Moving horse to Spain, too old to travel? Honest opinions please

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happyhacker25

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Hello

I am considering moving back to Spain and taking my 14.3hh 17-18yo Hispano/Andalucian/Arab mare with me.

She was born in Spain, and I grew up there. We rescued her 9 years ago, when she was approx 9 years old. We then decided to move back to England a year later, in 2007, and brought her with us.

She traveled extremely well and adapted well when she got here, although she has since had a problem keeping condition on in the winter. She is very fit and healthy and is the most laid back, sweet and friendly horse.

If she did go back to Spain, it would be at the beginning of the winter to give her time to prepare for the summer and she would be fully clipped out before going. We would also get her vetted to double check that she is fit to travel.
We would use John Parker International to transport her, as they were the company who brought her over to England 8 years ago, and they were brilliant. Once there, she would be going to a 5* livery yard with plenty of turnout and ad-lib hay.

This horse means the absolute world to me and I am just thinking about this as an option at the moment.

Thanks :)
 
I would have thought the climate would suit her better now she is older, especially as she lived there before.

Actually I think the climate would suit my old bones better too ;-)
 
I wouldn't hesitate, we recently moved an old (27yo) TB over 800kms from my mums to where I am. He wasn't in good condition at the time but he travelled well and is thriving now.
 
18 isn't old, I think Gammon was 18 ish when he won the Hickstead Derby some years ago. However, have you had her tested for cushings? Sometimes losing condition is the first sign. Worth doing as I find my old boy with cushings struggles in the heat as he can't regulate his temperature as well as he did and he sometimes drips with sweats in hot weather despite being on prascend.
 
second everyone else 18 is so not old!
my OH is from abroad- and we have talked about going back there in the future, If my girl is still around (she's in her twenties) she will definitely be coming too. I think a warmer climate will be nice for an older horse, mine is always so much better with stiffness etc in summer and looks awful in winter.
If I was bothered it was too far for her in the box, I would arrange to stop somewhere with her one night halfway if possible. (Also for me as I get car sick on long journeys!)
Go for it :)
 
happyhacker25 said:
Hello

I am considering moving back to Spain and taking my 14.3hh 17-18yo Hispano/Andalucian/Arab mare with me.

She was born in Spain, and I grew up there. We rescued her 9 years ago, when she was approx 9 years old. We then decided to move back to England a year later, in 2007, and brought her with us.

She traveled extremely well and adapted well when she got here, although she has since had a problem keeping condition on in the winter. She is very fit and healthy and is the most laid back, sweet and friendly horse.

If she did go back to Spain, it would be at the beginning of the winter to give her time to prepare for the summer and she would be fully clipped out before going. We would also get her vetted to double check that she is fit to travel.
We would use John Parker International to transport her, as they were the company who brought her over to England 8 years ago, and they were brilliant. Once there, she would be going to a 5* livery yard with plenty of turnout and ad-lib hay.

This horse means the absolute world to me and I am just thinking about this as an option at the moment.

Thanks :)
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If it were my horses I would take them no matter what, I could not leave without them.
 
No, shouldn't think it would be an issue at all.

I did do a veteran class a couple of years ago with someone with a 24 yo native pony type who was taking him to USA with her, that I wasn't sure I would do in that situation.
 
I'll just add my voice to the "18 isn't old" chorus and add you appear to have made excellent and comprehensive plans for the journey so there's no reason why it shouldn't be a completer success.
 
I took my 19yo TB mare to France to compete for the weekend :)

Just need to make sure they have lots of fluid- wet hay if you can as well!
 
not too old, someone in the next village bought her 28yo QH back from Canada with her last year. I know she paid alot (about 3X the going price) for her to have special care and an 'easier' journey but she's come through it looking great.
 
Thanks everybody, very encouraging :) I know 18 isn't that old, I'm just paranoid cos I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her on the journey. The climate would be good for her as she gets older though (and me!)
 
I agree 18 isn't old, in your case as she was born in Spain she should cope well with the heat and flies.

However, having witnessed the misery of UK born horses struggling with flies and. Hot temperature, lack of grass in France I would never do it to my native.
 
Im going to be doing the opposite, Ive been in Spain 11 years and Im planning to move back to the UK (if and when I sell the house) one of my mares is 17 this year ( Ive had her since she was 5 months old) and I will be bringing her back with me, as well as a 15 ( from the UK also) and 8 year old (born here) as long as she is healthy I cant see the problem
 
After doing some more extensive research, I have found out that my girl is actually probably 23, not 17. By the time we moved her next autumn she would be 24. What are people's opinions? TIA
 
I would take her without hesitation!! I know of someone who took their 25 year old to Spain where he is now thriving in a warmer climate. Go for it!!
 
Not too old at all! She might live another 15 years! Age wouldn't worry me when taking this kind of decision but health would. If she was thirty and in excellent health then I'd still take her if she was mine! Good luck :)
 
Go for it and if you want another quote for transport I can thoroughly recommend ETA at Dover they have brought several back from spain for me and is down there at least once a week .
 
I would take my 24yr old over to the continent were I to move :)

I wouldn't take him any further than Europe really but a glitch to Spain would probably do his old bones some good :)
 
unless she has serious underlying illness (which you are having her checked anyway) I would take her without hesitation, I would travel most sensible horses at any age as long as they didn't have illness or other issues such as hating travelling the point it made it dangerous. Hydration the other end with all the supplements I am sure she will thank you for the climate!!
 
I don't think her actual age is important, just the physical health. If she is fit and healthy, you are willing to spend the money, she would be happier etc then it would be a no brainer for me :)
 
Thanks everyone! I just worry as I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her either on the journey or once she was there. She travels extremely well though, and a lot of research would go into transport companies/livery yards :)
 
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