Buying an older horse - good idea?

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Cobwanted

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After months of searching I have found a really nice horse that fits my requirements exactly - except he is 16! Am I letting myself in for a whole heap of trouble? Or could he be the nice, no nonense family horse I want him to be? Any advice will be gratefully received...............
 
I bought my first horse a year ago, aged 17. She has been perfect, given me confidence and become fitter and fitter as I have grown in confidence and done more with her. Our biggest adventure has been a 20mile endurance training ride.

She has had less days off work than all the younger horses on the yard, I don't think 16 is particularly 'old' these days.

We did have her 5 stage vetted, and she passed with flying colours. Even the vet said he would buy her :)
 
If he has good conformation, is sound and in good general health then I don't think his age need stop you. You do need to think a bit about the future though - are you affering a forever home or would you be looking to 'upgrade' in a few years time? I don't mean that judgementally! Just that if you would want to sell him on in 3 or 4 years he would b 19 or 20, and harder to find a good home for.

Ive just started part loaning a 19 year old part bred Arab, and honestly she acts like a ten year old and is very sound and fit.
 
Steorra said:
If he has good conformation, is sound and in good general health then I don't think his age need stop you. You do need to think a bit about the future though - are you affering a forever home or would you be looking to 'upgrade' in a few years time? I don't mean that judgementally! Just that if you would want to sell him on in 3 or 4 years he would b 19 or 20, and harder to find a good home for.

Ive just started part loaning a 19 year old part bred Arab, and honestly she acts like a ten year old and is very sound and fit.
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^^^^^ Great point! Mine is a forever boy, agree, I think that is quite an important point!
 
artysteph said:
^^^^^ Great point! Mine is a forever boy, agree, I think that is quite an important point!
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Totally agree with this, my girl is with me forever, I won't need to 'upgrade' - she may have been a plod (or more specifically - calm and confident) when I got her - but since fittening up she has a certain feistiness about her :)

I put it down to her chestnut colouring (strawberry roan) and the fact she is an arab x.
 
I don't think 16 is old at all. Ours are all older than that & hopefully have many years left! I feel the life experience a 16 year old has can often be invaluable.
 
You will have to be able to offer a forever home. You won't be able to re sell.

My old boy only started showing his age last Jan, at the age of 24. It's his teeth that are the problem - he has regular dental work at the vets (approx £200 twice a year), I have to feed a forage replacer diet (approx £70 a month!). I know his sister lived until 32 years old but she was retired due to arthritis for a good few years.

You will have to pay for vets fees. Insurance for veterans only covers accidents, not illness. So you'll have to foot the bill if he gets an infection etc.

Cushing's disease, loss of condition, arthritis and dental problems are all risks of the older horse.

Having said that - if you don't mind paying a bit extra, can offer a forever home and the horse hasn't been hammered in the past - I would go for it.

For the last 20 years, that steady look he gives me and a cuddle once a day - I don't begrudge my old boy a single penny.
 
Woo hoo!! We'll need to see lots of pics :)

Pet Plan do good insurance for older horses, can't remember the specifics - but when we were investigating, they provided the best cover for the longest period.
 
16 isn't old but I do agree that you need to decide if you are offering a forever home.

I bought mine 9 months ago aged 15..he was advertised as a 13yr old - vetting discovered that he was 15ish though. I'll ride him for aslong he is happy and healthy.
 
Just wanted to add on top of this, my (sort of) first pony is now 25ish, ive had him 10 years now. But, the last 2 years, he has still won the speed rounds with me at my local show, and I'm 5'6''ish, and weigh 9 stone, and hes a little 13.1hh!!

Also, my 12.2hh won the mounted games every year running, until the ripe old age of 27 - only because i felt i may be getting a tad to big for her by then...

The oldies defo are the best!! As others have said, do it, if its the right horse. If looked after correctly, age wont come into the equation for a good few years!!

x
 
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16? A mere stripling! I took my 'forever boy' on aged 25, he only retired 2 years ago (not his decision) and in between taught me soooo much. I bought my new boy last year, he's 16 this time round...
 
HollyB66 said:
Woo hoo!! We'll need to see lots of pics :)

Pet Plan do good insurance for older horses, can't remember the specifics - but when we were investigating, they provided the best cover for the longest period.
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I've been with Petplan for the last 10 years. Old boy is now on the Veteran PLan and they've been excellent over the last year especially.
 
Old horses and ponies have plenty of fuel left in the tank, I can think of plenty of horses in their mid twenties who are fit and happy and working. There's also a 30 year old whippy pony ridden 5 x a week who leaves all the younger horses standing.
Enjoy your new horse. :)
 
16 - hardly old now come one, that's like saying you're past it at 30!! I can tell you, I'm as good as some of you 'young 'uns' lol!!!

Aaaand you can now be a member of the VHS too!!!! More showing!!!
 
The poster who said you couldn't get illness (presume meant vet?) cover is wrong. I have just got my 21 year old mare back, and insured her with NFU with veteran cover. Her value is nothing (£500 for insurance purposes) but as well as the normal insurance cover I also have £3000 vets fees included despite the fact that I did say she had Cushings (or beginnings of).

The only time I might think twice would be with say a retired ex racehorse who had had a lot of runs in their career but 16 isn't old nowadays.
 
i brought a 14 yr old and im expecting 10 years out of her working at this level but if i dont she will be loved anyway. i dont think 16 is very old
 
Pet Plan now offer full cover for horses up to 25 if they are insured with them before their 20th birthday. So get the horse vetted and insure with pet plan and have lots and lots of fun!!!
 
I had a 19 yr old on loan for 2 years, then owner offered me the chance to buy her which I jumped at (grand sum of £200). Fit (not when I started with her but soon changed that), sound, brilliant horse. Semi-retired aged 27 (went out for gentle (???! In my dreams) hacks), had a stroke aged 29. She gave me 10 fabulous years which I will forgever be grateful to her for. Apart from some supplements, she was rarely sick (once in 10 years). Just needed a bit more care (teeth etc), which she paid back in spades. If she is the right one for you then don't let 16 put you off. She has experience to share with you.
 
I don't think 16 is old at all! I've just taken on a 25yr old on loan. I've had less problems with him than some liveries have had with their younger horses. But of course, all horses are different!
 
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