Too old??!

[Holloa]

Is 14 too old to buy a hunter??.... seen one for sale that I know is a seasoned hunter, IDX- Good stamp and temp, only snag is that he's 14.... :crazy:

Has anyone else got a older hunter who is still going strong... how many seasons have you got left with him/her, how old will you go on with him/her??

Thanks!

 

[Springs]

14 should be fine as long as he is fit and sound and they could keep going for a number or years aslong as they remain sound and fit. it will depend on the horse as every one is different. One person is riding out on a 23yo in our hunt and the horse has a great time.

 

[Orangehorse]

My neighbour bought a retired eventer at 15 and had 10 wonderful seasons on him. I don't think they did much jumping for the last couple of years. His owner said the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. But the rider is nearly 80 now too.

He did buy another 14 year old, but it was a bit to much for him, so as it was a mare he put in foal and is now talking of riding the young horse when it is old enough!

I would have it well vetted. I was told it is best to buy a hunter at the end of the season so you can see what it is like when it has been in hard work.
If you wait until September it has had the summer to recover and something might come to light when the hard work starts up again.

Of course at 14 it is going to be depreciating in value, so the price should reflect that - after who can tell what is going to happen to any horse.

 

[SillySausage]

My mare had her last season whipping in last year, she is 18!

However ditto orangehorse, she is no longer jumping (hence now just a follower!) but we chose to stop as she was refusing a lot and we took that a sign of not wanting to do it anymore as her back teeth etc are all fine and she never does it elsewhere.

Have it vetted and you will have to make a decision based on what you see...

 

[Girlracer]

My hunter was 16 when i got him, he's very nearly 17 and we have hunted all this season. I first hunted my other horse when he was 21 (although never again he was a nutter!) as long as they're fit and healthy they'll be fine!

 

[oofadoofa]

My ex racehorse hunted weekly and was still team chasing at 18. I have taken him out since (he's now 23) but not for a full day and haven't done much jumping.

 

[JenHunt]

i hunt with a guy who is about 80, and his horse is 20!

both go all day up at the front and jump anything!

go for it if he's the right sort for you!

 

[exracergirl]

My mare is a 14yo ex racehorse and will hunt until she starts to back off and not want to crack on, then I'll wind it down. Certianly not showing any sign of that yet !
Some of the best horses I have seen on the hunting field have been older ones.... I know of several 20+ hunters that go out every week.
I also know that age doesn't mean they might be nice and sensible..... I was out on a 17yo earlier this week, and ended the day paying damages and apologising to everyone, never again... i would rather have been on my 3yo! (yes I was on the mad bay thing turning itself inside out with the Quorn on tuesday if anyone was there... I didn't confess his age at the time!!!)

 

[PickledOnions]

The pony I ride/hunt is 25 and is still going strong and jumping most things, only thing we won't jump is what I chicken out from..

 

[Sophiesmum]

One of our mares started hunting when she was 7 (we have had her since a 2 year old), she was our only hunter until she was 14. She then shared the hunting season (so on average once every 10 days) until last season when she was 20. My OH has hunted her once this season but she is enjoying semi retirement as a pony club horse with our 12 year old daughter! The mare whipped in for about 5 seasons from age 11 onwards.

 

[norcam]

my horse was still hunting in his 20's. He absolutely loved it and retirement was out of the question. I think if a horse is fit and well there is need to stop doing what they enjoy as long as they are not pushed too hard to do something they are not able to do.

 

[LouBerry]

I guess what i would say is make sure it's well checked over by the vet, especially joints and such like. I probably wouldn't usually be as over cautious but after hearing a friend talking about an older ex-hunter that she bought, a year or two later she's had to retire him as his joints have shot it, vets reckon because of hard hunting he did previously. But then guess that's a risk you take with any horse that something could go wrong. I guess what i'm trying to say is if you get one that's still got good mileage on the clock it would be nice. I ride a 14 who's had some real good hunting years, unfortunately she's not up to doing a huge amount anymore due to wear and tear. It depends on the job you'll want it to do and the work level that will be expected and the horse itself.

 

[wizzi901]

I think as long as sound 14 is a good age!! - my oldie (28) was loaned to local hunt for the joint master last year, he did come back a bit stiff and obviously found it quite hard towards the end of the season, but he is fine now and still goes out, although not every week.

 

[Holloa]

Thank you for all your replies- Will have a think about it carefully.

 

[Dogstar]

I would say go for it if it's the right horse and the price is reasonable for its age. My grey mare has hunted pretty regularly since I bought her at 4 and she's going as well as ever now at 19, jumping loads of big fences every time we are out.

 

[Grey_Eventer]

14 isnt that old really... lots of people hunt on older... just make sure its fit etc. and make sure you look after its legs...

 

[DressageDevil]

Good grief - 14 isn't old! lol

Consider the ages of the top level eventers!

I was hunting my old girl, the best hunter I have ever had the pleasure of riding, twice a week when she was in her mid 20's and hunted her once a week from about 28 to 32. She retired at the end of that season and had to be put down the following winter due to colic but in every other respect was fit and healthy!

 

[Couloir]

My big boy is a 23 yr old, 17.2hh, ex puissance horse, who is still hunting and staying out all day jumping everything! I give him some bute before and after, and don't hunt him every week - he goes out every fortnight, but is ridden 6 days a week around hunting and I've never had a problem with him!
My mother hunted one of her advanced eventers until he was 26, and he loved every minute of it!
I'd say go for it! You'll have to be a bit more careful with an older horse, but equally, you'll feel safer on a more experienced horse, and they teach you so much!
Have fun