What age to you draw the line?

eventergirl22

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I am looking for a new horse and have been to see one thats 14 very fit and healthy an eventer still going out now and doing it ! and i started to think to myself am i doing the right thing buying a 14 year old
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The horse is a real confidence giver which is what i want after been out of riding for a while
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Whats your thoughts?
 
I'm currently looking for a horse and have set my max age as 8! Only because I already have three horses in their later teens and seem incapable of selling anything!
 
My OH lost his 12yr old a couple of years ago, and got a 16 yr old ex hunter TB who has been the PERFECT horse.

If everything else is perfect, then 14 is no age.
 
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If everything else is perfect, then 14 is no age.

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i agree, esp if this horse is your stepping stone back into riding, and is going to give you your confidence back. that's worth it's weight in gold, and is far more important than the age imo. x
 
My current horse was 14 when I bought him. Since having children, I don't have time to do lots of schooling etc and I wanted something that had been there, done it all and was ready to go. Also, I had lost my confidence. However, he is now 17 and probably has not much value and so I will keep him for the rest of his life, so if you intend to sell on at some piont a 14 year old is probably not a good idea. For this reason, I would not pay a lot of money for a horse of this age. I paid £1800 for mine and I do think he was a bargain!
 
I bought Roo at 14, dunno if she's still 14 because I dont know her date of birth. She's my first horse so I wanted a safe, been there done that type.
She is perfect and can still jump any fence (just not with me, I only do small jumps at moment) The only thing I would say is don't get a 14 year old if people commenting on the age will annoy you. A few ignorant people at my yard say she's old, but she's as fit as any young horse.
Don't be put off by a 14 year old if every other factor is right, I certainly wouldn't, I think its a perfect age
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Nickie
 
I think 14 is fine for a confidence giver they're much less likely to throw unexpected issues at you than a younger one but they're still fit enough to compete with the younger ones plus you can get a better horse for less money
 
QR A friend of mine who has been through the mill with younger horses, currently has my 21 yo hunter on loan, and cannot get over how he is her Perfect Horse - she wishes she had taken him on a few years ago when I first suggested it. Now, I wouldn't necessarily recommend you buy a 21yo
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but it's the horse that counts really, not its age
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Ditto all of the above
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Unless you're planning on selling in five plus years time, then why not have this one?

As someone who has bought younger, and for whom things have not gone as one would want/think, I would definately go for an older one next time!
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[ QUOTE ]
I am looking for a new horse and have been to see one thats 14 very fit and healthy an eventer still going out now and doing it ! and i started to think to myself am i doing the right thing buying a 14 year old
ooo.gif

The horse is a real confidence giver which is what i want after been out of riding for a while
confused.gif


Whats your thoughts?

[/ QUOTE ]


see my post from today
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That is why I am trying to buy the 16 year old I have here atm
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I am not eventing her or anything though. She will just be "hacked" or trail ridden.

Depending on what use you have for the horse and what kind of shape they are in 14 is not that old imo.
 
I would happily buy an 'older' horse. If it's fit, happy and well and passes a vetting - no problem at all.

I'll be pony shopping soon - and there really won't be an upper age limit.
 
It totally depends what you want, sounds like you're looking for a schoolmaster in which case 14 may be fine for you. I personally would only buy a 4 or 5 yr old but thats because I love bringing them on!
 
Thanks everyone, the horse is very fit and will be an excellent schoolmaster for me as i lost my confidence last year and my competition mare has just sort of retired due to injury,i bought her three years ago and she was great jump anything i had no worries at all with her,then i rode a friends horse that decided to dump me big style and my confidence went out he window
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So i thought right its time to get back going and the horse in question seems perfect i have ridden and jumped it which is no mean task for me i tell you
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and i felt very confident with it all.But then when you sit and think am i doing the right thing,is it too old..blah,blah,blah.

Thanks again will keep you informed
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