Is 18 too old?

[mum_gone_rogue]

I’m looking at getting a second horse as a stable companion and also as a confidence builder for myself (after a rather nasty fall resulting in broken bones and surgery). I’ve seen one who on paper seems ideal - lovely, has done XC and hunts etc, but he is 18. Is that too old for me to consider getting?

I’m not looking at chopping and changing my horses but at the same time, I don’t want to have to retire him any time soon.
Advice for a newish owner?

 

[stangs]

Depends on what you want to do with him. At 18, I should think he’s being sold because he’s no longer as comfortable doing XC and hunting.

 

[throwawayaccount]

I would have a look if you like the sound of the horse, and get it vetted- it will probably have a few bits and pieces not quite right tbh, but for what you want to do might be alright?

 

[Glitter's fun]

What breed & height is he? (That would make a difference to his working life expectancy. )
By the law of averages you won't have him as long as a younger horse (of course any horse you buy could break the day after it arrives).
I'd ask what his veterinary history is. (If they say none they're lying at this age.) If they're honestly handing you his vet. records & when you ask around (e.g. find out where he hunts) it seems he's ok, then I'd go & ride him if it was me*.
In the end horse buying comes down to which risk you want to take!

* I have form at this! I once bought a 20 year old horse because she was a schoolmistress at something I needed to know right then. She taught me all I know about lateral work and flying changes and I had her about 5 years before she broke my heart. They all do that eventually! I don't regret buying her, it was absolutely the right thing to do for me at that time.

 

[mum_gone_rogue]

Thanks all. I’m really wanting him to hell rebuild my confidence and as a happy hacker with the occasional XC jump of one comes up in front of us. Not looking for a competitive nature as my near 6 yr ISH will be for that.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I wouldn't write off an older horse necessarily! I bought one late teens, had a foal from her, took me on some amazing adventures, fun rides and even short days hunting. PTS a few years ago and miss her dearly!

 

[mustardsmum]

Buy the horse you need now. If he ticks all your boxes - and he has a relatively ok vet history for an 18 year old (expect the usual things) you could get a good few hacking years from him. Get him properly vetted (5 stage) and consider X-rays - if you’re concerned about hocks. As you have a youngster, he may work perfectly as a hack while the youngster is brought on. I had a sixteen year old on loan who stayed with us until his mid twenties. It was only the last few years he slowed up. I’ve known ponies that have had to be retired at 10, so the fact he’s still hunting at 18…. As others have said maybe the hunting is just a bit too much now. If you are happy to offer him a home for the rest of days of his life, he may be just what you need! Good luck ?

 

[anon345]

I got a 19yo mare to run alongside my 6yo competing mare last year, best thing I could have done! Shes sensible and takes me out hacking all over the place, and does go out to do a prelim occasionally
I would still vet though to make sure there is nothing that would affect what you want to do

 

[paddi22]

i wouldn't write him off. it could be the owner wants to progress up heights and knows the horse isn't comfortable. I've had a few eventers who at 18 would still fly around, but I ended up loaning out because I didn't want to have to run them on hard or deep ground. and after covid they just didn't get their fitness back. I loaned one out to a lovely guy who does everything on him, but at a more comfortable level for the horse. can still gallop and do xc no bother, and he's 22 now.

 

[JBM]

My first horse was 19 when I bought her
She’s 22 now (this year) and has her winters off (my choice) and will still jump just for the fun of it
Personally I don’t jump her much just for preference but if you leave a jump up in the arena she will jump it by herself while I’m mucking out ?
She did leagues until she was 21 they got a bit too much for her just could tell she wasn’t as forward anymore
But she would still do show jumping competitions and breeze the young ones just not 6 week leagues anymore!
(ignore my position)
This is her jumping at 20

 

[sarcasm_queen]

Old pony was 23 when we got him. He had another 5 years of jumping and xc before he started to slow down. Age wouldn’t necessarily put me off if there’s no major physical problems

 

[Abacus]

Sounds perfect for what you want and an 18 year old may have many years to go. My 25 year old could still do the job you describe (and has been a confidence builder for many people along the way). If you had to, for example, inject the hocks or use Cartophen or similar to keep him comfortable it wouldn't be too difficult to manage.

 

[Annagain]

I bought a now 15 year old last year - which isn't really the same at all but I did have those concerns too, purely because I'm pretty sure he'll be my last horse and I wanted one to see me through the next 15 years to my retirement, when OH and I plan to go travelling. However I stumbled across Wiggy and he was the horse I needed now so I decided not to worry about 10 years time and to make decisions based on the present. His full history was known and I had access to all his vet records (which are just jabs, teeth and one allergic reaction to something). When he was vetted, the vet said he was the best 14 year old she'd ever vetted, she couldn't find a thing wrong with him and said he had the body of an 8 yr old.

I wouldn't worry about his age as such but get as much of his history as you can and ask to see his vet records. If there's anything on there that worries you get the vet to pay particular attention to it in any vetting that happens.

