does anyone else own horses and can't ride them

[Kezzabell2]

My horses will be with me regardless but wondered if anyone else seems to have horses they can't ride anymore?

I have my 29yr old mare. Retired 2 yrs ago. Not planned but one thing after another meant she didn't get ridden for 6 months and then I felt guilty about riding her

I have my mini who I obviously can't ride. He's uncatchable too.

My 4yr old. I've had for 2.5 yrs. He was backed in march. Was going well and then started misbehaving. Has just been diagnosed with bone spurs in his hock and front coffin joint. The vet has said they arent going to write his ridden career off yet. But from what ive read only. I doubt he'll be in permanent work totally gutted

I can't afford another as my mare is on 4 cushings tablets a day.and I'm guessing the boy will need more money spending to make him right. Including remedial shoes Plus having the time for 4 isn't going to happen

 

[ihatework]

It's a pain isn't it?!

I own 2 that had to be retired from competing early.

One retired at 12 due to feet issues. He is now 19/20 I think and has a job as youngstock nanny. Unfortunately he was a bit sharp to be a happy hack!

The other retired at 7!! Combined reason of horsewalker accident and a weird drug resistant cushings. He is however a much easier character and is enjoying life on loan as a happy hack.

I keep saying I need to own a magic field where I can put the croc ones and pluck out nice new ones from, lol!

 

[southerncomfort]

I've got two. Smallest is retired with Cushings/arthritis. The other is ridden exclusively by my daughter and at 13.2 is just wee bit too small for me to feel comfortable riding.

I ride someone else's welsh cob and love it but it isn't the same as owning and riding your own. xx

 

[kinnygirl1]

I am facing the possibility of having to retire my 7 year old as we cannot get to the bottom of his behavioural issues that make him too unpredictable for me to ride. I am devastated... i know its selfish, I love looking after my boy but I love to ride too and feel quite resentful at the moment.

 

[Kezzabell2]

I am facing the possibility of having to retire my 7 year old as we cannot get to the bottom of his behavioural issues that make him too unpredictable for me to ride. I am devastated... i know its selfish, I love looking after my boy but I love to ride too and feel quite resentful at the moment.

Sounds similar to my situation. Mines a rearer but got really bad 2 weeks ago. In my lesson. For no reason. Or so I thought. I decided to sell him. But then couldn't do it. So got the vet out to check him over. Thinking he might be mental. But turns out he was lame. And I never knew. By the time he got to the vet 5 days later they discovered lameness in the front and back. Still I had no clue

I don't resent him but it's gutting after putting some much time and money into him. To get my forever horse and now potential only being able to have him as a pet.

What are the behavioural issues you are having? Hope they can sort your boy

 

[Equi]

Its a pain. But i would say don't be guilty about rehoming your younger one as a companion, they have a home for life but you have to have a life too.

 

[kinnygirl1]

Sounds similar to my situation. Mines a rearer but got really bad 2 weeks ago. In my lesson. For no reason. Or so I thought. I decided to sell him. But then couldn't do it. So got the vet out to check him over. Thinking he might be mental. But turns out he was lame. And I never knew. By the time he got to the vet 5 days later they discovered lameness in the front and back. Still I had no clue

I don't resent him but it's gutting after putting some much time and money into him. To get my forever horse and now potential only being able to have him as a pet.

What are the behavioural issues you are having? Hope they can sort your boy

Started about 9 months ago with tension under saddle and rushing through tight spaces, being spooky and sudden explosions resulting in violent bronking when ridden. Took him to vet and he was diagnosed with gastric ulcers and slight lameness in RH which was pinpointed to sacroiliac..... months of treatment and rehab plans followed( i done lots of threads on here about it, lol) and eventually he was scoped clear of ulcers and came sound behind. For about 6 magical weeks he was back to normal and I cracked on with bringing him very slowly back to work, but then the issues came back.. Back to vet again thinking his probs had recurred but no ulcers and still sound??!! He had a full lameness work up, scope, saw a dentist, physio, saddle fitter and had an eye exam..... nothing found to be wrong but the behaviour is getting worse. He is just too spooky and explosive to ride. I am gutted and don't know what else to try... hence retirement.

