Do you think it's OK to still be riding 28yo most days ??

Porkie

Porkie

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My full loan horse is 28 and we do something most days, do you think it's still OK at his age??

He flately refuses to be retired (he got expelled from his retirement home!!
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) and generally he's in good health, although breathes a bit heavy in the heat so those days we just pamper or go for a walk in hand or to the horse playground ....... otherwise we hack. Nothing heavy, up to one hour mainly in walk. He's stiff to start but then strides out lovely once he's loosened up and if I do nothing for too many days in a row he get really grouchy, he loves to work!

In winter we school for just 20 minutes as its harder work, or play with poles or long rein or I ride bareback - he just likes something to 'happen' when I'm there!!

I just sometimes wind myself in knots wondering if I'm doing the right thing by him - but then also know that if he didn't do it he'd really stiffen up and be bored out of his brain !!
 
He sounds like he is in his element. I think he will let you know when he has had enough and sounds like you know him well enough to know the signs
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I think its fab that these oldies still enjoy such an active life. There is a mare in her 30's on my yard that still goes out hacking and has a litte canter or two.
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if he didn't do it he'd really stiffen up and be bored out of his brain !

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You sort of answered yourself me thinks
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Just cause he's old there's no reason why he can't carry on as he is- he's told you he enjoys being out and about and chances are he would stiffen up if he stopped working. It's not like you're working him hard, just giving him something to think about. I wish my horse would still be going/doing that well at that age!
 
Sounds okay to me. The work/play your doing with him is only light, even though it's "often" (daily). As long as he's sound, healthy and showing no signs of distress, then that kind of gentle exercise will be good for him - good for the joints, circulation, heart etc. etc.

Some older horses never take to retirement very well and it sounds like yours is one of them (others, like my 2 old girls, are happy being pasture ornaments and doing absolutely nothing else but eating all day).

It sounds to me that you're very aware of/sympathetic to his age - and that can only be a good thing, as it means you're less likely to push things too far with him. (And I'm sure he'll find a way of telling you if you do!)

May you continue to enjoy him for a long, long time.
 
If they are fit, healthy then yes. My old TB was ridden most days until she died at 29. Still hunted, jumped etc and only went at 29 due to being kicked in the field. My old dartie was in light work until 36.

I have personally rode my oldies to just about the end, even if only very short walks - seemed to give them something to enjoy and stopped them turning off. Also helps keep them active and less stiff etc.

They will tell you when you are asking too much, ie, bit unsound, less energy etc and then just slow down and do less until you get the balance right. Always give plenty of time to warm up and cool down and if you can avoid working on hard ground, as old joints need a bit more tlc.
 
My horse is 23 aqnd still belts around the arena although we only walk when hacking. One of my Mum's friends has a 32 year old shire that still loves his hour long hack every day (again, no faster than walk). Some just don't take kindly to being reitred - its like some people who can't bear to let go of their jobs! As long as trhey are happy and healthy, that's the main thing.
 
Yes - if the horse is fine in himself then why not? My pony is 30 years old and loves to be worked, she only gets ridden 2-3 times a week as Im too big for her now but I have a few children take her out and only last week she bucked one off after getting way too excited popping a x-pole!

I think as long as you warm them up and cool them down well, might be worth a breathing supplement if you feel he needs it, my old old pony had ventupulmin (this is prob spelt wrong) in his last years when he got abit wheezy but carried on working.

Sometimes I think if you retire them too soon, they just deterioate as they have nothing to live for, as long as hes happy physically and mentally - why not! (We had a man at a yard who rode a nutty ex racer til he was 72, galloping about everywhere, I think his family stopped him in the end, so im sure horses are the same if healthy!)
 
