Horses Age, when is a horse 'old'?

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pixiebee

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Following on from a thread earlier about horses age and someone mentioned that 14 was old!!! I was shocked to read this as I certainly dont consider 14 as old, I know horses well into their 20's going strong! My new horse is 13, green as they come, generally mad as a hatter when jumping and at shows but fab in traffic and fab to groom/tack up etc and I plan to school him to a nice basic level and do a bit of dressage, and yes by then he will be 14!
 
I think it depends to me 15 is 'getting on' but only because after that age I wouldn't re-sell. Many kids need ponies which can be sold on at a decent price to fund the next one and once they reach a certain age this isn't possible
 
It depends. My late horse was 'old' at 9 as that's when she died and the vet cheerfully said 'some horses age quicker than otjers' :( :( :(.
Others aren't old untill their in their 20-30's. My old boy was jumping 1m15 courses when he was 23 and my sisters old pony was 46 when she died. However I've seen other horses with very high milage legs struggling to remain active at 15.
It's hard to determine how old a horse is :/
 
My little mare is 20 and keeps up with bigger, younger horses without breaking into a sweat!:D She doesn't look it either, I think keeping them active and fit keeps them young. As long as they don't look terrible, have health problems and can go for a plod without being puffed out I wouldn't worry.
 
hmm good question and one i've wondered on myself lately after all the furore over the 29 year old at the sales but complete lack of interest in a 25 yr old being advertised:confused: As far as selling on goes I personally wouldn't sell on a horse over 20 yrs old, ponies probably up to 25 as they do seem to go on for ever:rolleyes: when looking at age and workload well that is a real 'how longs a piece of string' because there are so many variables!
 
i used to ride a 20 year old mare (in my sig). although she was 20 she was annoying and the most challenging horse i have ridden :p she was as stubborn as owt too! i classed her as old, but she didnt act her age.. someone once saw us out hacking and thought i was pulling their leg about her being 20!! they thought she was 6
 
My old boy was nearly 20 when I got him, and was as green and silly and as able as any 6 year old.

Infact have ridden many more sensible 6 yr olds :)

Our current pony has just turned 14, and to me that is still a baby after bring used to oldies

I suppose it all depends on the health and nature of horse/pony.

Just like some people are lucky to be over 100 and are still active and going to bingo to open up for the ' old folks' just like my grandma, and others are past it at 60
 
well I got a shock when a friend suggested entering Taz in the veteran :eek: class when I said I wanted to support the local clubs fun show . I said she is only 16 .... and looked at the programme and veteran is 15 plus :rolleyes:

My 20 year old still jumps the post and rails to get out the field and can still scratch her hip bones with her teeth so she cant be that bad :D :D :D :D


yet a field companion is 16 and looks / acts 30

so def yes... a mix of breed, general fitness and good health ( mental and physical) with a bit of luck thrown in as to when one gets "old" :cool:
 
my friends warmblood is 19 and you'd never think it. from memory i think she was asked at a show if her horse was a youngster!! :D

apparently they are technically veterans at 15 but personally i think the horse decides when it is old. :)
 
ive seen a 12 year old look like a 40 yr old horse and my 15 year old in my sig was guessed at being 8 by a judge at a dressage comp resently.

i think keeping them in the right level of work and good management and a good bit of luck does help, also a happy horse does seem to last for longer xx
 
My old loan mare was very lively and active while I had her from 20-25. She even had an operation on a tendon sheath and made a full recovery - the vet said she had the physique of a younger horse so in his opinion there was no risk!!!!
She is currently advertised for part loan at the moment, I would think that makes her 28. I do feel sorry for her though, because her owner is very irresponsible. I wish I could bring her over here and stick her in with my boy for a nice retirement by the seaside!
 
My very high mileage, ex polo pony (high goal) was 18 when I got him and was my main riding horse until he was 27!! Admittedly, he did less as time went on, but for at least 5 years he was ridden 4 or 5 times a week, did a bit of showing, plenty of sponsered rides and had lots of fun. He is now 30 and could be described as old, the mind is willing but the body can't keep up unfortunately. Until a few years ago no one would believe how old he was, he looked good and behaved like a youngster.

My little native mare is 24 and you would never in a million years guess it.
 
I get a little worried to think that in 4 years time Phil will be considered a pre-veteran! He's so far off the mark and whilst I support what the VHS promotes I find it a little offensive. He's got very little mileage which is my fault but I enjoy the fact he still behaves like he's 11 going on 5!

I won't be calling him old until he tells me he's old.
 
When is a person old?

60? 80?

Professional footballers retire in their thirties.

