Is anyone else on their last horse?

Phoebe

Phoebe

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I have two geldings, 26 and 20 who I've owned nearly ten years. I'm 40 this year and can feel myself hanging up my hat in the knowledge that once I lose my beloved faniliar boys (hoping I will have many more years with them) I won't be risking buying another.

Is anyone else in a similar position or been in it and changed your mind?
 
yeah, I thought that when I bought my last 2 year old, whos now 5. I hope she will last me my lifetime, if Im lucky.. Im 32 now. But then again, im not sure I would cope if I didnt have horses in my life in some way !
 
I'm mid 40s and have just lost the horse I had since my teens. I am just about to start looking for another horse. This will probably be the most expensive I will ever buy, and will look for a 7-8 yr old. It may well be my last proper horse if it goes on to a long healthy life, but I still yearn to break something in one day, so intend to get a NF baby from the sales at some point.
 
I thought I'd bought my last horse about 8 years ago. She was aged 6 and I was almost 50. Unfortunately she had to be pts aged 10 and I've also lost her replacement since then. I have a 20 yr old mare currently. I will retire from work later this year and intend to spend a lot more time riding. I am wondering whether to buy a 2 yr old which looks very similar to my mare, to bring on for when she needs to do less. I am almost certain to get another horse of some kind within the next few years. Our RC has a growing number of retired and over-60 members, who are all very active and another group, who are all looking forwards to an active retirement with more time to ride than they have now.
 
I am 65. My horse is 14. I bought him 12 years ago with the firm intention of riding until I was 70 and broke him myself (very cautiously!) at the age of 55. I am now rather stiff with a nice collection of physical problems. I ride when I feel up to it, lunge or work in hand at other times. I changed the way I keep my horse two years ago and went from livery with everything laid on to rented grazing with a field shelter and a companion pony. My horse and I are very relaxed with each other and mostly enjoy each other's company without any pressure to perform. I pay for help with physical chores but it still works out cheaper than livery and I hope to be able to keep my horse this way till the end.
 
I only came BACK to horses aged 42 after a 21-year break to have a mortgage and raise 3 children! I'm 49 in a couple of months and have vowed that when I'm too scared and/or creaky to climb aboard, I will have a little driving outfit and sit behind instead :D
 
I thought of breaking the companion pony to drive but have to admit my nerve is gone when I think of braving today's traffic with a green pony. I don't do stress very well these days!
 
Yes, I think so. I'm going to back him this spring/summer - he'll be three in June! I'm 43, and also have a 20 year old gelding who is occasionally unlevel/not quite right but has a few years of light hacking in him yet, and a yearling, who I expect we'll sell on at some point, unless he goes from being flighty blood horse to dope on a rope. The three year old is a delight, I would struggle to part with him, but am also aware that there are many other things I want to do with my life as well as ride.
 
I am so pleased this thread has appeared. I am in my 50's, owned and ridden since 14, never been without a horse or 3 in all those years and competed successfully.

I decided the big horse would be it, bought him in 2004 following the loss of 2 in short period of time, followed by another loss in 2008 of an aged hunter I owned for over 20 years. The big horse took us to heights never dreamt of, Hoy's included so it would be a good time to finish when the horse stopped competing and became a happy hack, he is 19 now.

Had long discussions with OH about doing things non horsey - a holiday even, days out without the usual - we must get back, and oh no, it's raining, big horse will be going potty, must go and get him in etc etc.

Spring 2010 came and with it arrived a emaciated cob mare that I "couldn't leave in the field I found her in". Summer 2011 came and with it came a stunning foal from the cob mare, who had turned out to be a rather nice cob mare, so I bred from her - to produce me a steady cob to ride in my retirement...............Other half is still about .........just.

I honestly think for those of us who have had horses all our life, giving up could just be a little more tricky than we think it will be.
 
domane said:
I only came BACK to horses aged 42 after a 21-year break to have a mortgage and raise 3 children! I'm 49 in a couple of months and have vowed that when I'm too scared and/or creaky to climb aboard, I will have a little driving outfit and sit behind instead :D
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Me too. I came back to horses aged 42 after nearly 20 years. I got myself a 5 yr old TB as a project and i have a dream that as we both get older we'll have a go at side saddle!
 
A couple of years ago, aged 53, I thought that I'd probably give up when my 2 old boys fully retire (they were 19 and 23 at the time). Somehow over the next year or so we acquired a 3, 4 and 5 year old, plus a bigger lorry to lug them all round in, with another 5 year old coming very soon. Still haven't worked out how this happened despite having plenty of time to think about it as I muck them all out!
 
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Probably, but I'm ever the optimist, my lad is ride and drive and since I'm riddled with arthritis, have trouble dismounting (sorted) I'm looking to get my lad back into regular driving, not just messing about, so I can keep him in my life, he's a quirky creature and I wouldn't part with him, but he's a bit young to be a field ornament, all I can say is watch this space
 
Phoebe said:
I have two geldings, 26 and 20 who I've owned nearly ten years. I'm 40 this year and can feel myself hanging up my hat in the knowledge that once I lose my beloved faniliar boys (hoping I will have many more years with them) I won't be risking buying another.

