Is 21 years too old for pony club?? pony not rider!!

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e21631

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Looking for some advice.....

looking for a pony for my competent but sometimes nervous 12 year old daughter to do Pony club, hacking, unaffiliated SJ, sponsored rides; we are by no means out at events every weekend, probably 1 in 3 and she rides 4 times a week.

She is not one of these cantering everywhere riders and is always conscious of things like hard ground

We have seen an active healthy pony aged 21 who fits the bill but I'm concerned about his age. Do you think it's fair to expect him to do this level of work at his age?
 
Depends on the pony! My son has a 20 year old pony that has just aid 'Enough' but until now shes been great.
If hes fit and well and his joints are OK theres no reason why he can't do it, he might just need a smidge more TLC than a younger pony.
 
I've seen plenty of ponies this age, and older, out doing PC and enjoying it. As long as they are up to the job, fit, healthy, and enjoying it I see no reason why they couldn't spend a couple more years doing PC. In fact, the oldest pony I know, (He is about 43 now!) was a regular PC pony until his very late 20's and carried on doing the odd 'fun' PC comp into his 30's!
 
I think it's ok depending on the pony, my friend has a JA pony who is 21years old and is still doing trailblazers etc every weekend- you wouldn't think he was that old! As long as you take good care of his joints I'm sure he'll be fine for some time yet
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hmm- let me tell you my story! i was a very nervous 11 yr old, had many unsuitable ponies, i was very nervous, then i met k. she was 20 at the time, she'd been there done it all and she gave me everthing. we did high level pony club (and i was one of those canter around kids in the end!!), bsja, pre novice eventing, EVERYTHING!! so i think that age is ideal if well and healthy. i had the best ridden years ever with her. we stopped competing when she was 26. although she would have gone on!! she is still with me now at the grand old age of 32!!! go for it, she made me what i am today!!
 
Agree with previous posters: what is he doing now and is he still enjoying it? If he's fit and happy sounds fine to me.
(I've been hacking on a RS 30year old - he doesn't really like working in the school but loves hacking, they keep thinking they should retire him but he so clearly loves his job, so he just hacks now, and is really up for a good blast!)
 
Have to agree with others on here. My younger daughter PC'd on a 24 year old pony and rode him at least 4 times a week too. He was great and he loved every minute. He's now 27 and is ridden about once a fortnight by the YO's grandchildren, just walking up the road and back.

Look at what this pony is doing now in his current home. Is he fit and enjoying work?

I don't think it would be a problem, but you would need to take care of him and his joints.
 
my first pony was believed to be 22, later found out hes much older! He was/is ace! built all my cofidence up, took him to pony club camp & he was the worst behaved there! not in a nasty way just got very excited! lol! Hes since been retired due to arthritis & is now in his 30s & im sure he would love to stil be ridden. Sadly all i get to do with him is ride him to the field as im really too big for him & his joints cant cope with more
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ditto clairefeekerry1 in that he made me the rider i am now!
I think everyone needs an oldie at somepoint, they look after you while you are a novice & when you get a bit too big for your boots they put you back in your place. The teach you the tricks of the trade & look after you when you need it! Oh what i would give for that again!
 
Still young at 21 these days and most probably give your kiddy confidence. Some of the best ponies I saw at pony club was the oldies and they were treasured most had a long list of parents wanting them when present kiddy out grew
 
Thanks for all replies you have all put my mind at rest!

The pony has been outgrown and is currently only ridden at weekends by cousin of owner, so not in the level of work we would like to do but is forward going, sound and jumps enthusiastically

Would you have him vetted?
 
at my riding centre there is a 30year old who is still going strong he loves pony club events, work in the school and jumping. for buliding confidence an old pony is the best you carnt beat and old horse/pony and i do pony club showjumping on a 25+ year old not sure how old he is but hes the best
 
Yes I would have him vetted,but I would take the vets findings under carefull consideration. The pony will have had a few " scrapes "in his life ,and it is the vets duty to tell you,but they are not necessarily reasons to be put off.
 
As long as the pony is sound I see no reason why not. I won our local open cross country competition (fastest time won) on my friend's 24 year old ex JA pony, as an adult, beating all the other adults on horses, including my own horse!
 
I took my son on his 19 year old pony to a PC rally today & there was a 34 year old pony in the same lesson, totally sound & enjoying life.

I didn't have our pony vetted when I bought her aged 17 as I didn't intend to insure her because of her age. She's been fine.
 
Hi I dont post to often but on this topic I just had to. My boy is competing a 33year old. This pony was doing games at national levvel till last year & is now doing showing & jumping with my boy being riden 4 times a week 1 jumping comp 1 x 2hr hack & dressage the other 2 days & loving his Life. On top of this he is plaing grandad in the field to a 7 month colt & belive me he really does love life
 
Vetted? waste of money! At that age he prob wont pass flexions and so would fail anyway. Your btter off if he's sound and hapy taking him home and maintaining on some cortaflex .
 
I was doing mounted games on my pony when he was 28-30. He then went into retirement to only come back out again and do PC stuff when he was 31-32, he managed senior camp, rallies and occasional hunting in this time. He is still with me at the grand old age of 37 and he is tacked up every now and then and ridden by my nieces in the summer.
 
I started riding my pony when he was about 25 and he was still competing at a decent level in his early to mid thirties. He was used as a light hack for kids right up until he died aged about 42. He taught me everything I know and I owe him so much. He wasn't easy but he was clever and looked after me.

If the pony in question is fit and well then go for it!!!
 
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