Should I event him again??

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Mbronze

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Right, I have a 26yr old, 15hh gelding whom I retired last year from eventing (he only did intro/prenovice)
HH007.jpg

Photo is last year (25yrs old)
The reason I retired him was partly because of his age and partly because after an event he looses quite a bit of condition, but bounces back after a week or so.
This is a horse that loves his job, and when I bought my new one (to event) I thought he would gladly take a back seat, but he just doesn't seem to enjoy life as much as he did before when we were competing.
Obviously i don't want him to overexert him, but was thinking whether I should enter him in one or two intros for the end of the season. Anybody think this is the right thing to do?
 
Personally I think it is too much.

Having said that he looks absolutely fab in the photo and obviously from your comments he is missing something in his life.

Could you perhaps just do some pleasure rides or hunter trials with him - so that he doesn't have to be super fit, after all a 1DE is really all day.

What do others think? On reflection do people hunt horses at this age and is a 1DE no more strenous than that?

Sorry, more questions than answers!!
 
He looks fab in the pictures. As you mentioned he loses some condition after an event have you thought about taking him to do just some sj, dressage or hunter trials?
 
yeah i agree with lizzie liz - He could still do less stressful stuff but at least it will keep his mind occupied.
I guess its a case of try it and see and just keep an eye on him.
 
I think horses are great at telling you what they can and can't do.. take him to the odd event if you feel like it, obviously don't chase the time xc on him, but just let him bob round at his own pace!! he obviously loves it!!
 
Personally I wouldn't. It would worry me that he lost condition afterwards. But I would do something less stressful, like some little SJ things or something? Just so he still gets outings sometimes?
 
Perhaps not do Be but something like open jumping instead at RC level, our 23 year old is similar, getting on but still sound and willing to compete, but he has suddenly started to look older, which is my benchmark for stopping competing him.
Why not just see how he copes with the above? If he loses a lot of weight it's a sure sign to stop, but if he regains it within a week then carry on.
 
Thanks for all your comments, I think I will keep him ticking over at RC open level for a bit, I always let him go at his own pace now, which is slower than it was - but is definetely nicer to sit too - he used to be a bit of a pulling demon!!!
 
I have to disagree with the majority here, I have a 25yo welsh sec D, who hunts every winter and last summer did 2 intros. The more he does the more it suits him, in fact he stiffens up more when he is off work or just hacked.
Sometimes after hunting he doesn't eat up for a day or so afterwards, but it is purely due to excitement. I manage this by making sure he doesn't do too much back to back. ie if he is out 2 weekends in a row he has the next one off.
If your boy is telling you he is still up for it then do it!!!
Best of luck.

FIona
 
I have a 6 year old that loses condition after an an ODE.


The key with her is some electrolytes in her feed before and a few days after and keeping her well rugged for a few days too.

Has he always lost condition or is it just recently?

You could always take him to a smallish non- affiliated event and if he looks tired after the SJ withdraw from the XC - or miss the SJ and take him round the XC HC.

Just let the scorers know what you are doing though!!!! It creates nighmares otherwise.

I assume he is still in some kind of work and fit?

he looks like a sweetie.
 
Ed began to loose condition after events last year so I decided to try running him just once a month with at least 3 days off after each event. Seems to be suiting him. I would let him run in a few for fun.
 
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