what do you do after the horse of a lifetime?

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rubysmum

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really interested in hearing others' opinions on this
Ruby is my horse of a lifetime - not everyones cup of tea but suits me down to the ground - she is now 21 & i am 50 - I've owned her for 7 yrs [ & hope to own her for many more] but am really wondering if i will have another horse after her - others i have owned or ridden have always been compared to her & found wanting, so have others of a more mature vintage managed to replace that special one & how have you done that - gone for something very similiar or a totally different type & has the next horse ever really measured up?
 
I'll be interested in what others have to say. My horse is 19 and I've had her for 1 year 4 mths. I'm 47 and she is my first horse. I can't imagine another horse suiting me better or measuring up to her.
 
I too would be interested to hear what people say.
I feel I have my horse of a lifetime, she is 21 this year, I have had her since a 2yr old and she is my perfect horse, and I compare everything to her and think I always will...
 
I would class Gin as my horse of a lifetime. Nothing has ever come close to her. Last year I bred from her and I now have the most fantastic yearling who I love to bits. She is completely different to Gin although I do occasionally see parts of Gin in her.

Probably not the right way to do it but I wouldnt part with any of them.
 
Well... I bought a weanling filly.

It was a risk but she's now rising three, doing really well (although she wont be backed until she's four) and I have high hopes for our future.
 
I'm also interested in the replies as I am in sort of the same situation as you. I have had my horse for 13 years, he'll be turning 20 this year and I'll be 50.I have been thinking about it for a while, can't think I'd ever feel the same about another horse like i do about this one so I'm leaning towards giving up when the time comes.My husband however, thinks I should not stop having horses as he thinks I'll be miserable without one...I guess time will tell...
 
I bred a foal from my horse of a lifetime, a 16.1hh IDxTB. Beowulf her son is now a 16.2hh 10 year old grey and has also become a dream hunter :-)
 
I got mine when I was 15. She will be 30 this year and I've had her 22 years. I dedided instead of trying replace her with a backed horse I got a foal. Bought her when Minski was 22, by the time I was backing the youngster Minski was doing less work.

It enbled me to build up a relationship from being so young and not comapring them as riding horse or adult horses until Kai was older.
 
Dogstar said:
I bred a foal from my horse of a lifetime, a 16.1hh IDxTB. Beowulf her son is now a 16.2hh 10 year old grey and has also become a dream hunter :-)
Click to expand...

i would have loved to have bred a Ruby baby - but sady she was covered many times in her previous home & never took & obs now she is far too old

I have been considering a baby horse - is it madness for a women in her 50s to take on a youngster - will i stilll be physically up to riding in my 70s?
 
Must admit I've had several horses, I would call horse of a lifetime, but my old skewbald stands out I still dream of him and my old ponies never the new. you love them and they love you, but life never stands still, and I always think the old ones, send the new ones to me,because they need me, have always had four horses and still have 4 horses and that's over 40 years.
 
My mum is currently going through this... her horse is nearing retirement age, he is one of those 'gold dust' ponies, he literally has a fan club!! So she is thinking of getting a baby horsey to hopefully replicate the kind of behavior/attributes that her old boy has, also I think having your horse from that early stage will guarantee the same type of bond etc.

You will never be able to replace such horses but you will love the new one all the same- I think it would be better to have a slight change as if you try to get an exact copy then you will probably be disappointed :)
 
My girl was 17 when she had Beowulf, her first foal. He was tiny but is now a huge, stunningly handsome boy. I know lots of people who ride into their 70s, some even hunt still!
 
Still got mine, he's 36 and I've had him for 11 years (God I wish I'd had him earlier!). When he retired I bought a 16yo. Different kettle of fish - the challenge is to get them to love you!
 
I would definately recommend getting another, it really takes your mind off a loss.

After I lost my little horse, who was perfect for me and everything I ever wanted, I honestly didn't want another, I thought I would be comparing them to F constantly, and never adore them as much as I adored him.

But then a family friend offered to loan me a horse I had ridden in my childhood over winter, and I realised that I loved having one around, that I would be much more unhappy horseless, and I owed it to F to give another horse a good home. So when my loan pony went home I decided to buy my own, and he arrived last week and I love him already, maybe not as much as F yet, but it's getting there, which I never thought would be possible :)

I think the key is to get something very different, so there is no capacity for comparison. F was a pushbutton, well bred, proffessionally schooled horse with a good competition record, and great things were expected of him. (I don't think I could have lived up to those expectations, but he was a superstar!!) whereas P, my new boy, was a bargain thoroughbred who has never seen the inside of an arena! But he's just gorgeous, and so affectionate, and I'm so glad I decided to buy him!
 
