To jump or not to jump... that is the question...

silvershadow81

silvershadow81

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Haven't been on here for AGES!! so Happy new year to all! The nights are drawing out... soon be summer!!

ok... so...

Ive owned my much loved girl for 16 years now- she is now 23. We competed in BSJA, RC, eventing, quadrille in the past- she adores going to shows- she loads herself onto any lorry or trailer!

Over the summer she really feels the ground, but with a great farrier and sensible workload, i manage to keep her sound.

Throughout the winter... well she retorts back to being a five year old- so we have been enjoying muddy, wet two hour hacks where we have been having long canters and even popping fallen logs.

So I had sort of come to the decision that she doesn’t owe me anything- and we will just potter about and be happy hackers and pop jumps out hacking.

However- a few others are what i would call 'old school' (and that is no offence to anyone intended!) and have views that horses should carry on doing what they love (competing) and shouldn’t slow up in their older age.

I just wondered what the consensus on here would be? Also, what would you do if you were in my situation?

(There is a lovely large Olympic arena nearby which has a wonderful surface and could pop up a small course of fences...am SO tempted as miss competing so much and i know she would yank my arms out to do it!!) - but would also kick myself if something happened. I think ive answered my question..... :-)
 
In all honesty, I would have a little go and see! She is the healthiest and most looked after oldie that I know and she is in fabulous condition. I'm not saying go jump her round BN etc but if the surface is good and as you say it is big enough to manoover (sp) round then I would go and have a play. I would say no to jumping on grass more for the slipping plus the hard ground in the summer and also in your school as it is a little tight.

Just see how she feels, if you pop a couple and she's ok, see how she feels the days after. You are too sensible to overdo things and she is easily capable of doing more damage in the field or joining the hunt unexpectedly lol xx
 
I've got one a similar age and although we do mostly hacking (albeit some pretty longs ones!) we do occasionally pop round our little xc course and he loves it, you'd think he was a 5 year old the way he flies around them! He came to me to retire from international competing and I have no intention of competeing him as I just dont have the time, but I think he'd still give a few of the younger ones a run for their money....I think your mare will tell you if she can't cope with it. Have you got the facilities to try her over a small course?
 
I'd say if she enjoys it so much, what's wrong with taking her to some low level shows?
Keep her fit with hacking, and don't pressure her too much when you pop her round a little course!
Sounds like you have a fantastic mare there and you really care for her :)
 
That took me ages to remember how to reply!!- so glad its friday!!

Sanolly- i am very careful with ground. I dont trot on roads and if i can hear her hooves pound the ground when hacking we stay in walk (probably over the top i know!!) x

Hey M!- thanks for your compliment!! I wouldnt dare jump her on grass in the summer- i was thinking more like the next month- as she is fit from all our hacking and only going to Nicks- as huge arena and fab surface- where i can minimalise the risk of anything happening! I would also not want to jump big- just mentally take her round a little course- i think she would really enjoy it- but obviously scared to bits that she will hurt herself!

Hope you and your gang are good? let me know when your about for a catch up xx
 
My old boy is 24 now, and if i wasn't too heavy to jump him, he'd still be going to shows. I think especially when you have owned a horse or pony for such a long time you know them better than anyone else does, you look for signs theyre not happy and im sure you would be the first to know if your mare didn't want to or wasn't happy doing it. Give it a go see how you get on :D
 
La Fiaba- it is amazing how they can change when something exciting is going on! I think people see Gem and think she looks like the calmest pony ever- yet put her on some nice soft ground with a jump in the distamce and there is no stopping her! (literally- even with a gag and grackle...!) As LP says- my arena is small- so i wouldnt try anything in there- i may tag on with a freind to the larger arena and give it a go... ohhh exciting! x

Thanks Spider! I care for her more than anything else (and my family and husband would agree!) Hacking this winter has really kept her looking well- in the summer i really back off her and we dont get to do much because the ground being so hard.... but then thats just a great excuse for beach rides again on the soft sand! x
 
It's all true!!! I'm just sorry that you and Mabel didn't get the chance to thrive!! Gem will be fine and I would definitely have a go, she needs to keep her brain active and we all know how nutty she can be - she is definitely not ready for early retirement. Plus if you do it on a good big surface, you probably will be able to pop the big ones now and then.

My lot are fine thanks, trotted Hen for the first time on Sunday in 18 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It felt awful and thought he was lame to start with and then he got the hang of it. Only 4 strides at a time and 6 times. The second was much better and he felt sound, only problem was the excitement after that and pulling my arms out lol!! Again, I will be doing the same as you, never trotting on the road, being over cautious about riding on hard or unlevel surfaces and basically wrapping him in cotton wool - sad thing is he isn't 6 till June!! We might do a few inhand shows if he is up to it!!

Duke fab, getting him fit again ready for everything. He will be doing HT, dressage, jumping and we will take him to shows this year for the coloureds and for workers. it should be fun!! You're more than welcome to come over for a play too. xx
 
YAY! Thats great news- well done H! Dont blame you for wrapping him in cotton wool after all the £ and time its taken. Thanks for the offer hun- and i will DEFINATLY take you up on it! if you ever fancy a hack this way- box over! :-) xx
 
yes I will, just need to make sure we don't have any more episodes like the last hack I had on duke!! he was a little too excitable for my liking, but he was fit as a flea and wasn't used to going out with both of his friends on a hack, especially one where he normally goes for a good old gallop with Emma lol!!! xx
 
If she's sound and fit I don't see any harm in giving her an easy round every so often, you are both doing something you enjoy but reducing the risk of any induries, it's not like you'd be jumping bigger tracks on a regular basis like you once were.
 
You've had some great advice and feedback here. As everyone says, you know her best and to give her a little pop now and then will help to keep her feeling fit and young without overexerting her.

As long as you and she are having fun and enjoying life, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks/says.
 
Great replies I think. She will let you know if she isn't happy. Take her to something low level for a bit of fun, by the sounds of it she will love it :)
 
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