Feeling a bit tearful - no more jumping

[palomino_pony]

My 22 year old 14.2 is starting to show her age. Sooo sad today. Her flat work is still brill and not stiff at all (we love cortaflex). We had a jumping lesson last night and she just wasn't her self. We haven't jumped for a while but they were only 2 foot jumps and she just wasn't right. She was never what you'd call a "JA" pony but would try her best to 2'9". She found it hard to take off unless she was right under the fence last night and wasn't enjoying things at all.

We jumped a couple of jumps but then called it a day.

She wasn't trying it on (I've owned her since she was 7 and believe me I know when she is!!) Back, saddle, teeth all checked regularly so I've decided thats it for her jumping

Took her for a ride to the pub tonight to cheer us both up

On the plus side I've decided that I still have the urge to jump competitively so eyes are open for a new neddy. Coloured pref 15-16hh able to do an intro, RC allrounder and a bit of hunting through the winter (yes I know - golddust comes to mind

)

 

[Persephone]

Oh I'm sorry. It's always a sad day when they need to stop doing something, but you have been absolutely receptive to her signals and you are a fab mum for not making her carry on. If she's anything like my old pony you still have a good few years of hacking ahead of you anyway! Have you thought about popping her into some shows as her flatwork is still good? My old girly loved her outings! Good luck finding another horse!

Jo x

 

[hadfos]

good on you for realising your pony has had enough

,not enough people do and it just shows how in tune with her you are,hope you have many yrs of happy hacking together

good luck in the hunt for your newbie

 

[Pidge]

Oh honey you should be proud to have got her to this age fit and well

she is 22 you know

It is nice though that you pay so much attention to how she is rather than push her if she's not happy, and anyway her dressage is still pretty good isn't it?

 

[palomino_pony]

Oh thanks guy - just filling up again!

She still does Prelim and novice dressage and we more often than no come home with red or blue rossettes

. We were also in RC area team in the winter and she always races up the ramp when she's plaited up so she still wants to go- bless her. Ditto with showing. We do a few affiliated Palomino classes (always come home with prizes)and some veteran through the year which she loves- posing in a pelham.

We also go and "help" my friend x-c schooling - we canter round and while she does the jumps and She loves that.

She's still active and happy but I'm just feeling a bit sad- think it just dawned on me that thats the end of jumping her.She's the best pony ever and she deserves to do what she likes in her golden years

 

[gothdolly]

Oh poor you. I do know how you feel, and its horrible to realise how old they are getting. I cried my eyes out the day that Domino walked calmly across a stubble field. He is perfectly happy but before he aged he would have taken off immediatly his feet hit the field. We just walk now. It was such a shock to me as Im sure this is to you.

 

[badgerdog]

Oh I'm sorry to hear that. I too know how it feels, I remember realising that my old boy, also 22 was getting too stiff for jumping after I had competed in a local competition. I just got off him and couldn't stop crying because I knew that part of our lives together was over, it was a kind of bereavement. Two years later, he's still around, we enjoy going out for hacks and we even jump the occasional log which perks him up. Luckily, I've recently got a new horse and I'm jumping again.
It sounds like you can still compete as long as you're not jumping so make the most of that and good luck in the search for a new neddy.

 

[palomino_pony]

thanks everyone

 

[ickelshadow]

aww, its always a bit sad when you feel them struggle once they get a little older

but personally i wouldnt write it off completely, maybe every couple of months try a small log when you're out hacking? my old girl had over 2 years off due to being an absolute cripple, then by some miracle came sound at 24 (ish) and we started riding again. when i first jumped her she was a loon!!!!!!!! she was doing pony club spins and p*ssing off over the fence - couldnt hold her! 14.1hh slight build, and me 10st and 5'5! i've stopped far bigger, younger, stroppier horses from doing that, but she had me in giggles

maybe your girl just needs a little break from it?

ooh, and good luck finding a new neddie for jumping

 

[MurphysMinder]

Sad to hear about your palomino. I would agree about doing a few shows with her in different classes, I think they love to keep active. We have retired my daughters pony from jumping as she just wasn't fluent anymore. She went to her first show as a lead rein pony with a friends 5 year old, and won the LR Championship! (only local RC level). Daughter (who is aged 19 and too tall for her but not too heavy), then took her in the veteran class. Used a snaffle instead of her usual dutch gag, and got carted in veteran - gave us quite a laugh, think she was just enjoying being out again.

 

[wizzi901]

I know exactly how you feel. Titch my oldie was retired last year, it was a sad day. We had just competed in the OT finals at Arena uk and he dropped about 2 poles which is very unusual, he never usually touches thing. He is 28 now and at 27 I felt it was time that he hung up his tendon boots...

I know he would jump now still, he spent the winter hunting and jumping, but as far as a ring goes, I think he was letting me know his back end was stiff.

Everytime I jump my new one I miss my old friends ways, he was so clever and turned on a sixpence with no hesitation or thought we really were a team...the temptation to bring him out to jump this year is terrible but I know he has had enough!!!

Is sad but he now enjoys hacking and the odd showing class...in fact he is out this weekend and I cant wait to sit on him again!!