Can you Realistically teach old horses new tricks!

[JessPickle]

Pickle is 18 years old now! he can be quite stubborn but can work quite nicely in walk and trot, and his canter isn't awful. He scores about 60% at prelim! but can't imagine him doing particularly well any higher!

I try my best to give him interesting schooling sessions, and he has now mastered walk to canter which he just didn't get before! however leg yielding is a real issue! He'll do it if I literally hold a schooling stick straight down, just putting pressure on as an addition to my leg, but even then its an effort! and being one handed isn't ideal! When I am on other horses I am perfectly able to leg yield, so don't think I am riding it like a numpty!

I was thinking today whether he would ever be different to the way he is now, or is at 18 he is stuck in his ways? so what are your thoughts?

 

[fitzaud2]

Absoutely. I had dressage lessons, and natural horsemanship lessons with my 25 year old mare last year, and both instructors were able to make me do things with her that i would have only dreamed of. It just took longer than normal, as when they are older, they have learned the art of ignoring you, unless you really ask. (without using a whip). My mare used to take the p*** out of me, but laura sat on her and she rode like a 5 year old. just amazing what you can do when you know how!!!

 

[somethingorother]

Sure. But physical restrictions apply. Maybe he struggles with leg yeild due to his build? Maybe he's not sure of the aids? I would use the schooling whip to very gently tap as his hind leg comes off the ground, it's a more precise aid than constant pressure. Osc is 17 and i treat him as i would any other/ younger horse. I expect him to learn new things if required, but i'm patient and if something isn't working for a while then i change tactic.

 

[Greystorm]

Sure. But physical restrictions apply. Maybe he struggles with leg yeild due to his build? Maybe he's not sure of the aids? I would use the schooling whip to very gently tap as his hind leg comes off the ground, it's a more precise aid than constant pressure. Osc is 17 and i treat him as i would any other/ younger horse. I expect him to learn new things if required, but i'm patient and if something isn't working for a while then i change tactic.

Also remember that due to age they are bound to be stiffer too ... maybe having problems doing it - Lots of losening up exercises and things like that ...

 

[3DE]

I seem to be posting this sequence a lot this week lol

This is my project mare - 18 years old, not been ridden for 4 years (or more) and only ever hacked, never schooled.

Lunging in the 'traditional' way resulted in a horse who was very hollow backed, her head pulled into the centre and she fell out through her back end. She was also dragging her hind legs and not reaching through the shoulder at all. Combining the pessoa with the lunge line through both sides of the bit and attached to the outside of the roller to encourage bend, we got this sequence. A couple of changes of rein and 10 minutes in walk and trot.

Opinions please? :whistle: I think she's moving quite well considering no schooling...

 

[Kao]

@Inky_and_Sunny:
Your mare is stunning, is she a keeper-project? I think she's moving very well considering she's had no schooling

RE: Older horses...
I always say, so long as physical restrictions arn't in the way or effected ANY horse regardless of age can be taught anything Older horses are written off far too much when they're still just as able (again, so long as they're physically healthy) as a 5 year old!

 

[3DE]

@Inky_and_Sunny:
Your mare is stunning, is she a keeper-project? I think she's moving very well considering she's had no schooling

RE: Older horses...
I always say, so long as physical restrictions arn't in the way or effected ANY horse regardless of age can be taught anything Older horses are written off far too much when they're still just as able (again, so long as they're physically healthy) as a 5 year old!

She's not a keeper, no I'm schooling her over the winter to get her ready to be sold come spring. Hopefully with a bit of schooling she will find a better home - an 18yo pony that hasn't been ridden in 4 years doesn't have much hope . She's only 14h so would probably be aimed at teens - how many teens do you know that only want to hack?

Thanks for saying she's pretty - I think she's doll! She's a nice natured wee thing too.