How old is too old for a horse to be ridden?

[[159512]]

So i have been given a 27 year old 15.2 mare by a family friend due to a bereavement, she has been living out 24/7 for the past year and hasn't been ridden due to lack of rider(the owner was ill and then passed) but her family has said she would be happy in light work and easy to bring back into it... Her old family have said now that I have the time to spend with her, i should bring her into light hacking work, maybe ridden 1 or 2 times a week in walk and a small amount of trot, and not for too long of a time...
She has been health checked and is completely healthy and sound ( bar a blocked tear duct a few months ago).

Am I a bad owner for considering this??

if you think it would be good for her, as many people have said to me, any advice on how to go about bringing her back into work?

 

[adamntitch]

Have you posted about this horse before

 

[Wizpop]

Hhmmm my gut reaction is that 27 seems a little old to be restarting work.
Also, a little puzzled as to why the family are saying you “should” be restarting work with her and that she “would be happy in light work “ I’m not sure that they sound like horsey people with the knowledge to make such a judgment about an old horse who has been living out for the past year. I would have thought that they would simply be very grateful to you for providing a caring home for this elderly horse without suggesting that you “should” be riding her. Also, their advice on how much and what ridden work are very specific, to the point where it hardly seems worth it for the horses sake and she would just be happier in a field enjoying the time she has left in comfort.

What is your honest, gut reaction?

 

[PurBee]

What sort of work was the horse doing when last in work a year ago and before that, with old owner?

Some horses do well late 20’s and you’d never guess the age they really are, whereas many are ready to wind-down. Ponies are usually more robust and commonly known to still be active late 20’s.

Depends on previous ‘mileage’, fitness level, health conditions, full assessment of those aspects.

If walk hacks are suggested by old owners family, is that because they know from owner the horse was very lightly ridden/semi-retired, not fit for much more?
i’d take the horse for those walks in-hand personally than weight an older back thats not been fit for a year, and only ridden lightly before that.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

There have been several of these "riding older horses" threads recently....... no offence OP, but on one of them the person asking the question was patently not prepared to accept the majority-view of the wisdom they were given.

It is impossible to say what any horse "should" or "shouldn't" do, frankly. None of us on here knows this mare or her history or what she is capable of, or what would be FAIR to do with her at this stage of her life.

Personally I'd be a little bit cagey about "the family" pressing for her to be brought back into work; one has to ask what is their motivation in this? Why are they soohh keen? Most people in this situation would be only too glad for someone to take on a horse in this situation after a family bereavement without strings attached, and there wouldn't necessarily be any pressure to "do" anything other than offer her a decent retirement until "the decision" has to be made.

There are a lot of issues involved with bringing an old horse back into work; but I really would advise you at the earliest opportunity to get your vet (and physio) out to have a look and give you an honest appraisal of the situation. If they are happy for her to be ridden you will also then need to get a saddle-fitter out, and it will be necessary on a regular basis to keep checking the fit of the saddle and adjusted if necessary, and a back-check regularly to make sure she's comfy, plus physio.

 

[Cortez]

Why? A horse in their late twenties is the equivalent to an 80 or 90 year old human. Leave the poor thing to enjoy a happy, healthy retirement.

 

[[159512]]

Have you posted about this horse before

No i havent

 

[[159512]]

Hhmmm my gut reaction is that 27 seems a little old to be restarting work.
Also, a little puzzled as to why the family are saying you “should” be restarting work with her and that she “would be happy in light work “ I’m not sure that they sound like horsey people with the knowledge to make such a judgment about an old horse who has been living out for the past year. I would have thought that they would simply be very grateful to you for providing a caring home for this elderly horse without suggesting that you “should” be riding her. Also, their advice on how much and what ridden work are very specific, to the point where it hardly seems worth it for the horses sake and she would just be happier in a field enjoying the time she has left in comfort.

