Do you think 14 is old for a horse?

[3Beasties]

As title.

Someone made a comment to me about Charlie's age recently and it has made me REALLY paranoid.

(They said I shouldn't buy him a new saddle as you never know when he will need retiring

)

He is 14 tomorrow, 16.2hh TB. As far as I know he is fit and healthy.

 

[TinselRider]

Ignore them just look back at John W and Gammon who was still jumping around hickstead at the grand age of 22

 

[BobbyMondeo]

Nooo not old at all. I wouldnt worry about him retiring yet. My old pony was 35 when he retired ( i know ponys generaly go longer than horses but even so you have a good few year left with him yet) Dont listen to silly people

 

[Tiarella]

LMAO! What a joke! Oliver is 15 and you can deffinately tell how "old" he is

 

[eoe]

Not old in my book my Hanovarian is 19 and still out competing, my big Irish is 15 and still jumping as good as he did when he was 7.

 

[E_Lister]

I wouldn't listen, I ride a 23 year old and my friend owns a 19 year old. Mine can outgallop a far larger and younger horse, and hers jumped a metre course the other day. 14 seems an ideal age to me!

 

[JoBo]

No not at all, more likely have another 10 years out of him yet!

 

[dexterpat]

nope - but it depends what sort of life they've had - also if you want a new saddle horses tend to change shape as they age so use that as an excuse - we have a 28 yo who hacks still hacks out so charlie hhas a bit of time to enjoy a new saddle!!!

 

[f_s_]

What!!!!!

Think about it logically, if a horse can live to 25 -28, 14 is only half way through it's life!!!!

If a horse is fit and well, and enjoying it's job, then 14years old is not old for a horse!!

 

[SianLizzie]

OMG
if u wnat 2 buy hm a new sadde u go ahead and do it
14 aint old what so ever
my boys have just turned 15 and 16 and i woul consider the old infact i would ave said their just in their prime
so dont worry bout what sum1 else thinks cuz that waz pretty evil of them 2 say that i must say
shame on them

 

[E_Lister]

(They are 14.1 (23 yr old) and 14hh)

 

[hannahkirkhill]

Silly, dont listen..my old man, a 16.2 TB who raced from the age of 2 untill I got him when he was 12 is still going strong and he's 22 now!

 

[SianLizzie]

also had a 27 yr old in the family and he waz still doin 1 day events so i wouldnt worry

 

[1275gta]

We still use our boy who is 28, I lost my pony last year at 34, I would say your horse is in his prime.

 

[3Beasties]

Thanks all!

She didn't say it in a nasty kind of way, I think it was more from her experience then anything.

I must admit for a while it has changed how I think about my him and in a way I have been different towards him, I haven't been working him as hard and have been making excuses for him.

There will be no more of that though, I will give myself a kick up the @rse and get my act into gear! He has just had over 4 weeks of so I can't wait to get back on him tomorrow and start working him again!

Thanks again!

 

[MrsElle]

Mine is 27, 16.2 and still going strong - hopefully we will have a few years yet before she retires, 14 is still a baby!

 

[Three]

My oldie is 34 next month and whilst no longer competing is still a happy hack.

If he needed a new saddle I'd buy him one!

 

[Janah]

My boy is 18 yrs old and would be very miffed if described as old which is why I don't feed 16+. He would be gutted.

Jane

 

[LadyRascasse]

i got my boy when he was 13 and he was still going stong til he was 16 and hopefully he will be coming back into work soon. he is a full tb who raced hard for 6 years of his life. i wouldn't worry about retiring because it could be tommorrow or it could be 15 yrs time it all depends on the horse, some horses work right up til they die and some have a long retirement. i wouldn't worry about retirement unti he tells you he's ready

 

[Ranyhyn]

God I hope not, my horse is 13 this year, so we'd have a precious short time together if it is!!

When you read of horses going round badders at 19...I think it puts a little perspective on things

 

[kellyeaton]

the age 14 is not old but you can have a horse with lots of problems who they may feel 14!

 

[EstherYoung]

I lost my mare aged 10 following a tragic accident. I've got friends who have had to retire horses at 4 or 5yo. So in some respects she's right - you never do know when the end will come. However, you have two options. You can either live each day to the full, or you can give up.

Recommending not to provide said horse (who is to all extents and purposes in the prime of life by the way) new equipment when it needs it on the grounds that it could drop down dead and you wouldn't get much value for money out of it, is a bit of a strange one. Incidentally if the saddle doesn't fit, he's more likely to seem stiff when you ride him, regardless of what age he is.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
As title.

Someone made a comment to me about Charlie's age recently and it has made me REALLY paranoid.

(They said I shouldn't buy him a new saddle as you never know when he will need retiring

)

He is 14 tomorrow, 16.2hh TB. As far as I know he is fit and healthy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh FFS, what is the matter with people. Ignore them - they are talking out of their arse!

 

[dopeesophee]

wilma is 18
and YM thought she was 6
YO thought she was about 8

lots of people are shocked at her age

some horses need retiring at 14
depends on the horse

if he isnt sound/has trouble doing his work then i would consider retiring

but if he is fit, healthy well looked after then he could go on forever

x

 

[chestnut cob]

I hope 14 isn't old, otherwise mine (who is 14 this year / 14 now) is ready for retirement now!! And my aged 14yo has just had his hocks injected (spavin) so that he can hopefully affiliate to BD if I ever get my act in gear

Ignore them

 

[LankyDoodle]

George is 18 and this year he started to get a bit of grey around his eyes, but you have to be close to notice it. Apart from that, he still looks quite a young horse. Everyone assumes he is around 10yo; my last YO (known for questioning my abilities) made me show her his passport to prove it! (What that would prove, I am not sure!).

He still out-paces my 7yo warmblood on a hack. He is still full of life. He still has all his teeth. He still holds weight. He is still strong and fit. He is still as argybargy as ever. Still as cheeky as ever. He is a cob by the way.

 

[PapaFrita]

Oh what rubbish. In any case, it's less a case of the years as it is the mileage.

 

[PeterNatt]

We went out today for a two hour hack on my 27 and 24 year olds. They are both in regular daily work. 14 years old is nothing these days!

 

[gails]

He is in his prime, may be they thought you said 40

 

[Arabelle]

My 15 year old has just won a 160k ER - yup 100 miles in one day. She is at her competitive peak.

Our old gelding was still enjoying hacking out well into his 30s. 14 is no age for a fit, sound, horse.
A