How old is too old to event?

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snooples

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My horse is about 20 now and I am hoping to compete him again at 90cm this year.
He did 3 events last year and was double clear in all and he hunter trialled at 70 and 80 cm over winter and was clear in all.
However he is getting older and stiffer and isnt looking great at the moment and lacking in energy a bit. But as we all know its been a long winter so Im hoping he will pick up when the weather does (if it ever does) and iv got an equine america supplement to stop the stiffness which only happens after cross country.

We had the farrier out today as he was getting his new shoes with stud holes and they thought I was mad altogether and that a horse like him would prob drop dead if he evented. Needless to say Im both angry and worried!!!

When do you decide that enough is enough and its time to retire?

These are two photos of him last week (he is ridden by a young boy at hunter trials during winter)

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/94091423@N04/8660714451/] 63570_10151531158619246_1511321110_n by snooples17, on Flickr[/URL]


58551_361373150639932_233770525_n by snooples17, on Flickr

And last summer eventing


201393_10151154083589246_1733919457_o by snooples17, on Flickr


18813_10151281082084246_529689766_n by snooples17, on Flickr
 
Ours is 22 and hunts regularly. He will tell us when he no longer wants to do it as he pulls like a steam train! At fun rides he is the one still jogging and pulling at the end. We think he will drop down dead on the hunting field which would be a wonderful way for him to go. But until then he loves his life and is very happy. Most people think he is half his age.
 
He does look v poor in the first pic, maybe give him a month or two with spring grass then decide and see how he feels
 
Mine evented at a low level (90/100) until he was 27 when I retired him, he was so happy and looked fantastic till the very end. I would say your boy needs a fair bit of condition on him before you start eventing again, maybe wait a month or two until the grass is growing and he has a better topline etc
 
Smith123 said:
He does look v poor in the first pic, maybe give him a month or two with spring grass then decide and see how he feels
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This. He looked completely different in the summer pics from last year, if you can get him back to that condition, fair enough. I'd also be a little worried about him being so stiff the day afterwards too. Things like that would perhaps suggest that it may be time to reduce his work levels a bit?
 
Thanks guys, good to know horses can keep going well into old age :p

With regards to his condition, he unfortunately does not do well in the stable and has looked like this every year since he was 9, no matter what he is fed :confused: of course it doesnt help that he has a big hairy coat this year! We have decided against clipping him anymore as think he needs the hair .

He turns inside out once out in field and at last he got to go out last week (about 6 weeks later than usual) so fingers crossed he gets back to his normal summer condition soon if he doesnt then I know the old age is catching up with him :(
 
I have a closer picture here where you can see him better, I dont think his condition is the worst given the winter, il be worming him soon too.
He does have a complete lack of muscle but thats as the boy who has been riding him would not be capable of working him in a proper outline.
First event is supposed to be 12th May but not getting my hopes up.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/94091423@N04/8661928348/] IMG_7744 by snooples17, on Flickr[/URL]
 
My boy is 22 years old now, I think when they stop showing the enthusiasm/loose there spark if when you know its time to stop.

My boy still pulls like a tank on grass and squeals like a 4 year old. I think you know in your heart of hearts whether or not to event him this season.
 
He is so enthusiastic about his galloping and jumping, hes like a baby, which makes me feel like he will be fine. He was placed at all his hunter trials which were fastest time!

Really hoping a couple of weeks out at grass and once he loses his coat he will be back to his old self. And that being out in the field and the muscle supplement will help with any stiffness he might get. If not, im happy to cut out cross country altogether as I dont want anything to happen to him
 
I plan on keeping my eventer going for as long as he enjoys it. He is rising 15 and still acts like a 5 year old.
As he gets older I will be more and more selective of where and how he is worked, but with proper care taken with his joints and muscles there should be no reason that his body can't continue while his mind still wants to do it.

I think if your horse is still eager to do it, and enjoys himself then go for it. I would be speaking to vets and body workers to find different ways to warm up an older horse (stretching, massage etc to get circulation up and take care of his joints) and maybe investigating some suppliments to help with joint lubrication though. He looks a litlle light on for my taste, but with a bit of proper work his topline will improve. I would not push him too much to be ready by May, maybe try for the next event?
 
Yes he is defniately not looking how I want him too, its this annoying never ending winter we are having!
At this stage your right and May is too soon so I am going to leave it till the end of June to do a full event with him. He was always a horse who needed very little warm up so will be changing this now too.
 
Ours has needed a lot of extra feed this year as despite being a good doer he dropped off this year so had extra rugs and a lot more hard feed.
 
A lot of horses have fared badley this winter regardless of age. We have had a long winter with the sort of weather that really saps the energy from them . basicly it has been winter since the end of september. One of the most crucial factors in keeping weight on is ample quantities of good quality hay. (not haylage) .Hay that is late cut ,regardless of how well made ,is lignified and woody ,basicly it is indiigestible. Due to the weather last summer(and I use the word summer advisedly)most hay was made too late . I suspect that it is not your horses age that is the problem, a lot of much younger horses are in a similar predicament.Poor hay (nutritionaly) cannot be compensated for by simply giving more hard feed. The horses digestive system simply doesnt work like that. Have a chat with the nutritional advisor from "simple systems" it might help. I would add that I am probably the biggest cynic you have ever encountered when it comes to feed merchants (I was one I should Know:o)but these people make a lot of sense.
 
Yes this winter really has been awful, it really feels never ending. Horse is finally on grass (albeit not great grass) but still in heavy rug with neck!

Its a good point you make on the quality of hay, due to the rainy summer and long winter there really wasnt enough good quality hay around.
Heard a story of someone whos horses lost weight very badly but were getting loads of hay so hay was tested and he was told he might as well not be feeding them anything as it was such bad quality :(
 
snooples said:
Yes this winter really has been awful, it really feels never ending. Horse is finally on grass (albeit not great grass) but still in heavy rug with neck!

Its a good point you make on the quality of hay, due to the rainy summer and long winter there really wasnt enough good quality hay around.
Heard a story of someone whos horses lost weight very badly but were getting loads of hay so hay was tested and he was told he might as well not be feeding them anything as it was such bad quality :(
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Snooples ,that is so true! Yet My own dear Bob the "nota "cob is as fat as a pig (editors note from Bob, "mike you will pay for this!).He has lived on some wonderfull hay made in the second week in july (perfect timing by the farmer).He has had only chaff and a bit of sugarbeet and a few nuts ,to keep him quiet at feeding time.It is the hay that counts .First and foremost. Anything you pay out on good hay ,you will save on hard feed and vets bills.
 
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