What is your honest, gut reaction?

honestly, i am not sure, i just want whats best for her, it all stemmed from me asking the family what she was like when with them after the owner's passing, she seemed very unsettled/sad with me, so I wanted to ask if that had been the case with them.
i have had her vet checked and chiro out and she is perfectly healthy, to quote the vet- she's just unhappy to be left as a field ornament.
i have had her out on walking hacks with friends on my yard, but she just wants to go off with them rather than stay at a walking pace...
I've had her out of her pasture working with her and giving her love, grooming etc but whenever she sees people carrying tack she gets all 'excited', its hard to describe...
she will only eat if she has been out on an in-hand hack, if she's been out in the field she just is like a different horse, sad and looking depressed if im honest, compared to when we've had a walk in hand, she is almost as boisterous as my youngster!

As for the amount of riding, that is my suggestion, not theirs, they just said light work to give her something to do...

 

[[159512]]

There have been several of these "riding older horses" threads recently....... no offence OP, but on one of them the person asking the question was patently not prepared to accept the majority-view of the wisdom they were given.

It is impossible to say what any horse "should" or "shouldn't" do, frankly. None of us on here knows this mare or her history or what she is capable of, or what would be FAIR to do with her at this stage of her life.

Personally I'd be a little bit cagey about "the family" pressing for her to be brought back into work; one has to ask what is their motivation in this? Why are they soohh keen? Most people in this situation would be only too glad for someone to take on a horse in this situation after a family bereavement without strings attached, and there wouldn't necessarily be any pressure to "do" anything other than offer her a decent retirement until "the decision" has to be made.

There are a lot of issues involved with bringing an old horse back into work; but I really would advise you at the earliest opportunity to get your vet (and physio) out to have a look and give you an honest appraisal of the situation. If they are happy for her to be ridden you will also then need to get a saddle-fitter out, and it will be necessary on a regular basis to keep checking the fit of the saddle and adjusted if necessary, and a back-check regularly to make sure she's comfy, plus physio.

ive had her vet and physio out, and had a chiro out to see if thats why she was feeling down...
vet had no issues and said to me bringing her into light work would give her something to do as atm she seems unhappy in her field...
i just want to find something i can do with her that allows for her to feel like she is wanted/needed to hopefully improve her life atm...
she is 100% wanted and needed by me regardless of what she is doing, ill love her none the less.
when i took her on, i did it simply for the fact that they were going to lose grazing and had no where to put her, as i have a youngster i took her on as i have the time to give and i didnt want her going to simply anyone if they had to findher a now home.

 

[[159512]]

Why? A horse in their late twenties is the equivalent to an 80 or 90 year old human. Leave the poor thing to enjoy a happy, healthy retirement.

that was my intention, but she simply isnt happy in retirement, so im struggling to find a happy medium for her, i have commmented below with some more insight into the reason for it

 

[[159512]]

What sort of work was the horse doing when last in work a year ago and before that, with old owner?

Some horses do well late 20’s and you’d never guess the age they really are, whereas many are ready to wind-down. Ponies are usually more robust and commonly known to still be active late 20’s.

Depends on previous ‘mileage’, fitness level, health conditions, full assessment of those aspects.

If walk hacks are suggested by old owners family, is that because they know from owner the horse was very lightly ridden/semi-retired, not fit for much more?
i’d take the horse for those walks in-hand personally than weight an older back thats not been fit for a year, and only ridden lightly before that.

with old owner she was in 'full work' as such, showing in ridden and inhand veteran classes weekly, being ridden multiple times per week but when owner got ill, she had to stop it all and had no one to continue ...
ive got her out on inhand walk hacks, but she just seems to want more, once we get her tack on for an inhand walk she perks up like a youngster, as soon as i return her to the field she seems down and upset again...
i was thinking about possibly giving her the opportunity to do an inhand veteran class with me, but i am not sure. ive never had a senior horse before, so im unsure on what is best for her, the vet said getting her into light work could help as she is fit and healthy but i wanted some more opinions first.

 

[Cortez]

How is she manifesting this desire to "want more"?

