Dressage horses - how old?

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Jo C

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Up to what age of horse do people think you can compete affliated BD? Obviously this depends on the horse but just interested really. Patrick is 14 so should I expect to be competing on him in say 5 years time or would that be unrealistic? Please discuss!
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(Can you tell I have a slow day at work today?
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It shouldn't be a problem. If your horse is fit and well and up to the job then age should not matter.

There were a couple of 19 yo going round Badminton at the weekend.

I say go for it.
 
True I'd forgotten about the Badminton ones. I have ridden one who must have been 28 and could still do canter halfpass and extensions beautifully. At what age would people usually consider retiring from competing? Particularly dressage in this case.
 
You know i'm paranoid about Finni getting older!

My instructor has just affiliated her horse (who is supposed to be semi retired!) with BD at the age of 19 and he is doing ok....just need lots of loosening up before test i think.
 
I know a 24yo (well somewhere around there) that still does the occasional affilliated Medium/advanced medium. Nothing high level has a touch of arthritis but still enjoys the work. As long as fit and healthy there no reason why can't continue into 20s doing BD.
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I think it totally depends on the horse. They tend to let you know when the time is right for retiring. In some cases the mind is still willing but the body just can't cope so it's pretty obvious.
I'd listen to what the individual is telling you but I rode a dressage school master who was still piaffing and passaging into his 30's and he'd had a long life of competing behind him!
Don't get me wrong he was stiff some days and nothing more than a gentle hack was all he did but other days he'd come storming out of his box almost dragging you into the school.
I think you have many happy years ahead of you. x
 
Yes I think the loosening up is the key here, hopefully we will all have many more years ahead of us!
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I guess I still think in terms of showing where they are considered old after about 10.
 
I think these days horses are living longer and competing well into their teens and even early twenties. I sadly lost my old boy last year, he was 22 yrs old, still competing successfully and he loved it. If it wasnt because of his freaky accident i know he would still want to be out there strutting his stuff at competitions!! So i think your horse at 14 is by no means old and if he is showing you he still wants to compete Go For It!!
Good Luck!!!
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I think a lot of it boils down to conformation and how hard they were pushed as youngsters. I wouldn't have carried on eventing/dressaging deco as her extensions were getting less good due to a touch of arthritis in her back, and I could feel it over really wide spreads too. That was in her mid-teens, but she'd done a lot in life. You'll just have to listen to him!
 
Ive made the decision to retire Bloss (rising 15) from BD and it was pretty heartbreaking to be honest. But i know that altho she will keep giving me 110% her hocks are arthritic and i just dont want to carry on pushing her up through the levels. Thats why shes now going to be a broodmare (hopefully!)

However i do think that if your horse is fit and healthy and has no joint problems then there is no reason why it cant carry on competing for many years.

I just made the decision purely because i didnt want to push her too much as i love her to bits and couldnt bare to see her broken down - at least this way shes bowed out very gracefully
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i did the BD Winter Champs on my horse last year at Novice - he was 20. He's now retired due to injury - that was his last dressage test. He was competing BD Elem earlier that year and working Medium at home happily. He damaged his ligament out in the field a few weeks after the Winter Champs and has never come sound or I would have kept going with him coz he loved going out to parties and was still getting fab results - he scored 70% at the Winter Champs from a list one judge.
 
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Sorry Finn wasn't trying to upset you.

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You didn't upset me...it's fine really. It has only been this year that i've started to worry about him being older, not that he is showing much sign of it! Still a complete hooligan.
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And what a fantastic way to retire Bloss from competing!!
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Winning at the Champs must have meant soooooo much to you.
 
That is true Tigers eye, I've had him since he was 4 and he has had a fairly easy life although to look at his legs you wouldn't think so.
 
I remember you going to the champs, as you are one of the inspirations to me as a fellow native rider. Such a shame he went lame, he is gorgeous!
 
Louis is 15 and I hope to be competing him still in 5 years time...he still has bags of energy and is learning new things every day. To be honest I will keep on with him until he tells me he's had enough. I make sure he has regular back checks and physio treatment if he's stiff but Louis' best year have been his teens. He's mellowed a lot more and is much more sensible and willing to learn. We spent most of the years between 7-10 having arguements and hooning around!
 
My lad is 18 in August and still competing (well he will be when I get off my backside!) at Medium - have just started inculding some higher level work at home (baby piaffe steps and wobbly passage) and he is absolutely fine - no stiffness in mornings or anything - in fact he gets grumpy if he doesn't get worked
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I've had him since a 4yo and previously SJ'd him to 1m25 but he has never been worked/competed on bad ground.

He pulled a ligament in his hock in 2003 and was xrayed then as a precaution and his xrays were as clear as the text book

I'm sure yours will let you know when he/she's ready to slow down and even then you could drop a level and compete on a ticket (or use him as a schoolmaster to teach your OH movements - that's what my lad does in his spare time!
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I would just keep going until you feel its time to stop.
My thoughts are, everywhere has good surfaces now so oldies dont get the same concussion through joints as they did when tests were on grass.
Dressage horses are lasting so much longer these days, there are many horses competing internationally in their early 20's.
 
Nikki, it was you and Dan who also inspired me to go for it with Thelly, so sorry to hear about Dans ligament injury, he is and always has been fabulous!
 
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