TB's.. How old is too old, how to put condition on to an oldie??

[dobbin27]

Ok TB lovers!!.. A couple of Questions that I would be really love an answer to, how old a TB would you take on if you were looking for a nice RC schoolmaster type?

Has anybody taken on an older TB (over 17) in poor condition? How easy was it to get them back to tip top condition?

If any body has any before/after photos, or tips. I would love to see or hear them!!

 

[Holly Hocks]

I've never taken on one over 17 - my old boy was just 13 when I took him on. Age wouldn't really put me off - I love veteran horses, they have so much character. It shouldn't be difficult to get condition on. I've never had problems getting condition on any TB - in fact my 21 year old gelding could be described as a "good doer"!

 

[PonyFeet10]

I took on a 17yo TB mare 6 or 7 years ago (now 23 going on 24). She wasn't in poor condition when I bought her but is a poor doer and as my 2nd horse I wasn't up to date on what to feed. She went through one winter like this:

She was ribby, boney and I honestly thought I was looking at a dead horse come the following winter.

From then on she was fed multiple times a day to fatten her up and is currently looking like this:

To answer your first question, any age really as long as they haven't had a hard life. The mare above didn't do anything pretty much all of her life before I bought her so has many years yet to give

 

[BlackRider]

17 isn't really old, a lot of it I think will depend on the work done before, ie if they've raced etc, and may have joint problems.


Most 17 year olds should be able to hold their condition.

I've got 2 arabs, a 30yo and a 17yo, the 17yo is in his prime, and the 30yo doesn't look too bad either.

 

[McNally]

Not a TB but my old boy was on loan aged 37 (been a long term loan) and i visited and decided he was looking too old and run down so brought him home. He came back amazingly- good grass and small regular feeds he was back in very light work and looked amazing within about 5 months he was maybe slightly fat but shiny and happy. People didnt believe he was old and shocked at how old!

I think 17 is relatively young these days. There are such good feeds and supplements on the market aswell.

 

[PitPony]

My tb mare is 23yrs old - had her since she was 9 - she is pretty much a good doer I would say...but when she has lost it has gone really quickly but this has only really happened once. Her envionrment is very important to her so its as much her mind-set that i have to keep right for her to stay in good condition.
I retired her about 4 yrs ago...she was an ex-racer and I knew when igot her I would probably be retiriing her at some point because of hte wear and tear put on her 2 year oldlegs when she started racing! Having said that she can still blaze round the field quite happily but deserves her leisurely lifestyle which she enjoys!! Most of them keep fit pretty well too however much or little you do...
I only ever really had her on lesiure mix and alfafa with supplements...always given her plenty of hay...she was at one point fit to event and only on the above and nothing extravagant. She gets sugar beet added in the winter purely as a filler really.

I would get another one tomorrow if I had the money!

 

[Teeni]

We have a livery on our yard who took on a 17yo TB ex-racer and he is still going strong now at 33yo, he looks good too. Not the easiest to feed as he can be fussy but all the same he seems to be doing really well and is eating everything put in front of him at the moment. He has had times were he's dropped condition but the owner always manages to get him back in good form with fed etc.

 

[Horsey_dreams]

I took on my TB aged 24 as a dressage schoolmaster, shes a bit ribby but now aged 30 full of energy, very shiney coat. No special supplements just regular feeding routine. Took my other one aged 19 in poor condition, fine now just need to build up some muscle!