How old is too old?

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LegOn

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I have a schoolmaster horse for two years now, no mark breed, cobby type, who came from a riding school & he is fantastic!

We've done alot in the past two years, although alot less than what was expected of him in the riding school! I school about 5 times a week between flatwork & give him a pop once a week if we're not competing.

We have progressed in SJ & XC comps from doing 70/80cm to 90cm & he goes clear alot of the time, if my dodgy riding doesnt interfer!! :p

Anyway, cause he had a lot of miles on the clock when he came to me, I've always been cautious of pushing him too hard but he is well able & loves his jumping, he is on great supplements for his joints & gets checked out regular by an osteo & I do ground stretches with him to keep him supple.

Anyway, he is 16 & I've toyed with the idea of doing a few 1m courses in competition - my nerves hold me back sometimes but I also worry about his age, do you think 16 is too old to start asking that much of him??
 
Definitely not!

It sounds like you are doing all the right things to make sure he is comfortable.
A horse I ride at the moment was an intermediate eventer back in his day, was retired due to arthritis in his hocks. He hated retirement and is back eventing, although at lower levels than intermediate. He is 23 years old this year! He has joint supplements and just needs longer to warm up/cool down and a day or two off after hard work, but he looks like he will still be out competing for a couple more years to come

Plenty of horses can keep going for years. I think Lenamore was 17 years old at this years Badminton.

Be aware though that schooling every day could take it's tole on his joints, so a break from the school and some nice hacks out could be nice for him?
 
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I agree with heather_bambi.

My old mare was about 17 when we started doing Endurance. We did rides of upto and inclu 80km. We also did showing, dressage, jumping and right up untill she was diagnosed with the horrable illness we hunted atleast once a week if not twice. I lost her in July aged about 23 and one month before I lost her we did a 14mile sponsoured ride. She bolted with me several times and bucked the whole way round.Not bad for an old girl who wasn't ment to make it to last xmas. Aslong as you take it carefuly and are aware of how old he is i'm shore he will be fine. :) It sounds like you have his best intrests at heart so go out and enjoy him I bet he'll love to be out and about again. :D
 
depends on the horse but in my experience no :)

If he is happy and comfortable at 90cm he should be the same at 1m - if not just come back down! I dont think 16 is old at all!! My boy is 19 and was at his prime at 16, competing at 1m05 and eventing BE90 and did a pre novice - he is 14.2. If I still had him (he is out on loan so doing slightly less in a PC home but still competing regularly) Im sure I would still be doing the same :)
 
Thanks a mil guys - I know 16 isnt old really but you know the way to just worry about them! I've been schooling over some bigger fences at home & just loves it so will start doing a bit more training & see how it goes - I'm honestly of the opinion its better to keep them fitter in their veteran years aswell!
 
His age isn't important, if he is as fit and healthy as he sounds then go for it, I',m still ridding my mare at 24 and although we don't jump anymore she is still full of beans
 
Depends on the horse but from the sounds of it definitely not too old! For reference one of my boys is 20, he is a very talented showjumper/schoolmaster. When I got him he had been owned and ridden by a relative novice for a good few years so he needed a lot of weight and muscle putting on and a lot of fitness building up, once he was fit as a fiddle he started jumping again (on advice from his Physio) and has since been out ding 1m+ classes at affiliated comps in the area.

He is showing no signs of slowing down!

In my opinion, provided you take the best care possible of your veterans they can give you just as much back (if not moreso in some cases) than a younger horse!
 
Definitely not! The best pony I ever had I got when she was 16 after she retired from showing. She had previously only really competed in show hunter pony classes and we did everything! ALl pony club and cross country including introducing me to BSJA so we were doing 1m courses.
After i outgrew her she went on loan to two different families and did the same for their kids. Now we have her back and aged 31 she is still walking about on the leadrein with my 2 year old niece.
 
deffo not too old!! If he is fit and healthy and you are doing everything thing to keep him that way ( which it sounds like you are :) ) Then I say go for it!!! :D
 
LegOn said:
IAnyway, he is 16 & I've toyed with the idea of doing a few 1m courses in competition - my nerves hold me back sometimes but I also worry about his age, do you think 16 is too old to start asking that much of him??
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No sixteen is not too old, my friends horse was competing well into his mid twenties, another friend into his late twenties. These days horses are living a lot longer and although a horse is classed as aged when it reaches its eighth year (I think) I would be guided by how keen your horse is when he jumps.
 
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