Older Pony

[Taffieboy1]

Just looking for a bit of advice/feedback really.

Having an older pony 21 years, with regards to riding out, at my yard its all off road hacking, but a lot of up and down hill. So would you say that 5/6 days a week for 20-30 mins a day is better than, 3 times a week longer hacking like 60-75 mins.

 

[highlandponygirl]

It depends how well they are at this stage in their lives. I rode a few older horses in their early twenties almost every day for 3/4 to 1 1/2 hours, but they were fit and didn't show any signs of wanting to slow down. Only getting into their late twenties did we reduce the work they did to 2/3 time a week.

If your horse is still relatively healthy and is coping with what you are asking, without paying for it later, then I don't see any reason why they can't do what you are asking. There are plenty horses/ponies out there being worked/competed happily into there twenties.

 

[be positive]

20 mins is not really long enough to properly warm up their muscles so I am not sure that 20-30 mins is ideal for an older horse, I would be thinking of 45-60 mins 5 days a week but being flexible, the odd longer ride, if they are fit enough, then a couple of days off to recover then a few shorter rides to keep them ticking over, it is knowing your horse, using your own judgement and being prepared to miss a few days if they do seem to be struggling that will allow them to stay in work for longer.
Some of it will depend on how they live, if turned out 24/7 on hilly fields they will be naturally fitter than a horse living in most of the time that gets turned out in a tiny flat paddock for an hour a day.