Veteran Prejudice

golddustsara

golddustsara

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After reading a couple of posts in the do you keep your horse for life... post it has made me wonder - does everyone look to buy a younger horse, overlooking the possibility of a schoolmaster veteran as they may get injured more easily or not 'last' as long? I have seen a number of people buying younger horses who are novice themselves and perhaps could benefit from the wisdom and experience of an older horse. Moreover, it seems that no matter how old the horse, injuries can still happen and render that particular horse unfit for purpose.

It seems to be different with ponies as a good PC pony can be snapped up no matter how old it is. However, there does seem to be a certain stigma in buying an older horse.

I seem to end up with veterans and am very excited to have an 18yo eventer with super manners. Granted he is broken at the moment after a dalliance in the field but I can't wait to learn from him and improve my riding whilst having the satisfaction of giving an older horse a good home for life.

Here is a pic of him eventing with a certain Bejing competitor - its lovely to get a folder of history with them!
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Who has a golden oldie and what do you do with them? Piccies greatly welcomed
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No wonder you are excited having a veteran like that! He looks super - don't recognise the rider though. Did your horse do lots of major events then?

Personally I really enjoy bringing on youngsters and I went for one this time as I wanted something unspoilt having reschooled alot of horses with problems over the years. It would depend what I wanted to do with it really. In several years time when I am looking for competition ponies for my children I would definitely like been there done that schoolmasters. My sisters best pony she got when he was 27 and she jumped JA classes with him into his 30s so I certainly would never write off an older animal.
 
My oldest pony is almost 26
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I only got her in June, she was going to go for meat cos no-one else wanted her
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She wasn't in very good condition when I got her but is looking a lot better now and I can't wait to do veteran showing with her next season
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When we were younger we would never have looked at a young horse as wanted ones with experience and that were good second ponies etc. I wouldn't now buy an older horse mainly because I want to compete, even if not at any real high level and I wouldn't be able to afford a horse who has been there done that!

Now we are more experienced after many years of horse ownership we find it's easier to get a nice 3 or 4 year old that's essentially a blank canvas and doesn't come with any problems or bad habits that it may have picked up from its previous owner(s). If you get a feel for a horse I think you can pick up a nice bargain in the shape of an unbroken or just broken horse.

I couldn't afford to buy a broken in and started out youngster.

I still have my horse i bought as a 4 yo - he's now 18 and still out being hacked and competed so i think he was worth his £3000 price tag! Plus, my pony who i bought when he was 8 (now 23) BUT he came with issues. I just find a innocent, naive 4 yo is easier to 'mould'!

If I ever had to buy a pony for any future child I may have though i certainly wouldn't discount an older pony at all as they are the best ones for kids to learn on. Same if I wanted a nice, quiet hack but i have issues with people selling horses in their 20s to be honest. If I bought a horse aged 15+ it would be for keeps.
 
Ive got Kenellen who is 20 in march. I bought him as a 16 YO.

He was my first horse. I havent ridden him as much as I thought I would over the 4 years I've owned him as he buggared his tendon not long after I bought him, in the field. I then just used him as a hack.
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He has always been a buggar to handle on the ground but about a year ago he started rearing under saddle. Not due to any pain but because he gets so excited when being ridden. Definately didnt act his age thats for sure (and still doesnt).

He was definately one that needed a routine and riding 5 times a week. His rearing moments didnt bother me but it was just the fact that he went vertical sometimes that put me off - imagine a tonne of horse toppling over on you.

So since then I decided to retire him. If I had the oooomph I would've retrained him but his tendon wasnt that strong still and he was getting on a bit so i decided to call it a day...plus I had my youngsters to play with.

If I ever have to let him go I'd PTS
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(there seems to be a lot of talk about this lately but Id made my mind up long ago) but as it is he is happily grazing, in his own little world. I trim his feet myself so he really doesnt cost much to keep despite being an eldery tb.

He bites my ankles and rolls his head to try and get me to play with him. He is full of character and i love him.
 
I bought a 16 yo confidence giver - mainly because I needed a pony that would help restore my confidence - so a "been there, done that and got the t shirt type and my budget just didn't stretch to a younger horse with that experience.

At the time, as a new owner you couldn't keep full vet cover on their insurance if you bought them at 16+ so that effectively halved his price compared to a 12 yo, for instance. I knew at the time that he had a lot of miles on the clock, so to speak and that some of them could cause problems as he aged and that I wouldn't have the luxury of 5k vet fees in his insurance....but tbh, I'd do it again. And I fully expect to have fund his retirement but I'll happily do that because by giving me back my confidence he has earned anything he wants or needs
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I got my current veteran on loan 10 years ago when he was 25. He'd PC'd and while not necessarily a schoolmaster, he's taught me SOOOOO much. He retired last year, somewhat against his will (hind check ligament problems) and we thought his time had come this autumn, but he's back to his old self and I'm happy...
 
I got frank at 12, he is nearly 17 now, I gave him an extra year earlier
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He is prob here to stay and I plan to compete him for many more years. But am not sure I would buy an oldie to start with, in fact I am please we didnt. Only because it took me a good 2 years to actually get to know him and ride him properly.
 
We bought Shiney at 19, he is 23 in 2010. We love taking him to a well know equestrian centre near us which is full of expensive warmbloods - he is a cob too.

