What age would you consider a horse 'OLD'? also in CR

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Sally-FF

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I have a 14 year old WB x TB, he is amazing and the best horse i have ever had. He has had a queit few years due to work etc just ticking over with dressage and the odd SJ.

I would love to get back into eventing, we used to do Intro and PN about 2 or 3 years ago. I have had him for about 7 years.

Do you think he is too old to go back into hard hard work? IE XC, galloping etc etc.

He is in perfect health (apart from the off dusty cough!) I just would never forgive myself if he hurt himself eventing becasue he was too old for it!!
 
It used to be taken as read that a horse was "aged" at 15 and I think some insurers start loading premiums even earlier now but as we all know individuals are different - you can have youngsters that are far from fizzy and older folk who want to go on forever.

However; I would advise you to have a sit in your horse's box and chew it over together - if he fell down with a heart attack - would you blame yourself for all eternity or would you tell yourself it could happen any time - which it could.

Best of luck with that one!
 
If it helps, I was offered advice by someone recently about looking for a stallion that was exceptionally sound. Her suggestion? Pick one that's still eventing at 20. And there are indeed several out there.

They've got 6 years on your lad!
 
I generally class them as a veteran at 15...but by no means are they 'past it' then!
Mine is 17 and she runs rings round everyone at the moment, she's got Cushings though and is just coming back into work. Look at the showjumping and cross country events on Youtube - a lot of them seem to be between 12 - 18.
K x
 
i'd say 17 is the age where a horse is not going to attract many buyers if you're looking to sell but if its your private horse which you're never going to sell then you know him the best and he'll let you know when he's tired, he'll start to slow down or just give you signs saying ''mum i've had enough now, can i have a bit less work please?'' my mare is 13 and we compete at 1m and at home we jump 1.30, i'd say 14 is still in his prime tbh! to give you an idea, we have a 31 year old mare at our yard that didnt fully retire untill last year, owner tried to retire her a few time before that but failed, the horse wouldn't eat much, didn't wanna go anywhere, she was just bored! the second she got on her, horse was happy and eating again and happy to go out of its stable. but last year the horse just said ''im tired, i'd like to retire now please'' so she did :) now fat and happy in the field :D
 
my new forest is 18 and he is still going strong. he won reserve champion last summer in show class and a few weeks ago did a 2ft9 xc course on him and i couldnt stop him! his ears were pricked all the way and he clearly still enjoys work. so i would say 14 is young still!!! i dont do a huge amount on my boy now and dont really jump him over 2 ft 9 anymore as this seems to be where he is most comfortable. horses will tell you if they are finding something too much. as you have had your horse 7 years, im sure you will just 'know' when he is good and ready to hang his xc shoes up! Go for it and good luck.
 
In my opinion, a horse getting to its 20's is getting old then..
Mind you, I had a 22 year old Arab a couple of years ago who was an exception :)
But 14/15 is definately not. My New Forest is 16 and she is at her best right now!
Matured and experienced, not old :)
 
I have just been gifted a horse of mine I sold years ago. He's come back to me as a dressage schoolmaster, he's 20 and still an unpredictable sod. Also my mare has presented me with an unfeasibly large filly foal this year and she is 21.
 
bakedbean, I agree. Back then i guess a horse probably worked all the days God sent and was knackered at 15 pulling carts, carrying the family here and there.

I know you qualify to enter VHS shows at 15 but I think that is young! On my yard, most are between 17 and 32.

The 32yo still beats my 11yo out on a canter and was still doing endurance well into her twenties!
 
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I think when a horse gets to mid 20's they are starting to get old, though this doesn't mean they should be treated like a pensioner. Older horses can still be as active as they were when they were a bit younger.

Lots of things have lead to horses not living as long as they possibly could.

Breeding them too big, big horses like shires tend not to live as long as smaller horses.

Starting them too young.

Not keeping them fit, and housing them like hamsters, or letting them fester away in small fields and paddocks.

I suppose your average UK horse is a bit of a couch potato, overfed, under exercised and bored. Chronic illness and a premature death.
 
I would say 25.

Our RS horses were getting on and most of them were between 20s and 30s and still pulling like troopers, doing 3-5 hours work a day, 2 hour hacks, XC, SJ and bombing about :) They tended to be retired about 30 as they were still very happy in their work.

I bought an 18 yr old from the RS and he was constantly on the go. Plenty of life left in him as well as still jumping 1m and two of our horses (both in 20s) were beating the other horses out and about local SJ comps.
 
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