what age is your horse?

sparklesr

Member
Joined
1 February 2013
Messages
10
Visit site
hello

I was just wondering , are there any veterans out there still competing at high level ?
My horse is 16 and we do BSJA mainly but also do dressage and XC.. hes got plenty of life in him and is brillaint at his job.
problem is, im starting to get worried as hes 16 and i no that sounds daft but im hoping to carry on with him as long as i can.. are there any horses out there still competing in there 17/18 - 20s? Hes a warmblood x and he had 3 yrs off in the field before i bought him so quite low mileage ;)

I dont like the thought of him 'getting old' but i think its cos i love him so much

thanks
 
I did Riding club and pony club teams on my boy generally competing unaffiliated at 3ft-3.3 right up until he was 20years old with no problems he's now 25 and is still been ridden and took the delightful pleasure of jumping a field gate a few weeks ago so i dont think age matters as long as he's fit healthy and sound, may just take a little more consideration on warm up and cool down and maybe some extra supplements in his feed to help with Old age, mine gets glucosamine as has mild arthritis now.
 
thank you, thats good to hear. touch wood hes never been lame in the 2.5years ive owned him and i do try to keep him fit, weather permitting. he also has supplements now and i do look after him well , thick rugs etc

thanks for your help.
 
My main competition horse is 18 this May and we're still out at medium level dressage. My old polo pony is now 23 and still enjoys her hacks (and would prob still love polo if I let her!)
 
My MIL arabx was not a competition horse but she was ridden until she was about 30, she died peacefully in the field on a lovely late summer evening just before she would have been 35. Fab horse that will always be remembered.
 
My mare is 20 (almost 21!) and still happily pops round 1m BS courses.

I will continue to jump her as long as she still enjoys it - she will let me know when she's had enough!!!
 
The boy in my sig is 15 this year :-)

He jumped DC at 1* last year, and jumped round intemediate BE. Plan is to do more intermediates this year and do CIC** CCI**

He is on a joint suppliment, gets physio monthly during the event season and warm up and cool downs are really important.

I am really hoping he keeping going! :-)
 
I have three aged 15, 20 and 21 all still eventing at BE90 - fit, happy and healthy. They all live for their work and I will carry on as long as they want to.
 
My 19 year old Warmblood made his Medium BD dressage debut on Wednesday :D he was high level eventing right up until last year however was diagnoised with arthitc changes to his pastern so we dont jump competively anymore and he is now a Dressage Diva!!! :D:D
 
One of my horses is 15 this year and only did his first BSJA last year and only started competing last year and he has been super consistent
16 is no age at all :D
 
My thoroughbred mare is 20 this year. We only just started training for dressage 3 years ago, did our elementary debut last year and planning to continue competing bd this year. He brain and body are showing no signs of wear and tear and she really enjoys the work so I see no reason to stop. She is learning new things and developing in suppleness all the time.
 
Mine will be this year: - 20yr old cob mare, 8 yr old Wesphalian, 23 yr old falabella x pony and 3 yr old Dales gelding.

The mare has just come through rehab following a tendon op and we are starting to compete in dressage. The WB has had a good 18 months off following rehab for chronic SI dysfunction and will be strated in earnest in the spring. The 3 yr old will be backed and turned away later summer and the 23 yr old is on companion duties :)
 
Last edited:
I have a rising 5yr old, 13yr old and 15yr old. The 15 year old will hopefully be moving up to medium BD next month-ish, with the intention of adv medium end of this year/next spring :)
 
hello

I was just wondering , are there any veterans out there still competing at high level ?
My horse is 16 and we do BSJA mainly but also do dressage and XC.. hes got plenty of life in him and is brillaint at his job.
problem is, im starting to get worried as hes 16 and i no that sounds daft but im hoping to carry on with him as long as i can.. are there any horses out there still competing in there 17/18 - 20s? Hes a warmblood x and he had 3 yrs off in the field before i bought him so quite low mileage ;)

I dont like the thought of him 'getting old' but i think its cos i love him so much

thanks

My boy is 16 and still show's at county and jump's 1.10m with ease, My boy is also warmblood.. But I have thought about taking thing easy with him but he is not the type of horse that like's doing nothing. I have a feeling when Larry does not want to do stuff anymore he will tell me.
 
My tb mare is 19 this year and had a foal in 2011, coming back to event at BE 100 last year, with placings at every event. She'll also be out BD this month, at Elementary, moving back to medium in the spring. She is turned out every day and is out 24/7 from April to November, with lots of hacking too!
 
thanks for your help guys, makes me feel alot better!! my horse doesnt act 16, he was galloping around the paddock this morning bucking and bronking so i dont think i have any issues.
nice to hear about your horses :-)
roll on many more years! :-)
 
Jealous of you all! Pippa is 11 and I'm having problems with her! If she doesn't respond to her treatment then it could possibly be no more jumping, and only light hacking
 
This is my 24 year old TB mare last year having some fun. She doesn't compete at this height as a course this big scares her but she will jump a single or a few bigger than 'normal'. She was hunting fit at this time and there was no stopping her! Only came out of work for the winter to help her keep her weight on as she's a very poor doer :)

image-1.jpg
 
My oldest is 23 :)

He is the chestnut on the far left of my sig over the blue oxer, and also in my sig jumping over the hedge. I did BSJA with him up until the age of 20 (up to 1m10) and since then he has hunted and done summer hunter trials - still fit and a bit of a loon at the fine age of 23 !! :p :D
 
This is Sky, he is a 20-year old stallion. He was jumping 1.40m tracks until just over a year ago, and for the last year he has been my schoolmaster, we compete 1.15m level. He is sound as a pound and the most amazing horse I've ever sat on.

Screenshot2012-12-17at140601_zps1a0c31bf.png

ADR_5763.jpg
 
Little different as mine was only 14.1 and ponies tend to go on longer than horses.

I showjumped (only local shows) her until she was 26/27 and won the summer league that last year (only at 2'6) then when she 'retired' from jumping I did a bit of endurance. Did a 100 mile ride when she was 29 with no trouble. It did take careful managing though as she had an old injury that you had to look out for. As long as you looked after her she loved to work.
 
I have a 20yr old (cob!) mare competing at medium level BD, she will debut at advanced medium hopefully this summer. She's won or been placed every time out for the last year.

The key with an oldie is careful management, don't over work them, good feeding regime, lots of turnout, a good joint supplement and regular physio checks.
 
My Belgian sporthorse is 17 this year. Although we don't compete at high level ( I'm sure a more experienced rider could) she does really well in all spheres & would wipe the floor with horses half her age in terms of jumping ability etc. When I get off her she always feels like she would go again! :O
 
Top