Going through this now. I'm 48 and have had Khan nearly 18 yrs, since he was a yearling. I'm having to retire him unfortunately, and have been looking for a new horse, with varying degrees of enthusiasm... or not.... since November.
I don't think I realised, until I started looking, just how good he was - not perfect, but he 'fits' me.
He's had sharers over the years, who all loved him, and even did a stint at the RDA, and took my friend hunting, lots more.
It is so very difficult. :(
 
We had the old Appy until she was in her 30's, having bought her as a nine year old. We bought the current appy when she retired, so having the two of them at the same time (as well as others). The first one was a nightmare when we got her, but was the most loyal and loving animal, that no one fell off in all the years we had her. The current one is MUCH better under saddle (ie not nappy, doesn't just keep going when you ask her to stop, can be taken to shows and behave etc) but I fell off her twice last year, both times included a nasty dropped shoulder on her behalf. She doesn't replace the old appy, who is no longer alive, but she does the old girls job and is every bit as loyal and is my friend. I think it is like any frienships, one friend doesn't replace another, but both enrich your life :)
 
I bought Vardi as a 3.5 year old (I was 44 at the time) with the idea that by the time he was 23 we could be a couple of arthritic old farts together.

He was bought very much with the idea of having him trained to be the horse I wanted (no one else's mistakes to sort out) and to be (fingers crossed that we are still both mouching around together in 20 - 25 years time) my last horse.

He is totally different to my Horse of a lifetime, Martini an OTTB who looked after me for my time in Cyprus, I still have real regrets about not bringing him to Holland with me but sense tells me a 16 year old OTTB who has lived all his life in an average of 30 degree heat and with a pathological fear of Bicycles would not have adapted well to living in cold, wet and bicycle infested North Holland, nor would the 10 day journey to get here over land and sea fared him well.

It is very tough and I know I did Vardi a huge disservice for a long while by comparing everything to Martini but I made a conscious decision to go for something totally different I thought a OTTB would have been even worse for comparisions:-)

I think it is never the same but Vardi has characteristics that Martini never had he is far more playful for instance and loves attention and hugs, plus as my trainer says he is very loyal "that horse would bring you home" and I adore him in a different way.

Martini - My Horse of a Lifetime
martinif.jpg


Nevada (Vardi) My Horse for the Rest of my Lifetime
vadiandhisbestmatemac.jpg
 
Well after loosing a pony I had spent 12 happy years with I totally fell in love with another horse. Its like a lot of things in life, i had worked at my job for 14 years when it closed and I was made redundant, the other staff were my friends and i knew the job inside out. Now at over 50 I found and am enjoyng another job.
 
I also think that it is possible to find a horse that you love as much, but differently. The important thing is to pick a personality and temperament that you click with.

I have decided that my current much loved mare will be my last, as I think I am developing arthritis and don't know how much longer I will be able to cope physically, (I am on my own with few facilities.) Add to that the worry about not being able to cope at some point and I think I'd lose the enjoyment anyway.

I've always bought youngsters to break and bring on, so would have to think twenty to thirty years ahead if it was a horse for life.
 
I'm still trying to figure it out :( my horse of a lifetime was pts in December after 7 years together, he was taken from me very suddenly and far too soon.
 
Well, as I approach 59 and my (first) horse is now 16, I do honestly believe that once he retires, I probably will too. He is going strong, although he is a little stiff first thing, and I keep my fingers crossed that he will still be ridden into his twenties. We'll just grow old together as there is no way I could afford to own two.
 
Wow well this thread has made me bawl.

No experience but just a thought-those who are uncertain about being fit enough to ride-what about getting a small horse ie mini, Shetland, or a rescue small pony who needs to be loved? Xx
 
rubysmum said:
i would have loved to have bred a Ruby baby - but sady she was covered many times in her previous home & never took & obs now she is far too old

I have been considering a baby horse - is it madness for a women in her 50s to take on a youngster - will i stilll be physically up to riding in my 70s?
Click to expand...

Years ago when I used to hunt, there was a woman in her eighties who would go out every time side saddle! So yes, I think so long as you keep active you will be fine. Use it or lose it! :D
 
I thought my Billy was my horse of a lifetime [italic]until[/italic] I ‘met’ Holly, Billy will be 21 in the spring and is enjoying his semi retirement on loan to a local riding for disabled centre. Holly is almost 5yrs old now and I am the wrong side of 30, I am certain she won’t be my last horse but I know that she will be with me till the end.


On another note... my friend is 63 in October and she bought her first horse just before she turned 60... She is hoping to take up showjumping this summer with her little mare :)
 
When lottie got 'old' I bought a youngster. No one told lottie she was old and she is still here. Turns out she's not my horse of a lifetime, the youngster is. I had no idea! Lottie will always be the best matured most loving horse I have ever met and I am privileged to have known never mind owned her but by being willing to take a risk on another I have found a horse I am even better matched with. Lottie is 31 now and will leave a huge hole in both my and beau's lives but we have each other.
 
I hope you guys have many more years of happiness with your older horses. But just thought i'd mention my horses old field mate was 30 and he still gave my 2yo a run for his money! and he was still ridden and hacked out then to and i believe he still is :) you guys could have a fair bit of time yet, so long as they are happy and willing keep them going.

I'v had 2 horses before i got Vinnie and both where not really for me. I sold one of them a big hairy cob to a lady in her 60's about 7years ago and they are still very happy together.

My Vinnie is my horse of a lifetime and though its been a struggle so far with some of my home problems, job problems etc i hope we can be together always because i love him so much..xx
 
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