Older horses competing at Badmington

[Stateside]

One of the commentators on the BBC coverage of Badmington said how many older horses were now competing there, Could this be down to the roads & tracks & steeplechase being stopped so the horses last longer at the top end of the sport.

 

[Irishcobs]

It could be. I know 2 4* event horses both retired at about 14/15yo as both had wind ops, but it was decided they should retire. Both these horses competed when there was the steeplechase.
But it could also be a combination of better ground, nicer fences and better training.

 

[LEC]

Loads of reasons:
Better medical/stable knowledge
Better medical diagnostics
Short format
Better training methods
Better nutrition
More choice of events over better conditions.