Has anyone had years of enjoyment from one horse?

[PigPeppa]

I have had terrible luck with lameness/death and purchasing unsuitable horses over the years (despite doing everything 100% by the book).

Im ready for calling it a day because it has been causing me more upset than enjoyment.

Does anyone have a sound and safe horse that they compete and have fun on? Are these horses out there?

I love horses but I don’t know if I should keep trying.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Yes, thankfully and gratefully I have. Two hunters that did 16 and 18 seasons.

 

[Domirati]

Yes, absolutely. Sorry you have had so much bad luck.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I lost two horses in 18 months and seemed like everything was going wrong.
I've now had my cob for 2 years and sadly he was diagnosed with hock arthritis a few months back at the age of 8 , which made me feel like "here we go again " but , touch wood , he's responded very well to steroids and we're back enjoying riding

He started off as a neurotic mess and it took quote a lot of work to help him mentally but he's now the most fantastic horse and I'm so glad I stuck with it and him !

 

[canteron]

Oh no, it can be devastating. Yes, one glorious horse from 6 to now 27. Lots of adventures, tears, joy, hiccups and ups and downs, I am now trying to repeat that again with a slightly steadier cob as I am too old to go through that all again!

 

[maya2008]

Yes. And not just one.

Today, I lost two old friends - my TB who I've had for 19 years, and her friend who I've had for 13 years. Bar nine months or so for each (laminitis for the TB and a manica tear for the friend), they've been sound and in work for all that time. The TB was my first owned horse, my best friend. We did so much together - explored the world out hacking, learned dressage and SJ (she was just 4 when I got her), went xc and on fun rides. Whatever I wanted to do, she happily did, so long as we did it together. When I had my children, she guarded them in the field while I rode her friend, then they swapped over. Child number one spent 3 days in the hospital after birth and she went nuts until I was home again and she knew we were both ok. She met child no.2 on the morning after her birth, sniffed her over and checked all was well. Her friend adopted that second child - guided her after me in the field once she was learning to walk, then took her off the lead rein when she was riding and ready to go. Tiny dot of a child on this 13.3hh sports pony, who in her youth had jumped well over a metre. She was the only pony I've ever felt fully confident on jumping, because she just didn't stop.

A few years ago, we lost my TB's pair bond (who, again, was an old lady). Feisty little soul she was, cheeky and fun in her younger days then my son's first ridden in her teens. She was only ill once before the end. Again, for less than a year. We got her well and had many more years with her before it came back and she was too old to fight successfully. We had her for 16 years.

Current herd are younger and we've not had them as long, but I can definitely say that the 'old guard' held their own. We all have many happy memories of them.

You need a good, experienced friend (who actually knows what they are doing) to help you look and a healthy budget, but sound horses are out there.

 

[Abacus]

Yes but…

I’ve had one delightful and perfect horse for 18 years; he’s 24. He doesn’t compete any more but we did everything for many years. He is still sound enough to hack, jump a little and boss everyone else around.

However. Along the way I’ve had 7 others, not including children’s ponies. Only one was sound and successful for probably 6 years. Five of the others haven’t suited me and one had medical problems and had to be pts. Of those I sold I know one was pts soon afterwards with other medical problems and the rest are still going. I have the 7th, who is good so far but only been here 6 months. It’s a bit needle in a haystack. Sorry you’ve had no luck. Maybe next time…?

 

[Starzaan]

I had my old boy for thirteen magical years, and he was out to sleep at the age of thirty having taught me more than any other horse ever had.
One of my current boys has been with me since he was five, and is now fourteen. He will be with me until the day he dies, and hasn’t had a day of lameness in his time with me.
I think sometimes you’re unlucky, but also I’ve worked soooo hard to keep him sound since I got him. Careful to ensure he has a full day of turnout every day, has had a very carefully worked out nutrition plan since day one, physio monthly, etc etc etc. I’m sure that has contributed to his soundness, but I also think I’m lucky that he is so beautifully put together and that definitely helps.

