Does anyone else feel sad about their horse getting older

[Lexi 123]

So my horse is in her early mid teens as the years go by realised that we don’t have much ridden years together . i think I feel like this because she was diagnosed with hock arthritis this year and Seeing a load of foals on tictok and young horses seeing that most of these horses have another 25-30 years of life ahead of them . Makes me realise time go by so fast and that my horse will be 20 in 6 years time she will be considered a senior. I now this thread sounds stupid but I was wondering do you feel the same.

 

[Auslander]

I do, but my horse is 26!
Don't waste her younger years by stressing about her. I did, and I bitterly regret it

 

[gryff]

Mine's 23 now. He was diagnosed at 8 with hock arthritis and still bounces around. He's just starting to have some grey hairs around his eyes. I've taken each day as it comes; some days, he's wanted to bomb around the countryside like a loon. Other days, he's wanted a quiet little plod up the road. He's not jumped since his diagnosis and I've never really done any schooling with him, but yes, it is sad to think of him not always being here. I've had him for 20 years now, longer than my partner .

 

[Merrymoles]

It is always sad they live so little time compared to luckier humans but it is a prompt to remember to enjoy every minute with them. We are lucky now in that many horses manage meaningful working lives until their mid 20s these days. I can remember when horses were considered positively ancient at 20.

 

[Peglo]

Peggy Sue is 32! The last 4 years when her face has changed into a very old horse was sad. But I also remind myself how lucky I’ve been to have had her so long.

 

[MereChristmas]

This is what happens.
I have lost horses to ailments associated with old age but then I’ve owned horses for over 50 years.
Enjoy them all the time and be happy they are well enough to reach a decent age.

I lost a home bred gelding at 6 years. I regret him the most as he never lived to reach his potential.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Yes! I like them at 6-8 and wish they stayed that age forever.

 

[windswoo]

Hoping that mine will stop throwing himself around the field now that he's 19 this year, he hasn't stopped doing it yet. Reckon he still thinks he's 6

 

[MuddyMonster]

Mine's later teens now and yes, I do sometimes catch myself feeling wistful about him getting older but I'm also so lucky to have had him since a youngster and have so many amazing memories of him so try to see anymore time is a bonus.

To be fair, he's still a bit of a friendly hooligan, bounces around out hacking and is still regularly seen bossing far younger & bigger horses around so think he's got a while longer

 

[Barton Bounty]

My boy is 15 coming 16 in May, I just absolutely love the bones of him, his sire was Bahamian Bounty and he lived till he was 26 and just passed last year! His dam is Tenebrae and she is still living at 21 so I am hopefully going to have another wonderful 10 years. Ill never find another like him in a million years but it wouldn’t stop me getting another

This is him this morning when I arrived at the stables, he gives me the best welcome albeit too close to the window

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[oldie48]

Aged 74 and riding a 23 year old I'm just hoping the horse stays sound and we can both retire together but if I'm honest I'll be much sadder at the prospect of my retirement than his. I've had to pts several horses over the years, some have reached aged then succumbed to colic, others to serious injury only one has reached proper old age (28). My advice is just to enjoy your horse and keep your fingers crossed (and your toes).

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

I do every day... My eldest horse is 16 rising 17 in may, he may act like he's 3 years old, but the change is starting to get to me, I randomly started balling my eyes out one day, at the thought of losing him . I think it's best not to think too much about that, and enjoy the time you have left

 

[SO1]

Don't let worry about the future stop you enjoying the now.

Everyone who knew Homey thought he would live till his 30s but I Iost him at 20 to a gastric impaction. The vet said he was moving like Valegro after having arthramid treatment. Veterinary medicine is advancing all the time.

Over the 15 years we had together as he aged our bond deepened and I realised it was not all about the riding but just him being happy and healthy that was important. I never got to see him get old and slow down.

I did quite a bit of veteran showing with him and it was great fun both under saddle and in hand.

Don't be sad enjoy the now so you can look back in time and know you enjoyed yourself and that he did too.

In time I will get another and who knows how many ridden years we will have together. Maybe they will live till 30 (average I believe is 24) or maybe they won't even get till 20. However many years it is never enough.

 

[Ali27]

My girl is 21 this year and still as whizzy as ever! I’ve had her since she was 6 and she is totally a pony of a lifetime although very quirky! Every time I ride her, I appreciate every minute! Took her to an arena Eventing clinic yesterday and she was fab! Hopefully she will still be jumping next Winter. On advice of physio, I’ve stopped x country and super careful on hard ground! A picture of her yesterday My super star 14.2 cob x

 

[Hackback]

My older horse is 17 and was diagnosed with Cushings at 9 so although the Prascend is doing a fine job at the moment, I don't know how limited his life will be. Mainly I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. He was just 4 when I got him and it seemed like we had all the time in the world ahead of us. Now we're both 13 years older. I'm sad for both of us!

