Retirement of a healthy, young horse?

[ponynutz]

Pony too small really to be ridden by me aside for a light hack. My life is leading me away from the place where she's kept and I'd have to refit the saddle and spend a month bringing her into work before I could sit on her every time I came home. Although we've tried to loan out, facilities and her quirks have made it unsuccessful. Selling is not an option; I'd worry about her and she provides company for another (also retired). She's happy having just been a horse for the last (almost) 2 years but she's only 14 and I worry I would be wasting her.

Thoughts on having a horse not at retirement age as a field ornament, WWYD?

 

[View]

Your horse is happy being a horse and doesn’t perceive herself as being wasted.

I don’t see a problem in leaving her as a companion.

 

[shanti]

I'm of the belief that horses don't give a toss if they are being wasted, most would probably prefer it to be honest

 

[stangs]

You’ll have people tell you that “isn’t it a shame to be retiring a horse so young” but, if she’s currently a field ornament and happy, she will not care. And her opinion is the only one that matters.

 

[Birker2020]

Your horse is happy being a horse and doesn’t perceive herself as being wasted.

I don’t see a problem in leaving her as a companion.

Exactly. Retirement livery isn't the cheap option people think when you factor in extras like hay and feed.

 

[Red-1]

Rigs is retired, he is only a few years older than yours and is sound. ATM, he is not under any treatment other then keeping his weight in check with low sugar/starch. TBH, work suits him medically as he can then eat more.

Rigs loves being ridden. He practically begs for it some days when being groomed, stands proud and ready and is disappointed when turned back out.

I don't mind him not doing much. He would do more if someone I knew local to us wanted to (or if @SaddlePsych'D was visiting the area LOL), but we are very private and we won't advertise.

Because he is one who is the same, ridden or not, I do try to ride him out at least once a week, just round the village. He would prefer longer, but he gets what he gets. However, if he were quirky and needed bringing into work in some convoluted way, he would be retired fully. I would be OK with that.

Are you worried for the horse's sake or worried about what 'people' will think/say? I don't think horses were designed to work anyway.

 

[catkin]

What does the pony think? Is she enjoying her life?

If the answer is yes (as I suspect it is if you just asked her ) then love her, look after her and enjoy her company, she's already got a valuable job as companion to the other horse.

Companion seems to be a very under-rated job for a horse yet many are good at it.

 

[millikins]

I have Peter who was a Dragon Driving pity buy and is unridden and only 7. No physical reason he couldn't be but he's sharp as a box full of tacks and would need consistent work but he's too small for either daughter or myself to do that. He's actually very useful, polite, gets on with anything and can be left alone so long as he can see another horse.

 

[Reacher]

My mare has been retired since age of 9, she is now 22 and happy as Larry.

People criticised me / my parents for not selling my childhood pony when I outgrew her (although mum rode her for a few years). None of their business ! I kept her for the rest of her days.

I say, lucky pony not being sold on and allowed to just be a horse !

I wouldn’t worry about wasting her, just whether you might look back and feel you missed out on riding her - but if you are happy and she is only suitable for light hacks then that probably isn’t an issue.

I guess the other thing you might want to consider is watching her weight if she isn’t ridden.

 

[Tarragon]

I always used to joke that my two Exmoor ponies' dream job would be as conservation grazers!
That aside, my older pony (25 years old) is effectively retired, but does enjoy the odd outing. I suppose it just adds a bit of interest.
You can always do in-hand stuff with your pony, and even just take them out for walks.

 

[SmallPony]

No one ever talks about a dog being "wasted" as a pet rather than being a working animal, I don't know why we think horses are any different really they're happy as long as they are safe, fed and loved!

 

[equinerebel]

Are you worried for the horse's sake or worried about what 'people' will think/say? I don't think horses were designed to work anyway.

This! Horses don’t know their potential, they’re perfectly designed to just be a horse. They don’t think ahead. As long as their needs are met and they’re healthy, they don’t care if it’s a nice afternoon and they’re not out being ridden.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Most of my lot do nothing but eat, sleep, fart, repeat. Occasionally they will go to a show. I have a homebred 6yo who went to a show once as a 2yo. She's done nothing since. I don't need her to do anything but stand about looking pretty.

They aren't wasted they are doing exactly what I want them to do - not cost me any money!

 

[Jambarissa]

Anyone saying 'what a waste' is just judgemental and probably jealous.

Some horses really dont adapt to a quiet life but the vast majority are perfectly happy as pasture ornaments.

Sounds like yours is living his best life.

 

[ponynutz]

Thanks all, pretty much confirmed what I was thinking - isn't it funny how other people can get into your head so much?

In terms of her I'm not worried about her at all in terms of boredom, just a little about her weight as she's tubby now but showing no signs of continuing to gain weight. It's more like she lost her muscle and replaced it with fat and is then maintaining but can always keep an eye.

I wouldn’t worry about wasting her, just whether you might look back and feel you missed out on riding her - but if you are happy and she is only suitable for light hacks then that probably isn’t an issue.

I guess the other thing you might want to consider is watching her weight if she isn’t ridden.

I have a part-loan too so am getting my riding fix that way although I'm sure I always will miss doing the fun stuff with her instead - I have owned her for almost 10 years now and she gave me a lot of my firsts In that way I suppose she wasn't wasted at all...

 

[toppedoff]

we dont look at certain dog breeds with ordinary owners and think they are wasted because that german shep isnt in service work or a collie who doesnt have a job down at a farm - i think its a stigma or a worry we feel with horses since they do so much and quite a sports driven hobby - so dont worry about it!

 

[Wizpop]

Thanks all, pretty much confirmed what I was thinking - isn't it funny how other people can get into your head so much?

I think we are all a bit conditioned to think that horses “should“ be working as initially, that’s what most of us buy them for and expect to retire them in some way or let them slow down, in their late teens / early twenties. That coupled with not all having our own land and so paying livery, has created a culture and certain expectations.
But why not have them as pets if you can? After all, as someone else said, they weren’t designed to be ridden anyway, man decided that -along with camels!!

 

[Jenko109]

Mine is only a few years older than yours, sound and would still be quite capable of going out competing etc.

I've lost the riding bug so he is retired and loving life. He's gone feral again. Can't get near him with a halter

I couldn't care less what people think.

 

[Lexi 123]

Most of my horse’s life was spent retired she wasn’t ridden for years before I bought her . I do ride her now but we just have fun together nothing serious. I think a lot of horses/ ponys would choose to be retired and chill in the field than to be ridden. I think keeping your first pony is amazing. Once you can afford to keep her and she properly looked after. it’s none of anyone business .

 

[HollyWoozle]

My horse hasn’t done any work for many years now and she is happy as can be! Go for it!