Do people buy late teens horses/ponies?

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bonney

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just as the post said do people buy older horses/ponies that are schoolmaster type even though they are in their late teens?
i have been reading through horse web sites and there seems to be a few advertised.
 
You can normally get a good horse this way,if it has gone through it's life in the right hands!
Yep,I would have considered an older horse,and on hindsight I wished I had,currently!
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A good kids pony is if anything worth more the older it get! They often pass through word of mouth though. A good dressage schoolmaster (propper one, ie. won't move in a straight line until you ask propperly) is worth a lot too regardless of age. A gud 'oss is a gud 'oss!

Unfrotunatly, if they're nothing special however age becomes a factor and it may be difficult to sell
 
Bought an 18 year old BSJA mare for my daughter last year and would do so again so yes!
Edited to say also paid a fair amount of money for her too!
 
i know some people say don't buy an older one as your just taking on a vets bill,but wondered what peoples view's are on the forum
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i know some people say don't buy an older one as your just taking on a vets bill

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From experience any horse no matter what age can incur massive vets fees. At our yard we have 2 serious oldies, one is on a bute a day for his arthritas, never had the vet out to him (his owner is a vet nurse) we have a mare who is about 30 again never had a vet out in 4 years. My girl is 23, last vet was a few years back for a kick in the field. Another mare is about 23 never had the vet out.

Now onto the young Warmbloods...6 year old, fell jumping ripped open right knee, surgery and box rest, plenty of vet visits about £3,000 on insurance, leg no long insured. Same horse slipped on concrete (walking) burst other knee open another £3,000 in vets fees (some had to be covered by owner) inc 6 weeks at the vet college.

8 year old WB, vet out for odd lameness, checking stifle, xrays etc none conclusive about £1,300 vets fee unsoun horse.

7 year old WB splint injury, xrayed and box rest 3 vets visits about £500 vets fee.

My friends 4 yo WB has had the vet to her 3 times in the year she's had her, colic, burst open her face and I can't remember the other one
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All I can say is buy an old sound horse over some young gun anyday!
 
I would rather have a younger horse to learn and progress with rather than a schoolmaster type but there is definately a market for older horses for 1st time buyers, novices, people that lack confidence ect. Having a older horse is a good thing if you really want to concentrate on your riding without having to always be worrying about teaching a youngster to do it 1st. My horse is 13 now and is going better than she ever has and certainly isn't close to retiring yet.
 
I think that people are far too hung up on age to be honest.

People forget just how old the horses at the top of their game are.

Older horses have a wealth of knowledge and experience to give to the riders and are worth their weight in gold!
 
I bought a pony that was, according to his passport, 14, but he turned out to be nearer 24!!!!!

I had several fantastic years of fun hacking with him before cancer took him.

I would buy an older horse again, as long as it was in good health and fit for purpose, which in my case is hacking!
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[ QUOTE ]
I think that people are far too hung up on age to be honest.

People forget just how old the horses at the top of their game are.

Older horses have a wealth of knowledge and experience to give to the riders and are worth their weight in gold!

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I totally agree with this. My first loan horse (I would have been tempted to buy, but he wasn't for sale!) was 19 when I took him on. I won my first SJ rosettes on him, did my first hunter trails and he took me for my first ever day's hunting. He was a complete star and in the 2 years I had him didn't have any health problems other than a touch of arthritis.
I spent 2 years with him before I got a bit more ambitious and he showed signs of wanting an easier life. He then went on to have a quieter life as a working livery where he was mainly used to give children confidence in jumping and then on loan to do ride and lead with a mum and her kids. He's now 26 and still living with them, although the kids days on lead rein are long gone. I did hear he was teaching dad to ride though.
He taught me never to underestimate what an old boy (or girl) can offer.
 