Gymnasts retire in their late teens.

Horses, like people, often age work-wise a long, long time before they drop dead, depending on what sort of work is expected of them. That is why sports horses are often considered old in their mid teens. Its like the human equivalent of say forty - by which time most of us have plenty of wear and tear, aren't as flexible as we used to be and have collected a good few injuries but hopefully aren't on our last legs just yet. ;)
 
age is but a number, but for me over 25 is old.
Ponies live a lot longer than horses, therefore the age at which they are viewed 'old' differs.
 
In agreement with the other posters, it can, and does, vary tremendously.

Some friends and I used to do a monthly sj league, the horse on our team was pushing 25 and one of the ponies was 30. Both were fit and keen and we did well!
 
Years ago when my old boy was 15yrs that was classed old. He went on until he was 35yrs and for all that time he was my old horse. Now I think 15yrs is young!!
 
My son's first pony, a little shetland was 36, and was ALWAYS at the front of the hack - refused to let the big horses go first!

A friend had a horse that was in his 40's - he died recently - but he was teaching kids to ride up to his penultimate day.

My guys range from 4 to 18 and I know which ones are the more stupid and boisterous!
 
brucea said:
My son's first pony, a little shetland was 36, and was ALWAYS at the front of the hack - refused to let the big horses go first!

A friend had a horse that was in his 40's - he died recently - but he was teaching kids to ride up to his penultimate day.

My guys range from 4 to 18 and I know which ones are the more stupid and boisterous!
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lol, sounds like mine, he is 13 and acts 3! HE IS QUITE PARTIAL TO SNORTING/JOGGING and generally being a tit! I started this thread partly because someone mentioned to me that a horse a 13 was a bit old to buy as a project, but i dont plan to sell on!
 
often wondered if horses have 'mid life crises' and start behaving like 5 year olds again after they pass a certain age :D.

Reg is 36, definately stiff behind now and haven't ridden him properly since Feb this year. breaks my heart as he looks so dam good at the moment but when I hopped on bareback the other night he was very stiff and tucked up with me on board :(

Having said that, couple of weeks ago he was out in the field with his 'women' and had his tail up, snorting, leaping about and rounding them up like a stallion and last year mounted my mates mare :rolleyes:
 
OFG said:
often wondered if horses have 'mid life crises' and start behaving like 5 year olds again after they pass a certain age :D.

Reg is 36, definately stiff behind now and haven't ridden him properly since Feb this year. breaks my heart as he looks so dam good at the moment but when I hopped on bareback the other night he was very stiff and tucked up with me on board :(

Having said that, couple of weeks ago he was out in the field with his 'women' and had his tail up, snorting, leaping about and rounding them up like a stallion and last year mounted my mates mare :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

That's late middle age men for you :D:D
 
i find the price of ponies go down at 13yrs but i call over 20 old (my boy on loan is 20 and is sill competing up to 1m - 1m10 - hes 14hh) i would sell mine at 13 latest like i did my 13.2hh at 12 because then after that you either get peanuts for them because of their age - no matter how good they are, or you get someone that will treat them like a machine that they can buy cheap so they are able break them

my thoughts, dont shoot me:D:eek:

edit - ooh - just remembered, a friend had a horse that she loaned out - it was 35yrs, 12hh and was jumping 1m10!!!! the loaners then brought their daughter a bsja pony when they took the pony back
 
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Reading a few of the posts it seems to depend on what age of horse a person has! Those with horses I would consider old feel that a horse isn't 'old' until it's much older than their current horse/pony! ;)
Personally I would consider 15/16 years to be 'old' although I am not denying there are many fit & healthy older horses which keep going well past that age. I myself had 1 he was 27 when he had to be PTS and our current companion pony/pet/mamber of the family is 30 ish and you should see how quickly she can move if there's a feed in it for her! :)
 
My old girl was 18 when I got her and she lived to 22. Not that old in absolute terms but she came from an abusive background so I guess that took its toll.
 
I was having this conversation with a friend the other day and it got me thinking. Do you think we might be the first generation to see "bigger" horses working well into their 20s? I am only 30, but while I remember lots of ancient ponies still going strong in my miss-spent yoof, I don't really remember any horses still working at that age. I wondered if, like big dogs, large horses were more likely to encounter joint problems that would then put an end to their ridden careers?

It interests me, because my boy is 21, and doesn't often look his age. He is a 16.3 old-fashioned warmblood, though, a real MW type and built like a tank. The only signs of age he ever shows is a bit of stiffness now and then. I've got no plans to slow down till he tells me he's ready!
 
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