Do I buy this horse ?19 year old ISH

[newboult51]

So I’ve been offered a 19 year old 16h ISH. Hacks like a dream, beautifully schooled. Quote behind the leg. The owner is going off travelling and then to uni and is selling him for a song with a lovely Pessoa saddle. Feel it’s too good to be true and that’s why I’m hesitating. I’m not full of confidence beans after a bad accident, I’m now 53 and have a lazy, greedy dales pony to ride.
I keep them at home and am thinking I could put him on short term livery to get help in case I need it, just to start with.
Or maybe it’s a pipe stream and I go back to my kick a long pony?
Just to be clear, I have no plans whatsoever to jump him, he will be having a quiet life.
What do people think? I can ride perfectly well after a years of experience but lack confidence.

 

[Parrotperson]

How much?

 

[cauda equina]

Have you sat on him yet?
16hands will probably feel quite big after a Dales, maybe not the best thing if you lack confidence

 

[vhf]

Are you prepared to take on everything that comes with an older horse, in what should be their final home?
Can you afford the additional care they might need, and face the heartache they might bring when it comes to doing the responsible thing?
Will you get pleasure from them?
Can you provide for their needs?
A beautifully schooled, lovely hack for a year or two might be exactly what your confidence needs, but you won't know until you have a proper sit-on.

 

[Goldenstar]

Do you have the disposable income to manage the veterinary care that is often needed to keep a horse of this age in light work.
If you can and you you can cope with the fact you may lucky or unlucky about how long you get from him then yes I think alot can be offered by horses like this .
Ask for disclosure of medical history and while you not might need a vet’s certificate I would at the very least need to have the eyes and heart checked .

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Depends how much he is and I'm assuming you have been riding him ?

 

[Polos Mum]

'For a song' - I'm guessing is cheap, reflecting his age and need for quiet life.

I would try him and if you think he will help your confidence and as you keep them at home won't cost a fortune in retirement - I would go for it.
Retirement can be a few months if that's not your thing then PTS or if he's a lovely companion to have at home retirement might be 5 years long !

 

[AmyMay]

'For a song' - I'm guessing is cheap, reflecting his age and need for quiet life.

I would try him and if you think he will help your confidence and as you keep them at home won't cost a fortune in retirement - I would go for it.
Retirement can be a few months if that's not your thing then PTS or if he's a lovely companion to have at home retirement might be 5 years long !

This

 

[JBM]

I’m sorry no one should be suggesting to buy an older horse to put them to sleep as soon as they need to retire because that’s “not your thing”

 

[Birker2020]

So I’ve been offered a 19 year old 16h ISH. Hacks like a dream, beautifully schooled. Quote behind the leg. The owner is going off travelling and then to uni and is selling him for a song with a lovely Pessoa saddle. Feel it’s too good to be true and that’s why I’m hesitating. I’m not full of confidence beans after a bad accident, I’m now 53 and have a lazy, greedy dales pony to ride.
I keep them at home and am thinking I could put him on short term livery to get help in case I need it, just to start with.
Or maybe it’s a pipe stream and I go back to my kick a long pony?
Just to be clear, I have no plans whatsoever to jump him, he will be having a quiet life.
What do people think? I can ride perfectly well after a years of experience but lack confidence.

Does he hack on his own?
Does he need to be in regular work?
Is he on any medication?
Can you see his vet history?

These are the questions I'd be asking.
If all is well I'd go ahead, so long as you can secure his long term future of course.

 

[eggs]

If you like him and the price is right I would say go for it. A 17 year old won Badminton but as I am sure you know, an older horse will most likely need a fair bit of care and maintenance.

 

[Nicnac]

Why not? My first horse was 19 when I bought her having ridden her for a couple of years. Bought her for meat money and had 6 ridden years and another couple retired at home until she dropped dead in the field. She didn't cost me a penny in vets fees either in the years I had her.

If he's sound and you like him and want a 2nd horse, go for it.

 

[splashgirl45]

If you feel confident riding him and he is sound I wouldn’t let the age worry you. My friend bought a horse that was sold as age 16 but after doing a bit of detective work we found she was 18, friend bought her and had 10 years riding doing mainly hacking and long distance rides, if she had done loads of jumping she may not have stayed sound but in light work she was fine… we will need pics when you get him

 

[wills_91]

He could be perfect for your confidence. I got an older horse (22) and he was absolutely wonderful, he wasn't cheap to "run" but suspect that was more to do with his type than his age. I lost him very suddenly to colic at 26. I then got a 4 year old who I had to retire at 7 and it's aged 11. She cost me a hell of a lot more! If he ticks all the boxes then it's worth a gamble IMO.

 

[Trouper]

If he has stayed sound to this age then I would not be worrying too much about the years ahead. He sounds a lovely project but I agree having one already complicates things.

I, too, would not hesitate to pts if something happened that made his life miserable - rather that than pass him on when he is even older.

 

[PeterNatt]

Forget it - No Way - Stick to your reliable pony!

 

[ycbm]

I’m sorry no one should be suggesting to buy an older horse to put them to sleep as soon as they need to retire because that’s “not your thing”

With all the other dreadful things that could happen to a cheap old horse, to be bought by someone who will hack gently for a few years then put him to sleep is far from the bottom of the list of potential outcomes for a horse.

