless.....that gave me goosebumps :-)
 
So long as he doesn't get stressed traveling and being there I don't see the harm doing an inland class, but if he's not looking in good condition even for a veteran then he may look out of place, but if its just for a nice outing then that doesn't matter, suppose it really depends on the individual horse.
 
That story made me well up! I gotta pull myself together before I get home! I say take him to the show. It's about quality not quantity.
 
Foxhunter that brought a tear to my eye- lovely story

I would try him in hand. If he doesn't travel well or isn't enjoying himself, take him straight home, but I'll bet he wakes up and gets a wee bit of his spark back, even i he's sore the day after
 
Depends what exactly the class your going in is looking for as usually the veterans is highly competitive. Anyway see you have decided not to.
 
Just thought I would mention that the horse that won the VHS In Hand Supreme at Olympia last year was 31 - it beat horses half its age!

However, veteran showing as I am sure you know if you are competing your own has 50% of the marks on condition and turnout - though lack of muscle tone will be taken into consideration at that age.

You are not required to use an age badge at area qualifiers but I would.

Personally if the horse is likely to enjoy it and its not too far and he usually travels well and above all else is well enough to go, I would take him - it really can give them a massive boost.

Mine loves it - is also prone to a buck and fart in the ring, grows a hand when he wins and can do the most impressive extended trot when showing off.
 
uummmm gosh hard qustion to answer not knowing the horse - ok maybe my reply is if will travel take him let him graze and literally go from there - if horse is settled cool if not take him home . but ummmm ok ok bounce on me if want to but there comes a time to say ok enough - yep may win prizes but let them live thier retirement in peace - *** waits for back lash*** but hey ho i have a 13 yr old partially sighted field ordanment lol so im ready for it :)
 
Let him have his day. My girl preens when she is being got ready for a show - she loves it - he will no doubt love the pre show attention and enjoy being out again.

If you have worries about how he will travel put a bale of straw over the floor to give him extra stability.

We expect photos too of the big day.
 
What a lovely story about the retired HOYS boy. I think it depends on the horse. It may perk him up no end. I wouldn't ride him but the in hand class would be ok. If the owner is transporting him then if he's not happy when he gets there then at least he can go home without screwing up your day. Let him have his moment.
 
I don't understand this 'let him have his moment' business. He's been retired for ages and now knows no different. Taking him to a show could end up causing all sorts of problems. Having said that it may not, but I certainly wouldn't want to take the risk with him. The owner should think of the horse instead of glory hunting IMHO.
 
Hedgewitch13 said:
The owner should think of the horse instead of glory hunting IMHO.
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In all fairness, I don't get the impression the owner is glory hunting, but simply wanting to give the old fella a special day.

I don't agree that 'he knows no different'. Some horses love the chance of reliving the familiarity of their younger days, the sounds, smells and sights, once known well.
If the owners intention is purely to give a wonderful day to an old friend, thats quite different to dragging a half dead animal around the local circuit looking for rosettes.
 
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