What do you do with your 20 year+'s

[flirtygerty]

My 20yr old TB hacks out, enjoys jumping and does veteran classes at shows, he gets very bored in the field, my 20 yr old WB is arthritic but enjoys hacking out, both are about to go to the beach for the first time with us

 

[linperrie]

This is a lovely thread!! My girl turns 20 next month and is currently working 6 days a week doing dressage, hacking and occasional jumping. We are doing our first jumping class this weekend as part of a combined training class. While jumping is not her forte she does enjoy it occasionally but having had her 3 years so far I doubt it will be the start of anything big. I am conscious of not schooling too many consecutive days on the trot although she hasnt given me any reason to think that. But she loves her dressage! Out on a hack she seems to go forever which is great for fitness. So many people cannot believe her age and think she looks brill. A few others who know her age and also have retired oldies in their mid twenties seem to think I am mean for riding so much. I am of the opinion that the more they do the longer they last if done wisely. Maybe if my bitchy horsey neighbours had done more with theirs they wouldnt be retired now and they could stop being so jealous of my fabulous girlie still very very active!!

 

[Nannon]

My old boy is 21 and still going strong - he's a jumping machine, he's been on loan for 2 years and came back at the weekend, I hopped on him and rode him round the school trying to keep him in walk and not canter and trying to keep his attention away from the arena fence that he was lining up as a jump! My plans are to keep him going, probably do a competition or 2 a month and see how he goes - at the moment he is loving being busy, and the second he starts stopping at fences I will know that it's time to call it a day.

 

[joulsey]

A few others who know her age and also have retired oldies in their mid twenties seem to think I am mean for riding so much. I am of the opinion that the more they do the longer they last if done wisely. QUOTE]

We have a youngster on another yard, and we asked one of the other girls if they ride their horse much, a big ID/Cob type mare....She said very rarely as she is old. When we asked the mare was only 17 and I felt quite sorry for her as there's no winter turnout so she was only getting half an hour stetch of the legs a day. Unfortunatly she died of colic last month though