I don't share the view that being stood around in the wet and cold all winter, or kept in a barn, is necessarily a desirable end of life experience for every old horse.
.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I find bigger horses more confidence inspiring, if they've got the right temperament. I would try riding him, if you haven't already and if you like him, buy him. If he doesn't give you confidence, just say he isn't for you.

 

[Glitter's fun]

What would happen to your Dales? Is there a reason you're not enjoying him? Do you have time for two?

 

[marmalade76]

I would go for it.
I recently bought a 21 yo just retired polo pony. I wanted something reliable and unflappable (eg that doesn't have a panic attack when I get the hose or the clippers out) to just plod about the lanes and bridleways on, maybe a fun ride if I'm feeling particularly energetic. I would rather not have had one quite so old but I can no longer justify the massive price tag that younger paragons of virtue now fetch. I've no idea how long she'll last me as a ridden horse but you never know, I may well be ready to retire from riding when she is. I'm more than happy to keep her in retirement, I've done it before and she's a real sweety so a great pet too.

 

[ycbm]

Quite behind the leg.

I would be cautious and probably get a pragmatic vet to look him over.

"Behind the leg" , ime, is often masking physical difficulties.
.

 

[marmalade76]

I would be cautious and probably get a pragmatic vet to look him over.

"Behind the leg" , ime, is often masking physical difficulties.
.

Agreed, I said I plod but my mare is actually quite forward, she marches along rather than plods.

 

[ycbm]

Agreed, I said I plod but my mare is actually quite forward, she marches along rather than plods.

Is all in the feel isn't it? Are they steady but swinging along, or are they just trying not to move forwards too fast in case something hurts?
.

 

[limestonelil]

A lot of helpful ideas for consideration OP. I'm not sure how well you know the horse and current owner, if at all. It's one of those things that could go either way so a definite gamble, win some, lose some iyswim.

 

[gallopingby]

Have you sat on him yet?
16hands will probably feel quite big after a Dales, maybe not the best thing if you lack confidence

Depending on the dales and its size l can’t really see why a 16 hands might feel big? Yes in terms of height in getting on and off but some dales have a big trot and long striding walk even if they don’t feel forwards. Also depending on build of both jockey and horse the ’fit’ can be very similar ie a chunky pony will take up more leg than a skinny part bred. I think you’d have to have a ‘sit on’ to decide. I wouldn’t be put off by the age as long as healthy.

 

[JBM]

With all the other dreadful things that could happen to a cheap old horse, to be bought by someone who will hack gently for a few years then put him to sleep is far from the bottom of the list of potential outcomes for a horse.

I don't share the view that being stood around in the wet and cold all winter, or kept in a barn, is necessarily a desirable end of life experience for every old horse.
.

Well I personally don’t think you should have horses if you can’t afford or want to look after them when they’re old.
If you can afford to keep a horse at livery you can also afford retirement livery and if they’re at home no reason they can’t retire there
They’re more than their ability to carry people around

 

[stangs]

With all the other dreadful things that could happen to a cheap old horse, to be bought by someone who will hack gently for a few years then put him to sleep is far from the bottom of the list of potential outcomes for a horse.

I don't share the view that being stood around in the wet and cold all winter, or kept in a barn, is necessarily a desirable end of life experience for every old horse.

It is an owner's responsibility to make sure that the horse is managed in such a way that it is comfortable throughout its retirement; that it goes to an appropriate livery if its needs can't be met where it previously stayed; and that its life doesn't have to be cut short simply because retiring a horse is "not [the owner's thing]".

Yes, worse things can happen to a horse than being PTS, but, as JBM said, no one should be going into buying a veteran thinking that they'll just put it to sleep if they have to retire it.

 

[Jambarissa]

I'm afraid you couldn't give me a horse that age, and people have tried.

He could well have best part of 10 years useful hacking in him, he could equally be crippled with arthritis and need treating for cushings within a year or 2.

It's a little different side you gave them at home so that's a large cost off your mind, and you'd be more available to meet the needs of an older horse.

If you've weighed it up then go for him but dont be tempted by the low price, you could advertise or talk to a rescue and get the same for free.

 

[ycbm]

Well I personally don’t think you should have horses if you can’t afford or want to look after them when they’re old.
If you can afford to keep a horse at livery you can also afford retirement livery and if they’re at home no reason they can’t retire there
They’re more than their ability to carry people around

It is an owner's responsibility to make sure that the horse is managed in such a way that it is comfortable throughout its retirement; that it goes to an appropriate livery if its needs can't be met where it previously stayed; and that its life doesn't have to be cut short simply because retiring a horse is "not [the owner's thing]".

Yes, worse things can happen to a horse than being PTS, but, as JBM said, no one should be going into buying a veteran thinking that they'll just put it to sleep if they have to retire it.

I understand both your points of view, but if I was forced to sell an oldie I would rather it go to someone who told me they would PTS when the horse couldn't work any more than risk seeing it up for sale again or stood in mud in a typical UK winter. I've seen a lot of miserable looking horses around over the years whose owners presumably think they're giving them a lovely retirement.
.

 

[AmyMay]

I understand both your points of view, but if I was forced to sell an oldie I would rather it go to someone who told me they would PTS when the horse couldn't work any more than risk seeing it up for sale again or stood in mud in a typical UK winter. I've seen a lot of miserable looking horses around over the years whose owners presumably think they're giving them a lovely retirement.
.