tips for retirement

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Cocorules

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My 21 year old pony is retiring immediately on vet's advice. She has osteoarthritis in several joints in her back legs. I don't doubt she will adapt to retirement happily enough and she seems to feel well in herself. Her shoes will come off as it is painful to have her legs held up for any length of time. She lives out 24/7 anyway and will continue to do with good shelter and rugs and field mates she can easily boss around. I plan to spend time with her on grazing walks and grooming her but wondered if anyone has any tips for a good retirement and keeping our bond strong. I bred her myself and am really going to be at a loss not to be able to ride her anymore.
 
Oh I feel for you. I have a 22 year old Dales who I've had since he was 4 and is now semi-retired and when I was looking for a new one to ride I was soooo sad about our "riding bond" coming to an end. No real advice as sounds like you've got the same ideas as me to keep contact up I walk mine out with the dog with my six year old on him and can do short rides with him myself but the bond has lessened and he can be a bit stand offish at times but he's happy enough.
 
well before you write her off completely .. as you have such a bond, why not think about taking her for in hand veteran showing next year? that way you won't feel too down or that you have lost your equine fix!. As for how much - thats entirely your call. There is a lady on our yard with a fully retired boy and she grooms and trims as though he was still in full work plus taking him out for walks (he is stabled - hence the trimming).
 
I had to retire my 5 yr old and was completely gutted! However, I think we grew an even better bond when she was out 24/7. I would take her feed, hay etc but just sit with her! She would nearly always come and graze next to me and what made the whole situation better was because I knew she didn't have to be with me but chose to be with me............... I did very sadly lose her and so now have another horse I can ride but you know I still miss those days of just "being" with my girl............... No grooming, no riding, just being! I'd sit and read and the sound of her grazing was just beautiful and then in the winter I'd try to find star formations!!! God this makes me sound sad but I just enjoyed being with her too....................
 
Doesn't make you sound sad at all! In fact you've reminded me of when mine had to live on his own one summer and I used to go to the field and read or do homework (that's how long ago it was!) or even just sunbathe to keep him company and he used to come and lie down next to me, so sweet bless him. And yes your right it does mean so much when the choose to be with you.
 
Grooming, in hand walks as you have already mentioned. How about doing some in hand excersises and clicker training to keep the mind and to some extent the body active. Obv they would need to be things that are within his/her comfort zone. I have a non ridden companion that I play with and she walks through cones and mazes made from poles, under flappy things, over tarps, I have taught her to stay and come, head down, touch the cone etc.
 
I had the same earlier in the year good old matey was retired. I was gutted when the shoes came off. I do feel sorry for him as he looks sometimes as if "I am going out"???. He gets pulled out the field every 10 weeks+ to go down the road (an A road too) and he was all snorty as if he was going somewhere very important but it was to have his feet trimmed.

AND despite not going out for weeks he didnt bat an eyelid at the BIG traffic etc. An absolute pleasure.

The only thing is I did walk him out post lameness recovery and he is quite bargey to get to the grass verges that my arms were twice as long by the time I came back. I took him on dog walks with me but he was a pain.

He looks unfit now though and that is sad, but as long as he is ok and he has some horses next door . I did try to find myself another but after so many viewings the final one I got thrown off I have just decided how easy it is to poo pick/ brush and just look after one horse. I take my dog with me and the old boy is ok. So enjoy your horse, even poo picking seems enjoyable these days! I keep thinking about a little companion for him though! I even enjoy watching him, I am sure he knows he is old and arthritic.
 
my old boy was fully retired a few years back, and he now just gets lots of grooms, supplements as necessary and he comes for little walks around the fields/lanes maybe once a week.

On very odd occasions, my 3 yo niece has a little plod on him, and he normally does an in hand veteran class every now and then.

He's a very happy boy, and i would say we may have got even closer in the last couple of years, he whickers when i come and see him, and although i have my other two to ride etc, he still gets at least an hour of attention in the morning and again in the evening.

Your rugging and shelter sound just fine. I suspect you know your neddy better then anyone, so you'll know what he wants/needs :)
 
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