Older Horses

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Cobland

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My friend has been at her current yard for a while now, she gets on well with everyone there. She would hack out with another lady her age at the weekends. She knows i come on here and wanted me to ask for advice.

She has announced to my friend that she is getting divorced, that with the kids around she wouldnt have the time or the money to keep her horse.

She owns a 13.3hh medium weight cob, he is 18 years old and has arthritis, i dont know where, she said that before her friend rides she gives him bute.

I dont see how there is a market for this horse, but i could be wrong. How much would this gelding be worth? Lol no im not thinking of buying him. Already have one with arthritis!

Ive rode him myself, he is quiet to hack out, he can canter for short distance, walk and trot are fine for him. I believe she rides him every weekend. She says that he cant jump, so would just be a hacking horse.

Any advise i can pass on?
 
Perhaps she could look for a long term loan home for him. Maybe as a light hack with a view to being a companion later? I can't see that she would get any price for him TBH. My old mare had arthritis everywhere and I rode her for 20 mins a day until the day she died. I am sure it kept her going. I really think that light regular hacking keeps these arthritic horses going longer.

Jo x
 
Thank you i will pass it on. I find my arthritic mare seems better after a wee hack, better than standing in a stable getting stiff
 
18 isn't really old for such a pony. It really depends on how bad his arthritis is I suppose. My friend took on a 23 yr old arab x about 8 years ago which had arthritis and was on bute. She still hacks this mare out a couple of times a week even though its over 30years old. She is still able to have a short trot and sometimes she will canter, only if the mare is feeling quite lively.
My friend took her on a permanent loan situation which may be the answer for your friend. There are people out there who are happy to have a happy hacker but they wouldn't be prepared to pay much I wouldn't have thought if its on bute.
 
well in honesty from the description he may not hold much value maybe 400-500pounds, but there are plenty of people who are happy to take on older horses, hope your friend finds someone
smile.gif
 
I can think of someone he'd suit. She's a happy hacker that wants to enjoy the countryside on a nice horse. Her current pony is on permanent (for life) loan.

I'm sure there are lots of people out there that would love a pony like this as finding safe and quiet hackers seems a rarety these days. Not sure about the money side of things though. May need to be on the basis of long term loan until loaner agrees to part with a few hundred quid to make the pony theres.
 
Unless she can find him a long term home where she can guarantee his future then I suggest that she either just loan him out (with effective supervision) to keep control of his future or even consider having him PTS.

This is purely for the ponys long term welfare, not because I have anything against old arthritic ponies! He probably has a number of enjoyable years left but personally I would not want to take the risk of him being neglected/abused at some point in the future as his condition deteriorated or ending up in the hands of someone not willing to pay the vets bills that will inevitably come with him.

Hope she and the pony have a happy outcome in the circumstances.
 
I will try and get a photo on if the owner allows it. A while back my friend phoned me and asked if i wanted to go a hack using this guy, the lady hadnt been able to ride for a few weeks due to work commitments etc. I didnt know this.

He spooked at a few things and felt like a time bomb, but he was easy to bring back from a canter etc. Only time with my girl Angel gets sore is when standing in a stable for too long, so shes out 24/7. At their yard you arent allowed to keep your horse out at night and the fields are now closed for winter.
 
18 isnt old for a pony, espec of that size.

Is she giving him anything for his arthritis, ie a joint supplement, as it coud make a big difference and if he isnt so stiff and prospective buyers/loaners see he is ok with a supplement, they will be more willing to take him on.

TBH I think anyone would be reluctant to pay a half decent amount of money for a pony who already at 18 needs bute before riding because he is so stiff, I personally would look at loaning him out long term, at least then your friend has contro over what happens to him.
 
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