 

[splashgirl45]

yes.. one i bought at 15 months , showed her in hand, then broke her and did riding club events and loads of hacking until she was 22, then just a bit of quiet hacking , lost her at 24 due to stifle lameness. my competing wasnt at a high level and not that often but i hacked daily for most of her life so she didnt have lots of jumping or going in small circles etc. i think if you want to compete and do a fair bit of schooling they do put a bit more strain on them....

 

[PigPeppa]

I’m finding comfort and a little hope reading these replies. Thank you!

 

[tda]

Yes the first pony I bought as an adult, I was 29 she was 2, apart from locking stifle the first autumn, she was hardly ever sick or sorry, she had a bloomin good go at anything you asked of her.
PTS last September aged 24

 

[Follysmum]

Been very lucky with most of mine I have 3 that are now 25 23 and 20 that I have had from 6 mth foals still going. Unfortunately it’s me that’s crocked. They have clocked up many miles long distance riding and jumping shows etc .
Touching wood! All never been lame or sick. I do have younger ones that have had a few niggles but nothing bad.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Yeah but a few years back I had a run of bad luck ? just the way it goes sometimes

 

[whizzer]

I had years of fun & enjoyment with a previous horse, had him from a 2 year old until I lost him aged 21. I also had years of despair & expense with 2 horses,who one after another failed to work out,one had 2 terrible accidents,the other turned out to be unridable with a myriad of issues.
I was ready to give up on horses when my current mare happened into my life,she's safe,sound,fun & so far has given me 4 years of pleasure, I hope we'll have many more happy years together. She was everything I wasn't looking for... small,grey & a mare! She's such a lovely character & has a hone for life with me.

 

[Zoeypxo]

We have horses at the yard in mid to late twenties still in light work. Apart from the odd kick/abscess theyve never had any ‘issues’.
It certainly is possible

 

[nagblagger]

I had my first for 25 years, he saw me through school, marriage, divorce etc. Except for 1 vet visit (excluding vacs) the only other time he needed the vet was when he had colic and was PTS..

 

[EllenJay]

Yes I did. Brought my old boy @ 5 and had him PTS @ 27. Broke my heart, but he did everything I ever asked of him. He stayed sound and strong - and I like to think he liked me a little.

 

[SBJT]

Only had experience with the one horse but he’s given me almost 10 wonderful years. He’s moving into senior years now but I wouldn’t want to change him for anyone else. He’s just such a kind soul that I love how much confidence and experience he’s given me. I could look at 1000 horses and not find one who has given me so much without any ask in return.

 

[TPO]

Nope

I think current horse is the longest I've kept one alive and that's only 8yrs so far ?? <frantically touching wood>

Another that's done everything by the book, given great care (even if I do say so myself ?), spared no expense with professionals and its all been a bit ? really.

I lost a horse in 2008, 2009 and 2010, as my herd of 3 dropped to 2, back to three then down two after one sold then one then none. I should have taken the hint at that point. The one I sold one, only horse I've ever sold, in 2009 also and he died in his new owners field 3mths later out of the blue, so whilst I didn't own him at that point it was still upsetting, it happened in the October and she emailed to tell me on Christmas eve ??

I've had vets lie and change records, which obviously I can't prove but they know what they did. That lead to 6yrs of trying to get a horse right who should never have passed the "I'm doing the right thing" vet check.

Even current horse has been blighted by things outwith my control. I was on a hopeless yard but couldn't leave for various reasons and I knew we were getting out to our own place in the July. So YO let a respiratory virus run through the yard and the other liveries didn't get vets, or even stop riding, while their horses coughed up green and yellow muck. I got the vet as soon as my horse looked slightly off colour and he was the one that's ended up with long term damage and asthma. This year its been one thing after another with three bouts of box rest for three different things, one which turned out not to be a thing at all, and none have been good for the asthma.

I don't have a school or lights and now that's he's nearly ready to be picked up after the last lot of box rest the nights are quickly drawing in. The ground in the fields was like concrete and now after 48hrs of heavy rain its a slippy bog.

This horse is my last. Clearly I am very slow on the uptake and should have called it a day 12yrs ago ?

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

Yes. An Appaloosa who I had from us both being 12. He died at 32. A TB I had for 17 years and a pony who was also 32. The TB had issues along the way but was the love of my life.
I've come back into horses 4 years ago and I am on my third - I know how you feel. It just seems so unfair.

