Too old for a young horse?

I think it depends on how high-mileage you are :D

I am 51 and did not want another youngster as I am quite high mileage (creaky from old injuries). But mine is a FAB little mare and I do not regret buying her. She was 4 rising 5, and had done a few bits and bobs so not a complete baby. I also used t bring on youngsters for a living, so it is not a new thing. Having said that, I had a break of a couple of years from any degree of riding other than pottering about on my semi retired lad, so it is enough to be getting on with.

So, it is about mileage, confidence, facilities and ability as well as body being willing and able.

I know someone very capable of bringing on a baby in their 70's.
 
I bought a 4 year old at 50+ - no regrets. I was looking for something a little more established but sometimes what you find isn't what you set out to look for. My previous horse was bought as a foal so not my first youngster and have had a couple of 5 yo's before. Depends very much on the horse and your experience not your or their age.
 
I certainly wasnt looking for a young horse but after losing my horse of a lifetime, supposed to be my last horse, I bought a couple of horses over the next 5 years that werent what they were sold as, one putting me in hospital,. So a friend said buy a youngster, you know they havent been messed up blah blah. I wasnt convinced but fell for a halter broken 3 yr old. We've had our ups and downs, it hasnt always been easy but shes brought so much joy and is now backed and about to come back into proper work. Im 47, I kept saying I was too old now and just wanted to go out and enjoy it but she trusts me so much and Ive actually really enjoyed it. BTW Im creaky too lol
 
I would say as long as your pretty fit and agile age is immaterial. My mum bought a yearling at 66 and is now happily riding her aged 5 after doing most of the starting with her other than the initial backing.
 
As long as you make your horse a pleasure to own and avoid quirks and bad behaviour it doesnt really matter how old you are when you start as if you fail to make it through that horses lifetime either because of ill health or misfortune it will be able to find a happy and well cared for new home when the time arises.
 
I have probably told this story before, but out hacking one Sunday morning, Milly & I met a lady on a lovely liver chestnut, which was clearly being a bit of a handful.
As we passed, I asked if they were ok (as you do).
She told me she had recently broken the pony in & it was potentially for her grand daughter. I wished her good luck & got the response "I really should know better at my age. I'm Seventy bloody five!" as she trotted off, quite happily!
 
We have a friend who backed a youngster last year. She's 78. She's just got a new crop of foals on the ground and does most of the handling herself, including her 3 year old stallion. I hope I'm that fit and able at her age!
 
I'm sixty this year and I've just backed my three year old. I thought I was well past backing anything, but I took it slowly and it's been a real joy to realise I've still got what it takes.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
I'm now 57, and last autumn took on a just-backed 4yo.

My first youngster, and I'm just luvvin it! Never had so much fun before in my life. And before anyone worries about me, yes I DO have excellent ongoing professional support from the person who backed her.

Never say never........... coz you never know :)
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Love this too!
 
I'm knocking on the door of 60 and my horse is about 19. I'm beginning to think it might be nice to get a yearling and bring it on alongside my current horse so I have something in place and established by the time he retires. Haven't mentioned this to OH yet!
(Backed a couple in my teens so it's not entirely new territory, but I probably don't bounce so well now).
 
windand rain said:
As long as you make your horse a pleasure to own and avoid quirks and bad behaviour it doesnt really matter how old you are when you start as if you fail to make it through that horses lifetime either because of ill health or misfortune it will be able to find a happy and well cared for new home when the time arises.
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Agree with that absolutely.
 
Dave's Mam said:
I have probably told this story before, but out hacking one Sunday morning, Milly & I met a lady on a lovely liver chestnut, which was clearly being a bit of a handful.
As we passed, I asked if they were ok (as you do).
She told me she had recently broken the pony in & it was potentially for her grand daughter. I wished her good luck & got the response "I really should know better at my age. I'm Seventy bloody five!" as she trotted off, quite happily!
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Love that.
 
I think it depends. I am late 40s now and would no longer do the initial backing and getting going. I probably would if I were pro or semi pro level but despite riding for over forty years my riding skills are just not good enough to be certain of coping with everything a youngster can challenge you with. At a younger age I wouldn't have realised that! I also realise now that I am breakable and you have to have total belief to instill confidence in a youngster.

I am thinking of putting my mare in foal and have that as my final horse (with someone else doing all the early stages) but by the time it reached 30 I would be late 70s and I am not sure my health would be good enough then to still be doing the day to day care and I am not rich enough to be able to hand it over to someone else.

I know someone in their 80s who came off recently and she really hurt herself. I think that will be the end for her.

For all of those still hunting at that sort of age there are those who do break themselves just one too many times.
 
After years of backing and breaking my own i decided age 65 i was too old - well actually I didnt decide, people kept telling me- to get another unbroken one. So i got a broken and riding 5yr old. I was told lies by the dealer and it was unsound. I went to court, got my money and went out and bought an unbroken 4 yr old sports horse. She is now broken all by myself and we are now hacking out, schooling and jumping. You might have lost a bit of strength as you got older but you have in gained experience.
 
Im now 40 and thought maybe after a few years of having my mare under saddle I would put her in foal and have that foal as my 'last' horse BUT she is 8 and im having way too much fun on her at the moment to even think about putting her in foal so I reckon by the time she is 12+? so going on to be a maiden mare I would then have a foal and then waiting 3-4 years before backing it I'm then heading into, if not already in, my fifties.......

Nah not for me. Its a nice thought but I think i will be ready to step away from horses by the time I get into my fifties. Unless I win big on the lottery and can have the facilities of my dreams and staff then I shall carry on riding for longer but I'm not doing UK winters with a horse or two when im in my fifties and sixties!

Would I buy a youngster at 40? NO Would I buy a youngster at 50? NO .. I dont particularly like youngsters, I dont understand what all the hype is about. I would always prefer something older thats got a bit of mileage and you can just get on and have fun with.
 
I'll be 60 next year and I just bought the "last horse", who's just backed. I can still do it, just not as lithely (is that a word?) nor as quick. Increasing aches and pains mean I am definitely not enjoying the ancillary work, and it is that aspect which will probably see the end of horse caretaking, if not riding, for me in the end.
 
In my sixth decade I have purchased both a four and a five year old. I am a lot more careful assessing the temperament/general attitude of a horse nowadays; I can still 'do it' but if things go wrong I don't repair and heal as well or as quickly as I used to. Therefore, anything ungenuine or overly sharp is out.
 
I bought a 5 year old for my 60 birthday present to myself.
I still enjoy riding him 7 years later.
Have also bought another one two year ago but he was 9 years old.
 
I've only ever been a recreational rider who does low levels comps. I'm 44 and bought my 5 year old mare 2 years ago, to start with all fine and no issues but then we hit the teenage phase and I'm having to be braver than I really am. It's easy to forget how much hard work you have to put in to get them loading, hacking out solo, behaving away from home etc.. I'm already not sure I could do again. All this is with a mare that is pretty saintly too. I've relied heavily on YO and the person I brought her from for additional training and without that good back up things could have gone awry.
 
My 72 year old instructor has just gone off to collect his new unbroken 3 year old TB! He intends to bring it on as another point to pointer. He has a work rider but will be doing all the backing and slow work himself. Apparently there are worse ways to die than by crazy TBs...
 
If you happen to be dead, then you may just be starting to get near the age when buying a young horse is not so clever. That's what I tell myself having bought two in my 50s.
 
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