Taking on the older horse - update

Wimbles

Wimbles

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Not sure if anyone will remember but earlier on in the year I asked for people's thoughts on taking on a horse that was in need of a home at the yard we were on. He was a 19 year old that hadn't had anything done with him for nearly ten years.

I had just lost my big old boy and was kind of looking for something that my very tall OH could hack about on.

Anyway to cut a long story short we decided to add him to our gang and have never looked back! Everyone has said that he looks like a different horse and the lovely lady that used to share my old lad has started riding him too and even took him to camp last week!

He's fitted in so well and is a pleasure to have around. He really appears to be loving his life again and has real sparkle once more :)

He may be an oldie but he's a goodie!



 
He certainly doesn't look 19! He looks better than some 9 year olds I have seen. What a lovely home for him and so nice you're all getting on super :)
 
He looks fabulous :)

I got my old boy at 19, he was a wonderful horse and was hacking out until he was 29. I only stopped as I'd fallen off my younger one and was on crutches so wasn't riding, but his heart gave out shortly after that, he as a 17.1hh chesnut warm blood.
 
Oh, he's lovely. Who on earth keeps an expensive animal for 10 years and does nothing with it though??? I took on the care of a 40 year old pony who my mare had adopted. SHe went from being a loner, keeping herself to herself in the field, to a person of status, someone who bossed the other horses in the field despite the fact they were half her age and twice her size, a pony that would shout to me and come cantering up the field for her feeds and some attention (which is more than can be said of my own horse!). SHe regained her spark and character and just thrived on the really quite basic care I gave her. Animals hate to be ignored and they blossom when they know they are cared about and cared for.
 
I love this! He's so handsome - have you heard about the Veteran Horse Society? Their open show is coming up in September at Bury Farm and he looks like he could do well!
 
Thanks for all your lovely comments.

He was born and bred on the livery yard where we now are. Did quite a bit of showjumping in his younger days then not sure what happened but he stopped doing anything, roll on some years, yard owners sadly separated, horse stayed at yard being sorted by various liveries. Residing YO understandably needed to make the tough decision on a horse that was taking up a space and we offered to see if he would be OK to be ridden and when he was he joined the gang!

He had numerous foot abscesses so it took quite a lot of time and effort to get his feet in order but once that was sorted my OH started doing ten minutes riding in the school and we built it up from there until we were able to go on our first hack together where this horse was a superstar and my own was a pain in the bum!!

Sharer used him for a lesson when one of my others had lost a shoe and from there they have started to build a real bond. They had a wonderful time at camp having a go at a little arena eventing course and xc course as well as doing their first dressage test. The horse is incredibly enthusiastic to be doing anything and boings about! I must admit to shedding a few tears when they did their jumping rounds! We're never going to ask a lot of him but he's definitely a valued and useful member of the team.

I need to convince my sharer that she needs to try out a few veteran classes then!!
 
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