 

[RachelFerd]

Years and years of joy from my wonderful old horse who I've had for more than 20 years.... Now 27 and retired, but was fit, healthy and sound for vast majority of time.

 

[SO1]

I had almost 15 years of enjoyment with my pony sadly put to sleep on 29 July at 20.

The last year was not easy with tendonitis rehab but still enjoyed his company, his last couple of months were stressful with colic the gastric impaction the special diet and then sadly PTS.

However I would say that nearly 15 years is a good amount of years but not enough I was expecting another 5 to 10 years of enjoyment and that he would continue to give me pleasure in his late 20s. However YO tells me 15 years is actually good amount of time.

 

[Caol Ila]

I had my old horse for 21 years, from age 7 to 28. The only health issues she had (until the last year of her life) were a few cuts from fights in the field in her misspent youth, a month on box rest after losing an argument with a wire fence, and an abscess from the clip of a shoe going into her foot. She was sound enough to gallop and jump well into her 27th year, but then she took a turn that last winter, with lameness, weight loss, and ataxia that did not get better with warmer weather and spring grass. I had to let her go exactly a month after she turned 28.

 

[scats]

First pony I had pretty much no issues at all. I had her for 9 years, from when she was 18-27. She was incredible. But I think it lulled me into a false sense of security because it’s been pretty hellish with all since then.
DDFT injuries, collateral ligament injuries (both field injuries when out in a large herd), colic, PSD, navicular, full length tracheal collapse (of which there are no other recorded cases known)… on top of this there has been strangles, ringworm, laminitis, squamous cell carcinoma… the list goes on.
I seriously wonder why I’m still bothering!

 

[Birker2020]

Yes my previous horse I had for 17 years and I suppose with various injuries/issues I managed to have 14 years of riding with her. I had the misfortune to lose four horses in under 7 years, having each one for a couple of years and one for only 11 months, so obviously only had a limited amount of riding on each horse.

My friend has had 3 of her past horses unable to be ridden, the current one she's never even sat on.

 

[Nudibranch]

My first pony went on with barely a vet's visit for 24 years, first ridden and then driven. Since her I've had numerous horses with issues so I've gone back to natives. I'm hoping it's the way forward as the one before my current riding horse, who's a Dales, was a cracking WB cross who was pts at 7, having never even set foot on a surface. Backed at 4 and hacked lightly only. It was almost enough to make me give up altogether.

 

[shortstuff99]

Yes all of my horses I have had. My first 2 lived to about 30 and my older mare now I have had about 12 years. Only one of them had a couple of big injuries but she got over them and had many more wonderful years sound and having fun. I have had my younger ones 3 and 2 years and they have got into scrapes (one had colic surgery and one ran through a fence) but now going great .

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I've got 2 Arab's 17 and 18 now one I've had since he was 2 the other I've had for 9 years, both had a few issues over the years, I managed to show them successfully and they still could now I may just get back into it or do a bit of dressage with them while I can.

 

[Spotherisk]

Yes, I’ve had my coloured light weight cob since he was five and he’s 30 now, he retired through old age and my youngster coming on and is a sound happy paddock ornament.

My youngster was a similar type, owned since a weanling, weird possible atypical myopathy at five years led to lame all round, laminitis, sank in all four feet. We got over that after months of box rest but he never came right enough to do anything with and in winter 2019/20 was pronounced by the vet as never able to even hack around the block in walk. As he was by then living out, clipped, naked, with a muzzle on, prone to foot abscesses, with terrible separation anxiety (wouldn’t stable) and wouldn’t travel (so I couldn’t have taken him to a track livery for instance) he was put down aged ten. I haven’t bought another, although sometimes I consider looking for a share.

 

[Ratface]

I've had Arabs for many years. Last one got to 29 before having a field accident -charging around, slipped over doing hand brake turns - did major damage to his sacroiliac joint and had to be pts.
Current Arab is 28 and is in regular light work, 2-3 times a week, plus 8 hours turn out, hacking and simple school exercises. He's a major go-fast freak, so has to be reminded that maximum speed everywhere is Not Necessary!