 

[Merrymoles]

I bought an 18-year-old last summer. He is fit and healthy but his owner felt he now needed a quieter life. Earlier in his life he had been jumping some impressive heights and I have no intention of trying that so it suits us both. Although he did pop out over the fence when I first got him so he's obviously still capable! As with Annagain, he will probably be my last horse.

I think these days many horses are capable of a reasonable level of work well into their mid 20s if they have been properly cared for in the past and I am hoping I will have him for a few years yet. My friend's ID was still hacking out aged 29 and 3/4 when we lost him to colic in the spring so I don't think 18 is too old.

 

[J&S]

I had the ride on an older school master, I started riding him when he was 22 and rode him happily for 5 years. Hacking and arena trec were a breeze for him after a life as a hunter/XC BE/PC SJ horse! Really does depend on the individual as to whether they are up to it so you better go and see!

 

[paddi22]

just from past experience loaning out oldies - the ones that went to yards with 24/7 turnout stayed working comfortably a lot longer than ones that went to yards with a few hours turnout per day.

 

[Abacus]

just from past experience loaning out oldies - the ones that went to yards with 24/7 turnout stayed working comfortably a lot longer than ones that went to yards with a few hours turnout per day.

Totally agree with this. Mine has lived out for the last 7 years and I wouldn't leave him in a stable for more than a couple of hours now.

 

[Pmf27]

My loan horse is an old boy and he's brill, still hunts and loves a jump. We mostly hack and have the odd lesson, he's as spritely as his much younger field companion.

 

[canteron]

I retired my ID at 25 years.

 

[splashgirl45]

I got my loan horse when she was 18, half TB half Selle Francais, she had been hunted every season but owner felt she needed to retire to a hacking/low level competition home , I had her for 2 years and gave her up due to my issues and she then went to another hacking home and she’s been there for 2 years and is still sound and happy being ridden 5 days a week . I would say go for it if you need a safe horse to get your confidence back and you are prepared to keep him till the end , and not expect to sell him on

 

[MuddyMonster]

I think for what you want to do, I wouldn't discount him at all

I'd budget into your every day costs the potential for more frequent body work, on going vets bill if medication required etc and a bit more TLC but otherwise I hope he works out for you!

 

[PeterNatt]

I was gifted a lovely 15 year old Welsh Section D who proved to be nuclear bombproof and I had great fun with her (just hacking and long distance rides). She sadly passed away aged 29 but she was absolutely brilliant and anyone could ride her as she would not react to anything.

 

[Orangehorse]

You will have to factor in veterinary expenses.

Danilon has doubled in price and he may need Cushings medication later, with resultant blood tests, etc.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

I bought a mare who was supposed to be a 13 yo ( in the years before passports were invented ! ) . She was going cheap but was fit and sound and , as I later discovered , would jump anything you pointed her at and we had a busy old life together ! A couple of years later , through a bit of a fluke , I managed to trace her back to her breeder ( and I was only her 4th owner ! ) , and she turned out to have been 16 when I bought her so was now 18 yo ! I had a bit of a " Wah ! " moment and then realised that it didn't really make any difference - if she was fit , sound and happy to work then it was just a matter of listening to her , but then I would do that with any horse , even a youngster . She was pts at 26 following a field injury and although she was no longer competing she was still fit and well and hacking out regularly .
As regards your prospective purchase I'm firmly of the opinion that if a horse has got to 18 yo and it's still sound and healthy then it's made of strong stuff , has probably been well looked after and is unlikely to break now .

This is my 18yo team chasing



And at 21 taking a young rider around her first hunter trials

 

[Marigold4]

I know lots of people are saying go for it with this horse, but personally I wouldn't buy a horse that age. There's bound to be some wear and tear even if not yet discovered. Old age issues are bound to crop up at some stage - cushings, arthritis, sidebone, breathing issues etc. If you can't ride the horse it will get harder and harder to resell/rehome as the horse ages so you'll be stuck with it and its retirement costs. I would look for one no more than 14, personally.

 

[Ratface]

I bought my Arabian horse when he was 19. He'd been a successful showjumper, getting to Grade B and winning at HOYS.
He and I have been together for 10 years, doing all sorts of things that amuse us and keep us healthy.
Yesterday, he annoyed the YO by hurtling round his large field and screaming loudly.
Just because he could...
Horse health is unpredictable. Check as much of the animal's breeding, previous veterinary history, and employ a recommended equine veterinarian.
Good luck.

 

[suestowford]

My first horse was an older one, I was hoping to find a nice old boy to ease me into horse ownership. I didn't have him vetted but then he did only cost me £400. Fortunately he hadn't got much wrong with him, and what there was, was fixable (mainly due to neglect, so was all fixed by what I would consider basic care).
He was sold to me as a 17 yr old but going by his teeth I believe he was 20. I had six lovely years with him, and only the last 3 months of that involved a lot of vet bills. I realise I was incredibly lucky with him, in so many ways.

 

[Abacus]

There's a lovely looking hunter on the Equestrian notice board who is 16, if you want something a touch younger.

https://theequestriannoticeboard.co...d/ad/seasoned-hunter,2222.html#dj-classifieds