 

[[159512]]

How is she manifesting this desire to "want more"?

theres a few things, i spoke with the vet and he said ' she isnt happy just being out in the field she wants more' thats the only reason i used that term.
.
she only has really has an appetite when going for an inhand 'hack', she perks up when coming out of field because she knows shes going to go out and walk the lanes and the common. Her demeanour completely changes when shes in the field for a few days, she will pace the fence line, and when trying to bring her back to the field after weve been out for a groom and fuss she simply just plants.

she isnt in any pain, ive had her checked over and the vet said she is completely sound and healthy. ive wondered if it is simply the field she doesnt like, but after weve been out for a hack she will go in like a fish into water and is happy as larry.

i want to do whats best for her but at the moment im stuck with what is actually best.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I ride my 27 yr old and he walks out happily with the gang ears pricked and enjoys it. Up until last year he was doing ridden veteran successfully but an abscess due to a blackthorn followed by my farrier being off sick and another farrier upsetting his foot balance he hadn’t done much since March.

I don’t think you can say a particular age it very much depends on the horse in front of you. However I’ve had my old boy 17yrs and know him very well and instantly know if anything is bothering him. He’s not even on regular Bute or any other anti-inflammatory at the moment. I don’t think I’d get a 27yr old I didn’t really know and start riding it.

 

[Widgeon]

I think if you trust your vet, and the horse seems so much happier when she's going out, I'd just do it - but start slowly and reconsider if she seems physically uncomfortable at any point. Some horses do thrive on work, and if she's been used to weekly outings to shows etc, then being stood in a field is a big change in lifestyle. Could you carry on with the inhand walks and try to get her out to some inhand veteran showing? That way you could keep her life interesting without having to worry about saddle fit, weight on her back etc. This sort of thing is pretty dependent on the individual horse in question and it sounds like you're quite switched on to her behaviour.

 

[PurBee]

theres a few things, i spoke with the vet and he said ' she isnt happy just being out in the field she wants more' thats the only reason i used that term.
.
she only has really has an appetite when going for an inhand 'hack', she perks up when coming out of field because she knows shes going to go out and walk the lanes and the common. Her demeanour completely changes when shes in the field for a few days, she will pace the fence line, and when trying to bring her back to the field after weve been out for a groom and fuss she simply just plants.

she isnt in any pain, ive had her checked over and the vet said she is completely sound and healthy. ive wondered if it is simply the field she doesnt like, but after weve been out for a hack she will go in like a fish into water and is happy as larry.

i want to do whats best for her but at the moment im stuck with what is actually best.

Is she grazing alone in her field?

 

[Cortez]

theres a few things, i spoke with the vet and he said ' she isnt happy just being out in the field she wants more' thats the only reason i used that term.
.
she only has really has an appetite when going for an inhand 'hack', she perks up when coming out of field because she knows shes going to go out and walk the lanes and the common. Her demeanour completely changes when shes in the field for a few days, she will pace the fence line, and when trying to bring her back to the field after weve been out for a groom and fuss she simply just plants.

she isnt in any pain, ive had her checked over and the vet said she is completely sound and healthy. ive wondered if it is simply the field she doesnt like, but after weve been out for a hack she will go in like a fish into water and is happy as larry.

i want to do whats best for her but at the moment im stuck with what is actually best.

Does she have company, as in another horse out in the field with her? I find it extraordinary for a vet to comment on a horse "wanting more".

 

[Widgeon]

Is she grazing alone in her field?

I was wondering this too - it may be that the field-life she's being offered just isn't very interesting? Maybe she'd be totally different in proper retirement livery in a settled herd with a really big field to roam around?

 

[[159512]]

Is she grazing alone in her field?

No, she's in a mixed herd and their field is covering just shy of 16 acres.

 

[Kat]

How well does this vet know the horse?

 

[PurBee]

No, she's in a mixed herd and their field is covering just shy of 16 acres.

It sounds like she’s one of the few golden oldies still perky and interested in being fussed with by humans. Her pacing the fence line wanting attention from people rather than head down retiring and chilling with her herd is unusual behaviour. Especially not wanting to go back to the herd after a groom etc. Unless she’s low rank herd member and gets bullied? Thats the usual reason a horse doesnt like being with the herd.

You have the horse infront of you and if a physio has given a good check over, and a good vet has assessed, and the horse herself is genuinly eager, you could try light ridden hacks and she how she gets on. She may well thrive, and im sure youll keep a close eye on her ?