 

[SadKen]

It's the other way round for me. I have a lovely mare who's fit and healthy (touch wood) but I can't ride because I've broken my arm. It's horrendous watching the cash trickle away while she gets fatter in the field. Hopefully this is only a temporary hiatus.

I have given this some thought for the future and I have decided that if she needs to retire I will give her a summer living out then PTS. I can't justify the costs long term if she's unrideable. This may change if I have her for many years like your old girl. Hugs from me, it must be very hard particularly where the youngster is concerned.

 

[Copperpot]

I have Chester who is 13 and hasn't been ridden for almost 2 years. And Bramble who I adopted from WHW who can't be ridden. I do have one to ride as well. But he has been waiting for his new M2M saddle so I haven't ridden for a while. It comes tomorrow though!!!

 

[Inthesticks]

I have a 26 yo dales mare, she has been retired since she was 11 with hock injury. I have a riding horse as well who is 9 so I can ride but my mare is lovely and very easy to do, no medication just the odd bute on hard ground.

 

[3OldPonies]

Yes, two retired oldies. One of them retired quite early because he wasn't safe on the roads and the other also earlier than planned owing to spavins. Until fairly recently had a mini shettie who was also retired from showing/driving owing to several leg problems over the years.

It doesn't matter to me one bit that I can't ride them (OK sometimes it's annoying watching everyone else go past the field), but I ride a friend's horse now and again when I pluck up courage to ask for a ride. I get just a much enjoyment from watching them having a relaxing time in the field, looking after their day to day care and just being around them both, even more so since the shettie passed over the rainbow bridge.

 

[Grumpy Herbert]

I am facing the possibility of having to retire my 7 year old as we cannot get to the bottom of his behavioural issues that make him too unpredictable for me to ride. I am devastated... i know its selfish, I love looking after my boy but I love to ride too and feel quite resentful at the moment.

I'm sure you've already thought of this, but would you be able to get loss of use on your insurance? It's not selfish to feel that way, just human.

I have two 22 year old horses. I stopped riding them 5 years ago after I had an operation and couldn't get anyone to ride them for me while I recovered. I then lost interest in riding, but not in my beloved neds, so I kept them. Now one of them can't be ridden due to health problems, but I've brought the other one back into gentle work. I take every day I can ride her as a bonus, but am quite happy to stop again when she tells me she doesn't want to do it anymore.

The trouble is I've been bitten by the riding bug again now.........

 

[kinnygirl1]

I'm sure you've already thought of this, but would you be able to get loss of use on your insurance? It's not selfish to feel that way, just human.

I have two 22 year old horses. I stopped riding them 5 years ago after I had an operation and couldn't get anyone to ride them for me while I recovered. I then lost interest in riding, but not in my beloved neds, so I kept them. Now one of them can't be ridden due to health problems, but I've brought the other one back into gentle work. I take every day I can ride her as a bonus, but am quite happy to stop again when she tells me she doesn't want to do it anymore.

The trouble is I've been bitten by the riding bug again now.........

Aw thank you - stupidly I did not insure for loss of use! Thankfully I was covered for vets fees though.

I know what you mean about the riding bug.... I am desperate to ride again and its only been a couple of weeks since I made the decision to retire mine! Hey ho!

 

[sarahann1]

I have two, one around 22 another nearer 27ish, both been retired for a couple of years ago. Most of the time I'm ok with not riding 'my own' but sometimes I do get a bit melancholy about it, normally around riding club membership renewal time and when everyone is talking about going to riding club camp!

I'm lucky a few nice folk at the yard let me ride their horses now and again to keep me ticking over, but my riding and confidence has definately suffered as a result.

 

[Grumpy Herbert]

Have a look in your local tack shop/paper etc and see if anyone needs their horse exercised - I did this when my mare was turned away as a youngster and it kept me going. Or maybe a share, costs permitting?

Good luck, it's a horrid situation for you to be in.

 

[wench]

Is there any reason why your 29 yo cannot be ridden? Is this the one on Cushings? I'm no expert on it, but is this the only reason why shes not ridden?

 

[Cortez]

Sorry, but I wouldn't have a horse if I couldn't ride it. Ours have to earn their keep and retirement is not an option.

 

[Kezzabell2]

Is there any reason why your 29 yo cannot be ridden? Is this the one on Cushings? I'm no expert on it, but is this the only reason why shes not ridden?