I was lucky enough to be given an elderly schoolmistress a while ago. She was going to be put down if i didn't take her, because she was about 20 and TB type, adne veryone said she was jsut a walking vet's bill. previously I've always had youngsters (I have one now, too), and didn't really want an old horse but couldn't let her be put down - and honestly, I have to say that it was the best thing i've ever done! She hasn't had a day's lameness, she is absolutely wonderful, she is very precise about what she wants from life and I have to learn from that from her (rather than jsut 'bossing', which is the trap i fall into with my youngsters) - i think this is the thing that is most valuable about her. As she is more experienced, she doesn't jsut accept being 'told' like younger horses might, you have to discuss it with her until she agrees whatever you want (loading, hacking out etc) is what she wants too. She is absolutely full of life and i wouldn't be without her! I am an absolute old-horse convert, and although yes, they are not very insurable adn you do have a risk of illness, there are so many rewards which you don't always find wiht younger horses. Plus, they're cheaper to buy!!
 
very heartened to read all the positive responses as I am going to have to sell my rising 14yr horse shortly and had sort of felt he wouldn't be of interest to many people, although in my view he's fighting fit after a seasons hunting and healthier than many of the younger pampered ponies I know. Thanks all
 
My first pony was 21 when i bought her, she jumped until she was about 27. My horse now is 17 and hes still doing pre-novice BE. My friend also bought an 18 year old dressage school master and although she only got 3 years competing out of him she learned more with him that she ever would have done on a younger horse.
 
I would love an older horse as am currently trying to buy; but because of insurance company policies am stuck with looking for something under 15. Only Pet Plan will insure older horses on a new policy, so they can charge what they like.
 
Bought an 18 year old BSJA mare for my daughter last year and would do so again so yes!
Edited to say also paid a fair amount of money for her too!


Same here ut have now had mine 3yrs best investment I ever made never been sick or sorry and hopefully will she will take my son round 10& unders next year!!!!
 
Bought a 16yr old eventer for my daughter last year. He has dressage points and some bsja money as well as one point eventing. He wasn't cheap but I didn't pay a huge amount either, and the bonus was I knew his history as he came from friends.

Someone else tried him but turned him down because of his age, but with GCSEs on the horizon I knew we didn't have time for a youngster so he was an obvious choice for us.

He is old enough to know his job but young enough to still do it, as they say (we didn't want to event, just sj and some dressage).
 
i bought my old boy at 16. he's 23 now. worth his weight in gold. had 5 fantastic yrs competing him and he taught me so much. now semi-retired due to ligament damage but will live out his days in luxury.
 
I am glad to hear about all the positive comments on here as I will shortly be advertising an 18 year BSJA jumping pony. We bought her as a 14 yo and she has only seen the vet once a year for vaccinations. She is healthier than many of my friends much younger horses. The only reason I am thinking about letting her go is that she is hopelessly outgrown and she would die standing in a field doing nothing as she loved to jump.
 
Many people value an older horse or pony's experience. We've just bought a 14yo Grade A to introdue my son to horses and have a fab 13.2hh JA who is rising 19yo and raring to teach another child - she's looking for a loan home. Oh, and younger child has a rising 22yo Section A who is simply saintly.
 
The best pony we've ever had was 20 when we bought him. A friend who knew the YO had heard lots about him and recommended him for my youngest. She had 4 fantastic years on him, hacking, hunting, PC Area SJ and ODE, RC Nationals (Lincoln, Festival and Offchurch), BSJA... he went on to another good child two years ago and is still going double clear at 2'6.
 
I bought a 19 year old dressage school master. He was a bit arthritic but with careful management I got about 4 years riding from him and he taught me more than i can ever thank him for. He is now a rising 28 year old paddock ornament that terrorises my 10 year old. Luff that old horse!!!!
 
QR, we bought ours in his 20's and he's been fantastic, enjoying a wide range of activities and lapping up his 'right' to be a grumpy old know it all lol.
 
I bought 2 who were 16, they both cost me the least in vets bills and I can honestly say I had the most untroubled, no hassle fun with them both. We had a go at everything! My pony went on until she was 33, I rode her up till she was 27 then another girl on the yard took her on and still did everything I had. My black mare (in my sig) did xc,sj and dr despite never having done it before I bought her. I retired her from competition at 23 - mainly because she still got so excited by it I thought she'd give herself a heart attack! She carried on hacking out until she was 26 when she tore a muscle in the field. Neither of them owed me a thing and Ilike to think they had a good life with me, stayed with me to the end and are buried at home. Oldies have plenty to offer!
 
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