Is anyone else in a similar position or been in it and changed your mind?
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Yes I am late forties and last year tried to find a riding hacking horse but after being unable to find one and getting chucked off the last one I viewed(after so many porkers) I am now just with one old retiree who am thinking wont be long for this world. I completely realise how lucky I have been owning such a nice old boy and was lucky to have found him locally and quickly all those years ago. I think my bones wont cope anymore too! So I am in pretty much the same situation as you. I have missed having a riding horse and did go to the local riding schools for lessons last year as a bit of a test(just to sit on something sane). I do dither IF?? I dont know?? More 80% NO...with doubt! I just think they dont make them like they use to!
 
I am definitely on my last horse. I have just retired and on only slightly more than the state pension, money is far too tight to keep a horse. I have one on loan who will have to go back very soon and a home-bred eventing youngster (5) in an event yard in Kent who is for sale a.s.a.p. :(
 
In theory yes, i bought a foal 2 1/2 years ago. She's now 3 and i'm 40 and i figured we'd grow old ungracefully together then hang our boots up at the same time :)
I really hope it works out this way, would be wonderful because she is the equine love of my life :)
 
Gosh, you youngsters of 40/50 look at us "oldies" who plan on spending fantastic retirement years riding all over the place and having fun!!! We won't have to worry about getting off to work looking "smart" - or even "clean"!!!! We can do what we like and people will either laugh at us or with us!!! And we have a perfect excuse to downscale to pony size!!! The later years are the better years!!! However I must say I haven't time to waste healing injuries, so not only do I wear a helmet and good boots every time I ride, but also a body protector. And having done some natural horsemanship clinics I "ground test" every time before I ride. Better safe than sorry!!! I am 68 - still working! - and have 4 ponies still, I retired, 1 middle aged and 2 youngsters, one of which is my retirement project......!!!!
 
Alyth said:
Gosh, you youngsters of 40/50 look at us "oldies" who plan on spending fantastic retirement years riding all over the place and having fun!!! We won't have to worry about getting off to work looking "smart" - or even "clean"!!!! We can do what we like and people will either laugh at us or with us!!! And we have a perfect excuse to downscale to pony size!!! The later years are the better years!!! However I must say I haven't time to waste healing injuries, so not only do I wear a helmet and good boots every time I ride, but also a body protector. And having done some natural horsemanship clinics I "ground test" every time before I ride. Better safe than sorry!!! I am 68 - still working! - and have 4 ponies still, I retired, 1 middle aged and 2 youngsters, one of which is my retirement project......!!!!
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Love it!!!
 
What an encouraging thread! When my lovely old mare died suddenly I gave up horses completely, didn't even go near a horse for five years. She was 28 and I had had her from an unbroken 3yo. I was 51.

Then last September we bought a 10yo hunter type, thinking we could enjoy him together. (must have had a senile moment!) He is a joy to do everything with but is unrideable, not quite what a couple of middle age need, as he is also 16.1, but we adore him and will be keeping him anyway, and trying to find out why such a good natured lad is the way he is when asked to canter.

Trouble is, I still have the urge to ride, even though arthritis may be a problem. OH has been taking lessons and is a natural. (Oh, but the cost!) :eek:Looking at options, we need a field with hardstanding and a nice steady 15.2 heavyweight cob to keep our lad company....and to win the lottery to pay for it all!:D

Finding it hard to give up the dream, after all, we only get one chance at life, surely we should try to do what we want to?
 
One of our neighbours who we see all the time out on hacks bobbing along on a little whizzy TB I thought was in her mid sixties turns out she's actually 82! clearly riding all her life has kept her fit and youthful!

The fountain of youth is not a fountain it comes with four legs and whickers when it sees you!
 
How funny that this thread has popped up. Yesterday I had a v depressing conversation with brother in law. He was asking how beloved first and currently only horse was as he had a bad leg injury last year (horse not binl!) And was I still buying a second horse. I explained that I had decided not to for the present as have been told to ride beloved horse or do groundwork exercises 7 days per week to help his leg (he's sound but lots of muscle loss and scar tissue to resolve) . I also have a 7 year old child (bought horse when 30, had child when 40 , there's a pattern emerging isn't there!) So don't have time and money for another horse. I was planning to get one when son hits teenage and won't want Mummy hanging around instead. BinL laughed and said that beloved horse will be my last one then as I would be too old to look after another one by the time I bought it! Was really upset but now thinking maybe get another on for 50th birthday when beloved horse will be 24!
 
Hopefully not, but I can see myself being on my last horse. I'm 23 and my boy is 17; I know it sounds like I am being melodramatic but I have my reasons!

I like to think I will get another after hes gone but I should think I will have to prioritise a mortgage and children and other "adult" things by then. Also I'm not sure I could find another that would fill my boys shoes: hes no superstar by anyone else's standards but he is perfect for what I want! I can't see myself getting back into horse ownership in my 40s, I feel that by then I will have lost the "bug". There will definitely be a point where I am "horseless" - my boy will get 100% of my horsey attention for the remainder of his life, and he isn't particularly fond of other horses so I doubt he would appreciate having another around in close quarters.

Hopefully I will have another though - I'm very impressed and encouraged by many posters in this thread! It's clearly never too late!
 
somedays i feel like i'm on my last legs but i'm not sure i'm on my last horse, or 3;) i have cunningly made sure i have a few of the blighters so that as the older ones slow down i have a slightly younger one to keep me going:D
 
Im 51 at the moment and my horse is 7, if she can go for 20 yrs possibly she'll be my last, but i have a grandson and grandaughter i can prime who might have a wee something i can burl around on when theyre in their 20's, save me having to do stables, field etc.
There might even be a cure or treatment for arthritis down the line keeping us all pain free for a bit longer :D
 
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