Retired horses and ponies
- Thread starter pistolpete
- Start date
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Sorry you’ve had to retire him 
He’s very beautiful. Do you rent a field with others? You can still do things with him such as clicker training, horse agility, groundwork training to keep you both busy. I’ve always had at least two but there was a time when they were both old and retired and I rented my field. As you say, all the time you still enjoy looking after him and can afford it, it’s entirely up to you.
He’s very beautiful. Do you rent a field with others? You can still do things with him such as clicker training, horse agility, groundwork training to keep you both busy. I’ve always had at least two but there was a time when they were both old and retired and I rented my field. As you say, all the time you still enjoy looking after him and can afford it, it’s entirely up to you.Bluewaves
Well-Known Member
Not rented land but retirement livery where he lives out 24/7. He’s been there nearly two years with two other horses in his field and loves it. I don’t do anything except bring carrots, look at his feet and scratch him. I still get his teeth done yearly.
pistolpete
Well-Known Member
I rent the field on my own and also have a loan pony to keep him company. He’s a very expensive pet now. :-( We do go for browsing walks do a bit of clicker and generally waste time with him. He’s not very sociable unless there’s food in it for him.
AandK
Well-Known Member
I have a retired 24yo who I keep with my 8yo at a DIY yard. The 24yo is out 24/7/365 in a biggish field, the 8yo is generally out full time too but the old boy is happy to be on his own if needed (like recently when 8yo had a keratoma removed from his foot), although there are always horses out in the surrounding fields.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
i have 3 retirees on rented ground. 2 mid 20s are a bit doddery if they over exert themselves when the ground is hard but generally very happy to potter about and get up to mischief. I leave them to it pretty much, just check they are the right way up and everything where it should be When they stop enjoying life or look like their old injuries are playing up then I'll let them go. fortunately the field rent is quite low.
When they stop enjoying life or look like their old injuries are playing up then I'll let them go. fortunately the field rent is quite low.MidChristmasCrisis
Well-Known Member
Daughters mare is now retired and I keep her at livery as a companion to my mare.
Fransurrey
Well-Known Member
Mine is in a field with my ridden horse on livery (DIY grass with shelter). It's an unusual but good setup, as she mostly has horses around whilst the other one is out, but I'm self-contained. It means I don't have to share my field with anyone, either!!
NinjaPony
Well-Known Member
Sorry about your boy, it's very sad when you have to retire them. Mine has been retired for years, and just followed my ridden pony around as a companion. My ridden boy has now gone, so he's an only child for the first time in nearly 10 years. He's at a very basic diy set up on a sheep farm. He has cushings/laminitis/chronic diva syndrome so comes into a stable overnight. Works for us as I can carefully manage his needs in a way that wold be more difficult on a 'proper' yard.
pistolpete
Well-Known Member
Thank you for replies. He’s only 13 so it’s potentially going to be a while. I need to keep finding the joy in him which at times I struggle with. I’ve potentially got a pony to share for a bit of riding so hopefully that will help.
Floofball
Well-Known Member
Can he be a companion to a new horse for you? Then the loan companion could go back?
It’s tough when they retire young. I had one retire at 14 and was ‘special needs’ so just kept him in the same routine on a diy yard. Could’ve been potentially been looking after him for +10 years but I lost him at 18 to colic. I took another horse on loan to ride and ended up buying him.
It’s tough when they retire young. I had one retire at 14 and was ‘special needs’ so just kept him in the same routine on a diy yard. Could’ve been potentially been looking after him for +10 years but I lost him at 18 to colic. I took another horse on loan to ride and ended up buying him.
pistolpete
Well-Known Member
I think he’d be an awful companion. He stresses on his own. No horses in next fields. Quite fancy a break if and when he goes which will probably be in 15 years!
myheartinahoofbeat
Well-Known Member
Similar to this. I retired my boy and he lived in a herd of about 10 horses for 2 years. Then our circumstances changed and we now have a house with land so I bought him back home. He's now perfectly sound( he's only 14) and I'm planning on getting back on in the summer
pistolpete
Well-Known Member
Wow how lovely. Mine has a fractured stifle joint so won’t come sound.
RHM
Well-Known Member
My pony is semi- retired, he is only 9. He has special needs so can’t be turned away on grass livery. He lives with my mare as her little companion and we have a great time out walking/jogging. There are quite a few things you can still do with them despite not being ridden. I love the bones of him so I am quite happy to fuss around him all day.