 

[twofatladies88]

I’m sad too. The years have just flown by and now all my ponies are veterans - my babies are 15, 16 and 17 and the mums are 21 and 23. I dread losing them especially my first born - I imagine it will be worse as I was there when they were born - what a privilege. But yes we are all going a bit grey!

 

[millitiger]

My homebred is now 9 and I feel sad about him getting older and worry when he starts to slow down.... and I know he is not even old yet!

They are so precious and naive to the aging process; I'm pleased he has never known anywhere else and will always have Stable No.1 here.

 

[tda]

Was just grooming my 15yr old and thinking how old she looks!
She has had a couple of foals and it's really aged her, but this year we'll get her fittened up and hope to start hacking again.
She has plenty years left I hope

 

[Birker2020]

I'm sad as mine is rising 12 and a write off. And sad he's leaving me to go onto retirement livery but know in my heart of hearts that's its the best thing for him. He will love being out in a mixed herd, he's a sociable type and will live his best life.

Sad nobody gave a s**t enough before I had him to try and put right what was wrong with him, before it was too late. And realistically knowing he won't make old bones seems so unfair and unnecessary.

OP you will look back on your post in 6 months and wonder what you were so worried about. Loads of treatments for spavin. I was the same as you when my last horse Bailey was diagnosed at 10 with spavin. She finally stopped jumping and dressage aged 19! And that was nothing to do with the arthritis either x

 

[HuskyFluff]

My horse is 30, and was still doing x country and tearing around the countryside at 25. The last year has been fairly sad as he's really started feeling his age - he looks fantastic, and is still an opinionated old git with a lot of spark but he's really slowed down. Realistically, we don't have much time left, but I don't think about that and just enjoy my time with him. There's no point in worrying about things you can't change!

 

[Sealine]

Yes I do. My horse is 21 and has arthritic hocks. He has Danilon daily and we still hack 4 times a week. Today he was full of himself but on hard ground in the summer he struggles. I’m actually quite jealous of friends who are having lessons, going to clinics and competing on their young horses. I miss going out and about and having fun. I love him to bits and constantly question whether he should be retired but I think it’s better to keep him in work at the moment.

 

[fidleyspromise]

Yea, mine is 21. She's still active, ridden and full of beans but stiff/not fully mobile in hindlegs so been advised by physio she's not to school or jump much. Can do odd 60cm class but nothing higher.
We hack mainly with a couple comps each year.
I'd love to wind back the clock but equally I treasure the rides we do go out on.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I lost my old boy at 27yrs and he was full of beans and rode him two weeks before he injured himself in the field. I loved nurturing him along and keeping him looking amazing. I had him 17yrs and miss him dearly.

My other horse I bought at 9yrs and he’ll be 14 this year. It’s scary how time flies but to me he’s in his prime for what I want him to do which is a good reasonably sensible all rounder. I hope that I get to cherish him long into old age the same as I did my old boy.

 

[claracanter]

My horse is 17 this year. He is in fine fettle but feels the ground more than he used to. Everyone think he’s much younger, even the vet, which is great. I’ve tentatively looked around for another horse, a youngster to have in the field for a few years before bringing it on to replace him as he heads to retirement. The thing is I can’t get enthusiastic about it. I don’t want to ride another horse

 

[Spotherisk]

Yes, very sad, he is 31 this year and fat and happy retired and living out this winter, no hay, just a token feed daily. I love the bones of him and wish I could turn back time, maybe just ten years, so we could still have bouncy canters and go on pleasure rides, but he is happy.

 

[still standing]

Yes, I do feel sad, often. He's almost 27 and I nearly lost him aged 20 to a catastrophic field accident. So I am grateful and very happy to be able to spend so much more time with him, and appreciate every day, but I think his accident brought home the feeling of what it would mean to lose him and I haven't been able to forget that feeling.

 

[SBJT]

Every.single.moment. If I could have no other horse in my life then I would.

 

[huskydamage]

It bothers me a bit, my horse is 30 and although I still ride her and shes generally the same nutcase she always has been, I know shes pretty old now. I don't personally know anyone with a horse her age or that is still ridden. I've had her over 20years I would miss her terribly if she wasnt here she's mt horse of a lifetime I have her name tattoed on my arm. I have one other horse and keep them on my own rented small place. So when I loose my old girl, I'd have to give up my yard too as my other girl would be alone. Id hate to go back to a livery yard. My partner always jokes 'she will live for years' because she is so hyper and full of life. But I know she wont and it does worry me.

 

[humblepie]

Yes very. I’m of course biased but he is pretty perfect and I wish I’d had the confidence and knowledge I have now when I got him.

 

[Barton Bounty]

My horse is 17 this year. He is in fine fettle but feels the ground more than he used to. Everyone think he’s much younger, even the vet, which is great. I’ve tentatively looked around for another horse, a youngster to have in the field for a few years before bringing it on to replace him as he heads to retirement. The thing is I can’t get enthusiastic about it. I don’t want to ride another horse

This is me too! I would love a youngster for when the times comes to retire BB but I feel I would doing a disservice to BB so that idea is now on the back burner, wont even think about it till 22/23, but I still look