has any 1 ever broken a older horse to ride

kirstyc

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8 October 2010
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Hi everyone

Ive got a 14 year old broodmare as far as i know shes never been broke to ride and has always been used as a broodmare because of a clubby foot.The farrier has told me he can make her a shoe to balance her out more if i chose to have her broke and schooled.Im just wondering if anyone else has broken a older horse to ride with success. :)

thanks
 
I started hacking out a horse that had only been driven and after some initial confused looks he really couldn't have cared less! lol He was a fantastic driving horse though
 
I backed a 16 year old brood mare. I just took my time with her and she was quite easy, she only bucked once when I started doing canter with her. She's now enjoying a new life as a ridden pony, mostly hacking but doing the occasional local show - jumping and dressage.

It can be done! She was much easier to do than the youngster I had as she had been shown in-hand and had at least been out and about in her life.
Good luck if you decide to go ahead.
 
I took ownership of my aunties 14yr old horse in Feburary this year and she was only properly broken in 1 1/2 years ago. She was an absolute mare when she was young and it was just easier for my aunty to ride one of her other horses.
Before living with me she had never hacked out, cantered with a rider or been schooled properly. Now 9 months later, she is hacked out alone and is enjoying learning new things. She is definetly a changed horse.

There were so many people who told me not to get her and I know I should of listened to them but she is so willing to learn and I wouldnt change her for anything! I suppose it just depends on the horse.
 
We've got a 12yr old mare whose never been touched until we had her a couple of months ago & so far shes been brilliant with everything, ive also has a 12yr old gelding & an 8yr old mare both unbroken & both were fantastic once broken & took to everything really well. I sometimes think maybe the older they are the more mentally & physically able to cope with things. Some people wont touch older horses & say they are difficult & set in there ways etc, but then again don't you get some youngsters like that?
 
I backed and brought on a lovely welsh sec D x hackney at 9 that was used for driving, I just tacked him up and got on, wasn't expecting him to be so well behaved.
Took him out for some hacks a few days later with others and alone, he was pretty good apart from the time i took him to the beach and a dog chased us all along the beach!
Unfortunately after a few months i had to stop riding him though as coming into the winter it was evident he had a locking stifle and it was too risky to keep riding him incase it locked up while we were out.
A true shame as he was a stunning horse with lovely movements!
Just take things slowly, tack her up, perhaps try a treeless saddle and lay over her a lot.
 
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