Veteren show dilemma!

[superted1989]

Only really local stuff but I'd like to show my little cob mare in veteren classes this summer. Nice and simple, however..............
Her passport says she's 18, her history suggests 22-25years, vet said at least 27 and the dentist (came last Friday) said early to mid 20s! 18 still puts her in veteren classes, but, if I entered her as an 'early 20s' horse we'd have much more chance of coming home with at least a place (how 'pot hunty' does that sound, lol).
She is very much in work, she came to me from a friend as her daughters have passed her down the line and the youngest wants to do more serious competing. They've had her for 7 years, she was a broodmare until 9 years ago, then broken to ride and drive, and her last 'foal' is now rising 12! She was shipped over from Ireland 14 years ago, but the man that brought her reckons the Irish age them older, so, when he had to declare her age he decided she must have been 4 not 9!
So, do I go with the passport or show her as an age that she's more likely to be?
(Can't request a passport amendment as she's not technically mine! It's a lifetime loan as they really don't want to part with her but can't keep her or have her back!)

 

[KellyTL]

I personally would go by passport because if there are any queries at a show and need to proove age then you will be ok. If you said she was older then you may get into trouble if proof of age is asked for.

 

[TelH]

My mare was sold with a dodgy passport, it claimed she was 17 when I got her (kind of a long story but you didn't need to be a genius to figure out she was way over 20). Anyway, I asked for her to be aged by two vets independently of each other, one said she was 25, the other said at least 25 and fairly likely she was older than that. So I went with 25, which means she is 27 now. I have never been asked to prove her age at a show but what I do have is a letter signed and stamped from one of the vets who aged her confirming he examined her on xx date and estimated her age to be 25, I keep that with her passport so if there ever was a query I would just produce that.

 

[scrat]

My veteran came to me aged 30 that was nearly five years ago making him 35 now. My EDT has aged him younger, maybe 24/ 25 when I got him. EDT checked again recently and still thinks 28/29. His age is not on his passport. I have shown him in hand as a veteran and when he was last shown I put 28 that was 2 years ago. I may take him to a couple of local shows this year but I too don't know his true age so I will probably go for 30. He looks fab for such a big lad so its still an impressive age to reach.