The oldie here (is now close to 37) has only been on full retirement for 2 years - prior to that for about 2 years he was ridden once a week by a little girl doing walk and trot - before that he was ridden 5 or 6 days a week and still popped in a sneaky canter, loved a hoon round the stubble and behaved very badly if taken anywhere near a jump!!
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I think it keeps them ticking over and stops them getting to stiff and it is their purpose in life so why not as long as they are happy and healthy (for their age) and aren't asked to do too much.
 
My old tb is around that age and his sharer still rides him about four times a week............he's still an arse too!

It keeps his legs supple (ish) and I really think he would kill himself if he was retired. He will tell you when he's had enough, until then enjoy him!
 
Thanks everyone - I'm so glad you all think I'm doing th right thing - most days I think I am but then I knot myself up wondering and thinking ...........

zoewoodhurst I have him on a breathing supplement
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he had to have the ventipulmin when the rape fields were in bloom but now he's on this new stuff called secreta pro from the vet which is brill and works a treat.

montyandzoom - he can still be an arse too, I know how you feel .... only the other day we could see another horse trotting along the horizon so we jogged sideways all the way home!!

Sometimes when the ground is soft we'll have a little canter, he still has the need for speed ..... but only when I say so cos otherwise he'd whizz everywhere!!! He can pace too which is the weirdest thing to ride......but when he's feeling extra good we can out trot even the fastest horse on our yard, the look on peoples faces afterwards when I tell them he's 28 is the best!!

All in all he makes me laugh and smile everyday so just want to make his golden years worth living and to know he is happy and enjoying life - hence why I worry myself silly!!
 
S5top worrying and enjoy him - and I would love to know why he got kicked out of the retirement home!!
 
My 27 year old is hacked out at a quiet walk nearly every day for 1 - 4 hours at a time. As soon as she is being tacked up her little ears go forward and she is ready to go. (She also enjoys sampling the grass on our travels).
 
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S5top worrying and enjoy him - and I would love to know why he got kicked out of the retirement home!!

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He got expelled for harrassing the other horses (all of which were younger than him!)
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plus he refused to be caught and it took 3 people to turn him out - he was a pain in the butt!! He hated it and just didn't want to be there!!

he's always been on busy yards, so even if he wasn't doing anything there was lots going on around him and he obviously did not appreciate his quiet surroundings!!

His brain is so active still and people are always yelling at me ..... 'look out, he want's something' !! he begs until he nearly falls over if he doesn't get what he wants! and muggin's here is on a piece of string....... teehee!

I went on holiday the other week and apparently he got well annoyed if things didn't happen in the right order. I think I spoil him!!
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I rode the old Appy until she was 30, and only retired her then because she seemed to get quite tired. The only reason for that was that she refused to slow down! The last ride I had on her we came across the common in half pass, because I wanted her to walk on the path and she wanted to walk on the grass, so we compromised by doing what we both wanted
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My 27 year old is hacked out at a quiet walk nearly every day for 1 - 4 hours at a time. As soon as she is being tacked up her little ears go forward and she is ready to go. (She also enjoys sampling the grass on our travels).

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Oh yeah, he certainly enjoys a picnic en route too
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Although not so much the other week when he took in a visitor whilst snacking which kindly stung him in the mouth and his face swelled up like a beach ball ....... !!!
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The last ride I had on her we came across the common in half pass, because I wanted her to walk on the path and she wanted to walk on the grass, so we compromised by doing what we both wanted
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Excellent!!
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That is so like him! Bit of soft ground and the tantrums start
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As myhorse gets older,his behaivour gets worse- we gallop on stubbles, jump the hunt jumps (with permission) and hoon about like idiots! He'sa happy,healthy old boy who still ghts thrown out of veteran classes for misbehaivour! If we didn't keep him going he loses weight and becomes a hatrack- so we will work him until he is no longer happy and then say goodbye.
 
Definitely - if the horse is happy with it, why not?

We were still taking a friend's mare to shows at 27, although only doing flatwork classes. She was finally fully retired a little after 30 due to arthritis, and lived to be 33 before being put down because of colic.
 
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