Those of you with horses who are semi-retired or in light work

[HashRouge]

I was just wondering what everyone does with their semi-retired horses.
I have given up hoping that my mare will ever return to full fitness, but she has shown me without a doubt that she isn't quite ready for retirement! I had a nice hack on her today - half an hour in walk, just down the drive, along the road a ways and then back home along the Pennine bridleway. I've decided that the best thing to do is to expect nothing from her, that way anything we do will be a bonus! So she is now having a few rest days and then I'll see how she seems on Wednesday. The fact that she seems so well has made me incredibly happy - she's a fab riding horse and makes even half an hour in walk ridiculously entertaining!

So what does everyone else do with their semi-retired horses?

 

[Alphamare]

I consider light work for a semi retired to be mainly walk or only walk for up to an hour(ish) three or four times a week. Building up to this as appropriate. Depends on why they are semi retired. This is what our old girl did before becoming fully retired. She gets taken out in hand occasionally still as she likes to see the world

 

[splashgirl45]

my mare is 22, has cushings and soft tissue damage to her front feet so i am very careful how much i do when the ground is hard
but she is much better if i hack out a few times a week. i usually go out for and hour and do quite a bit of walking and trotting if the ground is ok and she is feeling perky( which is quite often) unfortunately she has just had 8 weeks off as i have had a major op and cannot yet ride , she will prob have to have another 4 weeks or so without being ridden and i am worried that she may find being ridden a problem. i know i will have to go back to square one, walking in hand, then under saddle for a short time etc. if she cant cope she will be completely retired but i feel being ridden gently regularly has kept her more loose in her movement so hope it will be ok. i have had oldies before as i never sell any of mine and they seem to age very quickly once they are retired .

 

[SusieT]

That's pretty much what I do with my retired boy - short hacks as and when he looks bright and happy in the field. If he's doing a lot of walking (as opposed to galloping!) down to the gate or looks a bit peeved, I leave him in the field!

 

[debsflo]

My 21 year old is ridden 3-4 times a week up to 1 hour and a quarter mainly in walk but with a few trots if ground good and she feels well. I am completely focused on how she feels so we might have a 30 minute walk in hand with her minature friend or a 40 minute walk hack round the village or a longer hack out round the tracks. She is sometimes a little stiff so i play it by ear but is actually looking fab in herself.