What breeds tend to live the longests?

debsey1

debsey1

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 December 2010
Messages
416
Location
In the wettest county in the UK
Visit site
Following on from the thread about the oldest ridden horse is there a breed that tends to live longest? I own a heaveyweight cob he is 14 and in good health, if providing he has no big health issues how old would he expect to live?

I know ponies tend to live to a ripe old age and there are quite a few tb's out there too. What about heavyweight breeds ie: Cobs, Clydedales, Shires etc?
 
debsey1 said:
Following on from the thread about the oldest ridden horse is there a breed that tends to live longest? I own a heaveyweight cob he is 14 and in good health, if providing he has no big health issues how old would he expect to live?

I know ponies tend to live to a ripe old age and there are quite a few tb's out there too. What about heavyweight breeds ie: Cobs, Clydedales, Shires etc?
Click to expand...

I heard it was shetland ponies and welshies, could be wrong though as I can't remember where I got it from :D
Don't know about horses! X
 
Many mini asassins (opps I mean shetlands) seem to live to a ripe old age, but I guess like all things, the smaller they are the longer they last. The bigger the horse the less likely it is to make very old bones, more wear and tear on the joints ect.
 
There was many ponies in their mid thirties in the riding school I kept my pony at as a child and the larger equestrian centre where I was a working pupil. Welsh sections A and B mainly, still working too though I think this helps.
 
Definately smaller natives. Dartmoor next door to us is 35 and looks as though you could take 15 years off that.
 
There's a 35 year old Clydesdale down the road still going strong! - looks a hell of a lot younger too, I didn't believe them when they told me his age!
 
In my experience anything that was written off and needing to be retired by age 16, creaking gates and all that.

I've heard of shetlands and section As well into their 30s.
 
I have a welshie who is 23 and acts like he's 2! He can gallop about 100mph and buck like crazy when he is in a one!

He is also indestructible :D even the vets laugh at him as he is just Charlie! He has had a few things that he really shouldn't have survived but he does :D

I expect to have him for many years to come
 
mandwhy said:
Apparently haffies can make it to 40 quite easily, mine is only 5, she may live til I am 60, I hope so that would be awesome!
Click to expand...

My Haffy is 10 so ill be 59 if he makes it to 40!

My first pony was a new forest. He was in his early forties when we won a first place for chase me charlie cans! He worked right up until 6 months before he was put to sleep at age 45 id guess. xx
 
I knew a welsh b who made it to 42!

We didnt find this out until a year or so after she died when her papers were found.

She didnt look (and certainly didnt act) her age! She was ridden right up until about 2 months before she died and one of the last thing she did was cart off with my friend and deposit her in a dranage ditch!
 
We had a welsh B x arab (I think) who lived into her 40s. She did mounted games for the pony club and with the mounted games association when she was over 40, and crosscountry/showjumping. We did think she was only about 20 though or we might have thought twice! She was recognised by a previous owner - that's when we found out how old she was. She told us when she'd had enough, went out on loan as a companion and died after galloping around the field like a lunatic - 45 we think.
 
Definitely the smallies, and in general, I think the "accidents" tend to out live the pedigree. Coming from the emerald Isle, I do see alot of accidents, mostly ponies/cobs, that live into their 30's. Dont know why, maybe it's like mongrel dogs. :)
Had an accident foal myself years ago. Stupid neighbours yearling colt had broken in and covered my mare, said neighbour just took away yearling and never said anything. Poor mare was hunted all season, dropped a foal on the 17th september, 1997. Hardiest little fec**r i ever had, I dont own him now, but he's still going strong, and more than likely will continue to do so.
 
Not to sure but we have had a warmblood who was 35yo when she was PTS, also had a Welsh/Arab who was 38yo When we had her PTS this year, also had a tbx who was 45yo when he died of a heart attack in his stable.

At the Moment we have a french warmblood who is 22yo and a little sec B who is coming up 19yo so I think its pot luck :)
 
I had my first pony who was a welsh/Arab , which we bought when she was 3 , and lost her last year aged 36 . She never ever got past the mental age of 5 , and was never retired . I took her out for a hack in her last week , and she was an absolute horror , tanking off with her head between her knees for almost a mile , and then trying to scrape me off on a tree when she stopped .

I adored her :D :D:D
 
I bought an Arab because in my experience they last a good long while, and I want to keep mine for life! Longest lived I've known was a welsh b x cob, aged 35, cheery right up til when he went.
 
Oldenburg27 said:
Not to sure but we have had a warmblood who was 35yo when she was PTS, also had a Welsh/Arab who was 38yo When we had her PTS this year, also had a tbx who was 45yo when he died of a heart attack in his stable.

At the Moment we have a french warmblood who is 22yo and a little sec B who is coming up 19yo so I think its pot luck :)
Click to expand...

Wow - perhaps you're just really good at looking after their health and wellbeing so that they can live to such a grand old age :D
 
Agree with Moodymare123 - Arabs. Our pure bred Crabbet mare, who we bought when she was 18 months, lived until she was 37. Crabbets were desert bred and incredibly tough (dense bones and stocky build).
 
Well.... it's DONKEYS of course :p there was supposed to have been a Blackpool one pop his clogs at 62yrs. Than means mine might outlive me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top