He can go in the dressage and beat most of the expensive horses in a dressage test.. we have a great day out with him.. especially when we lift the red rosie and the prize money!
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I'm certainly not a veteran prejudice. I have a twenty year old Shettie who has been with us for two years now. I took on a 30 plus year old native cross for 6 months so she could be around children and have a nice Summer with kids last year. I then took on a Standard Shettie last Summer whose owner couldn't have given a toss, who had severe lami, she was in her late 20s/thirties somewhere. After battling for 8 weeks or so I had to admit defeat on vets advice and have her PTS. I have two horses worth nothing really and only two rideable. I would not hesitate to take in another oldie if they needed a home and somewhere to live out their days. I'm no fusspot.
 
We have had upteen older horses and ponies who have all been superstars. Our now 22yo section a lead rein pony is out on loan and I had a queue of families wanting him. Our rising 20yo JA pony is jumping her socks off in bsja classes in a loan home and our 15yo Grade A is teaching his rider of the same age how to jump 1.30 tracks.

I would never discount an older horse or pony just because of their age and for children or novices or those wanting competition experience at a higher level they are invaluable. All three have a home for life with us as I do feel strongly that they should not be passed on at an age when they may be vulnerable.
 
I agree older horses can have so much to offer.
My first proper horse was a 20 year old I had on loan and he taught me so much. I won my first show jumping rosette on him, did my first hunter trial and had my first day's hunting. He taught me so much and its down to him that I can ride my current horse (who was 8 when I bought him but who will be eligable for veteran classes next year - how time flies!)

Toby and I parted company when I was getting more ambitious and he was looking for a quieter life. His owner had a lovely home lined up for him with a woman who wanted a horse to lead her children's ponies from. He will be 29 next year and is still with that family, happily living a life of luxury as a companion.
 
the simple fact is-the older a horse gets the more likely it is to have wear and tear. Yes young horses too get injured but at some stage a horse will break down and often you have no idea if it will be at 8 or 38.
I have several field ornaments, starting at age 12! And wouldn't buy one over 11/12 I have to say as I find around 14/15 is when a lot start needing a quieter life.
 
golddustsara - this is a link to Shiney at Vale View doing dressage with Alwaysbroke's daughter B_E_G. I think they got about 64% and Im sure they got a placing. They also jumped in the 60cm class, pictures on the website too.

http://www.paulsands.org/062709valeview/dressage/lydia%20dunstan/vv.html

He has done a hunter trial 2 years ago with B_E_G and they only had 2 stops at the beginning of the course and then flew round, and he took my husband hunting the same year.

He has jumped 1metre with Fairycakes at home, and she said she thought he would back off it, but he pulled her along into it.. bless him. (we keep him to 70cm now due to his age.

He came 3rd in the cob class at a county show last year and 4th in the veterans, and he is off out in 2010 showing and dressage.

We have been told by a showing producer he is a near perfect specimen of a cob, so we are very proud to own him.

I have already qualified for UK chasers dressage 2010 on him getting 70% on my first time out. But, husband is fighting fit now so has took him back off me, so Im just the groom again.

Hope you like him.

Tormenta - I wouldn't hesitate to buy an oldie as he has bought so much pleasure to everyone who has contact with him and he owes us nothing so will be with us forever.
 
Both girls and I love Shiney to pieces, its been an honour to ride him, he has a wealth of experience, and judges his riders ability to a T (that means great fun for more experienced riders, but a safe steady ride for less, my son aged 5 was quite happy trotting round the school on him).
We bought an older horse for FC to learn to event on, he was a star, hated dressage, but that taught her alot, but loved his jumping. FC has exams this year, so at the ae of 17 he has moved on to a less demanding home, we waited until someone on the yard was in a postion to buy him, he now hacks, does a few lessons a month and is teaching his new and very caring owner loads, we see him everyday and I am sure he just thinks his family has got bigger and his work load less.
 
I wouldn't buy anything older than 7 if I were to buy again, simply because I would buy to sell on in a couple of years, and younger horses are easier to sell.
I have a 30 year old, she has been with us as long as I have been about, and hunted with my family, including me, until she was 24. Older horses are just as good, better in many cases than the younger horse, but are simply harder to sell on, and often lose money after a cetain age, unless you are buying something as spoecial as OP's horse.
 
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I wouldn't buy anything older than 7 if I were to buy again, simply because I would buy to sell on in a couple of years, and younger horses are easier to sell.
I have a 30 year old, she has been with us as long as I have been about, and hunted with my family, including me, until she was 24. Older horses are just as good, better in many cases than the younger horse, but are simply harder to sell on, and often lose money after a cetain age, unless you are buying something as spoecial as OP's horse.

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Absolutely disagree, and with Caribb. Both of ours were at the vets for holiday livery and she said she could have sold the cob 3 times, no interest in the warmblood who can jump for england.
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I have also had an offer of £3000 for Shiney in August this year, because of his showing potential. they wanted to fetch him that afternoon, of course we refused to sell. The price was way over what we paid for him.
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We did see a 16year old showing horse when we were looking for a friend but they weren't interested. We would have had it if we had the space. They bought a 6year old instead who stayed sound for 6 months but has now been lame for 2 years.
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