Rant about selling older horses

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The rule about a 1st pony's age was that the combined age of the kid and the pony should be at least 30.

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You're kidding!!!

Our boys learned to ride on an section A that was 11 when we first got him The boys were 4 and 6 and went off the lead rein in a year. He was a safe as houses and we'll never sell him ( aged 16 now). We have friends who live nearby and their son is about to start learning on him

My 8 year old is still riding him, my 10 year old is riding an 11 year old who also incredibly reliable. 8 year old is about to move to the 10 year olds' pony, 10 year old to a 6 year old pony. She was schooled to perfection by someone we know and trust and is just a lovely pony.

We plan never to sell any of ours (4 so far). We love them to bits and yes, we may loan them to close friends, but they're not leaving our fields.
 
I dont think selling at 16 is irrisponsible although i couldnt personally do it myself. There are lots of reasons why people sell horses on to new homes, its not just because they get 'to old.'
 
As others have pointed out, an older horse can be exactly what some people want. We've bought a 12 year old, not old by most standards, but had competed hard for many years and was very high mileage. The vendors were selling because they had to and were open and honest about his past. Our vet had a long look at him and concluded that he was no longer up to hard work 6 days a week and competing a couple of times a week in Summer as he did in the past.

What we have is an experienced reliable old warhorse. Point him at a cross country course and you just need to steer, he'll do the rest. Same with show jumping and PC games (though he's a bit big for that). He doesn't get put to anything as big as he used to go over, but he loves what he does.

He's high mileage all right but that has brought experience that his current rider is finding invaluable and she's learning loads from him.

His riding days may well end earlier than they might had he had an easier life, but that's fine. His price reflected his reduced capability and he gives us everything we want.
 
I absolutely agree, generally speaking adverts for older animals for sale make me sick. The best childs pony I bought was at least 20 when I bought her for a nominal amount. There was no way I would have tried to sell her on - although I could have done so many times.
Older animals are quite simply worth less, if people really need that 500 quid for an old horse, then it's a sad state of affairs, I'd rather sell the contents of my front room. Because old horses are so much less valuable they are really vulnerable.
If your old horse has plenty to offer still as a schoolmaster - then loan it to someone....
I would hope that the animals I sell now, are in a permanent home by the time they are 16
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Ive just started exercising a Welsh D Mare, she's nearly 16 and I didn't belive the owner as she is still full of life!!! If I didnt have Bear I would buy her! She's been there and done everything but she's still doing everything!!
 
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