No she can't be ridden. As she has arthritis too. cushings alone she would be fine

 

[Grumpy Herbert]

Sorry, but I wouldn't have a horse if I couldn't ride it. Ours have to earn their keep and retirement is not an option.

What happens to yours when they're no longer able to work, either due to old age or injury? Are you able to rehome them, or do you have them PTS?

 

[Ceriann]

I had 3 and only rode one and i couldnt ride her for a period last summer. Keeping 3 at home is hard enough without being able to ride but i have to say i do enjoy the pottering. As i can keep at home and have more land than needed, im lucky that i can keep field ornaments. Im now down to two so if for any reason my ridng mare became unrideable i would have the option of getting a third (but i would then have two young horses to look after as companions!).

 

[windseywoo]

If money is an issue and you've got a young horse who has to be retired for years due to a long term ongoing condition is it not better to pts? I know we all love our horses but they are expensive animals to keep and it seems a bit of a shame if the riding aspect is very important. I believe an older horse who is retired due to age related reasons, deserves to be allowed to have a happy retirement as thanks for the years of pleasure they have given as a riding horse. We have our horses mostly as a hobby to get away from the stresses of life and with many, being able to ride is an important part of that. I'm lucky in that I own my own land and all the horses I've had would have a home for life, my older horse died at 21 just as I was starting to think about retiring him, but at the time he still very much enjoyed his hacking out. If the horse in question is too dangerous to ride then selling on is a little unfair on the person who buys it and to the horse.
I enjoy the all round day to day looking after my horses, which is a good job as I've had sciatica all summer and haven't been able ride much at all!!!

 

[Evie91]

My mare is retired (23) and I have a companion pony (too small to ride). Catch 22 really - I miss riding but can't afford another horse and I wouldn't want to be without my old mare.

 

[Kezzabell2]

If money is an issue and you've got a young horse who has to be retired for years due to a long term ongoing condition is it not better to pts? I know we all love our horses but they are expensive animals to keep and it seems a bit of a shame if the riding aspect is very important. I believe an older horse who is retired due to age related reasons, deserves to be allowed to have a happy retirement as thanks for the years of pleasure they have given as a riding horse. We have our horses mostly as a hobby to get away from the stresses of life and with many, being able to ride is an important part of that. I'm lucky in that I own my own land and all the horses I've had would have a home for life, my older horse died at 21 just as I was starting to think about retiring him, but at the time he still very much enjoyed his hacking out. If the horse in question is too dangerous to ride then selling on is a little unfair on the person who buys it and to the horse.
I enjoy the all round day to day looking after my horses, which is a good job as I've had sciatica all summer and haven't been able ride much at all!!!

Money's not an issue I can afford to keep them all. It's just gutting that after 2.5 yrs of waiting to ride my baby I've only managed 6 months.

It's not 100% confirmed that he won't be rideable but the likelihood is that his ridden career will be dramatically shorter than anticipated

Defo not considering pts at the moment. Even for my old girls sake. She'd be heart broken if he left. A few days away is bad enough for her.

 

[OWLIE185]

I felt that I was too heavy to ride my 28 year old mare in her old age so have a nice lightweight novice rider who rides her. I bought myself a nice laid back 4 year old heavyweight cob for me to ride. The 28 year old mare marches on ahead warding off evil spirits and showed 4 year old that there is nothing to worry about while 4 year old heavyweight cob merrily followed behind. Thanks to training by 28 year old mare the now 6 year old heavyweight cob can be merrily hacked out by himself but when in company with 28 year old mare follows nicely behind her so as to show her she is still in charge and giving her the respect her age deserves.

 

[Kezzabell2]

I felt that I was too heavy to ride my 28 year old mare in her old age so have a nice lightweight novice rider who rides her. I bought myself a nice laid back 4 year old heavyweight cob for me to ride. The 28 year old mare marches on ahead warding off evil spirits and showed 4 year old that there is nothing to worry about while 4 year old heavyweight cob merrily followed behind. Thanks to training by 28 year old mare the now 6 year old heavyweight cob can be merrily hacked out by himself but when in company with 28 year old mare follows nicely behind her so as to show her she is still in charge and giving her the respect her age deserves.

This was,my exact plan at the beginning of the summer. Started taking her out in hand with us but her front knees just aren't up to it. One is huge a puffy so we had to give up with that plan