Golden Oldies?

[Fletchersmum]

Hi,
Im Sarah and a newbie! Just wondered how many of you out there are still riding veteran horses and at what age?

I own an ex police horse he is 23 years old this year, and has the usual arthiritic changes for a chap of his age. I have recently started to feed him Cortaflex and it seems to have given him a new lease of life! I did wonder about retirement, but he seems to enjoy our twice or three times weekly plod around the block

It would be really interesting to hear of others who still ride their oldies and how you manage them.

 

[Its_A_Rollover]

Hi and welcome!

Like me you will soon be addicted in no time! I dont own a veteran, but when I was at college I led a musical ride on a 27 year old Arab X who was still nuts and going strong at that age! She was on a cocktail of suppliments though

- hope mine will still be going strong at that age

enjoy!

 

[abracadabra]

22 yrs old and jealous if he doesnt get ridden, he hates seeing me with another horse
doesnt really need any special management as yet

 

[Cliqmo]

Hi Sarah, welcome to the forum!
I don't have an oldie but I did used to ride my neighbours ex police horse and she was a star! How long have you had your boy?

 

[MrsElle]

Welcome to the forum!

I have a 27 year old Idx mare who is fit and healthy and has no arthritis or problems whatsoever (touch wood!).

She loves hacking and will pop jumps too. She has found a new lease of life since I got my other horse a couple of months ago and the two of them gallop around like lunatics. She is a complete schoolmistress but has a spring in her step and is forward going but 100% safe.

I love her to bits

 

[Fletchersmum]

Thanks for the welcome!
Have had him for 5 years, he is a true diamond, totally Bombproof as you would expect from an ex police. Huge at 17.3hh, but the cutest most gentle boy ever and I love him to bits.

 

[Hippona]

Hi there...my lad is around 20-ish....he loves a good blast, gets ridden several times a week and goes out showing occasionally- not too often as he is demented on the show ground prancing around and shouting.

 

[Fletchersmum]

Oh great! its nice to hear that there are some of you out there like me

Sometimes you can get alienated from other horsey folks just because you dare to have a horse over 16! thats my experience anyway.

Keep the pics coming I love to see them xx

 

[abracadabra]

he might be 22 and a grumpy old sod but he's in good nick

last time i had everyone chiro'd person said he was in better shape that some 12 and 14yr olds she'd seen that morning

ive no worries about what other people think about me having an oldie but i must admit i always like to have youngsters about too

 

[Puppy]

I've got an oldie

She was 23 last month and I've had her for 12 years

She also is a touch arthritic, but still enjoys her work

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Hi *waves*

The oldie on our yard is 35+

and was ridden on a regular (nearly daily) until about 3 years ago - his work load had been gradually reduced to little trundles around the lanes but would still put in a sneaky canter given half a chance!!

Up until he was about 30 he was schooled regularly - put in his last official ridden appearance at he annual yard show last summer (little girl on board not an adult) and he loved it - won a gymkhana game!!

To be honest the excercise seemed to help keep him mobile and interested - he is still with us and I took him out for an in hand walk yesterday round the farm so he could trough on some long grass!!

 

[jens]

My mare is full TB and was 29 this year. She is a super star and still loves to get out and about. I dont compete her anymore but she still loves a gallop. I have to ride across a XC course to get from my field to the bridle way and her ears prick at the sight of the jumps! I darent take her to compete though as i tend to pamper her too much now!!

 

[abracadabra]

[ QUOTE ]
her ears prick at the sight of the jumps!

[/ QUOTE ]

my boy does this too, i wonder what he seen to interest him and look and its an xc / hunt fence

 

[Fletchersmum]

I totally agree with you about keeping them interested. Its like if you give up on them they give up and lose a bit of interest in life.
I do hope my boy still has a few years left, he loves to work, he has had a hard life but I know he still enjoys a pootle along our lovely country lanes.
A few weeks ago we had a sneaky canter in the farmers field, because he had left the gate open,

and I could tell that Fletcher was thoroughly enjoying himself-me too!

 

[miss_c]

We have a horse on our yard who is 28 and, although he's slowed down, he's going out and winning veteran classes at county level. I think the secret with him has been to keep him doing something, and the entire yard adores him!

 

[Ellies_mum2]

Ellie is 29 and still loves a good gallop and often 'argues' with me as to how fast we go

 

[conniegirl]

I've got a 26 yearold show pony who is still in full ridden work, not looking stiff at all and beating animals half his age in the inhand show ring and often in the ridden ring too.
If i could find a small competant rider for him he would still be jumping as well.

The youngest horse i have on the yard is 19!!!

 

[YorksG]

The old Appy was retired aged 30, as I was worried that she would do herself a damage, as she refused to slow down

She became stiffer and more tired looking and was pts at the grand old age of 33.

 

[yeeharider]

OMG i feel so old now

back in the 70's we had a JA pony still jumping JA tracks and making the time at 42 years old owners decided to retire him at end of season 6 months later he dropped dead

 

[Fletchersmum]

OMG that is unbelievable! 42 wow! great story with a sad ending.
My old gelding Charlie was retired at 23ish because he started to trip whilst out hacking, and it was getting quite dangerous, even tho i had knee boots and other leg protection on him, I didnt fancy going down with him, so called it a day. Within months he developed colic, which he had never had before, and I had to have him put to sleep. Heartbreaking...........RIP my beautiful boy

 

[Dunmare]

I rode my mare regularly up to when she was pts at the age of 31 (colic). She was still a lively ride and although had been diagnosed with arthritis 6 years before, we hacked out happily for an hour a few times a week. With good shoeing, good quality supplements and lots of TLC she still looked and felt fab. On her last day the vet said she looked more like 11 than 31. In a way I was glad the end wasnt a gradual decline, loss of quality of life as she was such a strong spirit. Still miss her so much.