What do you do with your old competition horses?

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LittleGreyMare

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My horse was retired 1.5 years ago and since then I have kept her in pretty much the same manor as when I rode her (with out the riding of course!).

Possibly we may have another that is shortly coming up to retirement and serisouly wondering how we can cope as we are at the moment.

I am thinking about turning her out full time and getting a field shelter but dont want her to think im dont care about her anymore (she really has been a lovely horse to me). My thinking is then I would have more time to groom her and fuss about her, but I am concerned about if this is the right thing to do and just wondering what others do?
 
Mine is in the field with company, colt at the moment. Hard feed, hay and rug over winter. He still gets front shoes every 6 wks as he has an old split in his hoof which keeps cracking. He probably spends about 10 nights in per year - weather related. I am considering a field shelter for next year. He is healthy and happy.
 
Honestly she will adjust to the change in her lifestyle :)

We have an oldie (who has always been old with us - he's never been a ridden horse) and he lives out 24/7. He gets taken out for walks every so often, which is very exciting, and this summer I'm going to try and take him for a few poddly hacks.

She will be fine turned out, as long as she is warm and fed she won't care :)
 
My old competition horse is loving her life out 24/7, no shoes and a long mane which I hack off in the spring and let grow back down for the winter. She's got full access to a barn that I leave open with a straw bed in it for when she wants to lie down (you just can't help spoiling them!). She rarely want's brushed and tends to run away if you've a headcollar but more than happy to be spoiled if she can see no way of being 'restrained'!

The only thing I've noticed is that I've had to put more rugs on her this year to keep her warm but that's no hassel. She's 22 and looking great coming out of the winter.
 
Thanks for all of the positive comments really helped confirm think thats the road to go down. I think for now I will keep in for now and turn her out properly as soon as the weather changes or we get a field shelter. Never thought I would be in this position so soon (shes 17 this year).
 
My very much pampered ex advanced event mare retired to the field 6 years ago and has had three foals. Now 21 she is totally happy living out and refuses to eat much if you bring her into a stable as she so much prefers being out in the field surveying her little world and has adapted to it very well keeping her weight on all winter despite the weather.
 
I know of 3 ex top level competition horses (eventers and dressage horses) all in their late 20s early 30s who all live together in a field shelter with free access to a field all year round. They get shut up at night over the winter, but otherwise are free to choose where they sleep the rest of the year. They have ad lib hay and look great - and are less stiff now than they were 5 years ago when they were stabled
 
If no health problems, I would be putting in foal at 17!

Otherwise our 20 something is baby sitting and still herd boss.

If still rideable I would be doing crazy things like introducing to gun fire!
 
My old boy (well he is only about 16 but been semi retired 3/4 years and fully retired 2 years now due to combination of arthritis & navicular) now lives in a field 24/7 with about 4 friends also retired. When I fully retired him (as he was no longer able to stay sound when in work but field sound) there were two choice either he adapted to living in a field or he was PTS as I could not afford to have him on livery (£100 a week!) when I couldn't ride him and nor could anyone else!

Anyway he surprised me especially as he was a wimpy warmblood and he has wintered out over 2 rather harsh winters now happily, and he really does seem to enjoy his life. He has shelter company and food and a rather lovely view and is checked once a day and his feet trimmed once every 6-8 weeks (barefoot as well now which is a major achievement).

And although stiff he is actually in the main sound enough and occasionally actually exerts some energy and trots/canters but he prefers to take things easy.

Occasionally I feel a bit bad especially as I don't get to see him very often (he is 60 miles from where I am) but when ever I visit you can just see he looks happy and I rather whilst he isn't in pain and is still enjoying life he can stay in that field being a horse. :D
 
Jen_Cots said:
If no health problems, I would be putting in foal at 17!

Otherwise our 20 something is baby sitting and still herd boss.

If still rideable I would be doing crazy things like introducing to gun fire!
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We tried the foal route last year but failed but going to have a final try this year.

Sadly, shes not really rideable only really in walk. I do think if I sent less time mucking out maybe I could ride her again.
 
I think you could give it a try and see how she gets on tbh. It will really depend on how much coat she gets and you may have to rug lots in the first year or so. I am all for horses living out as much as possible. I think it is so much healthier for them.

It also depends on where you live/keep your horse and how easy she is to keep weight on. If I was you i would go into the winter with the intention of keeping her out but with a back up plan (stable) if she finds it hard.
 
with modern rugs, and ideally a good shelter and ad lib forage i think just about any horse can live out very happily. no matter what they've been, they're still a horse... i've had a few go rather 'feral' in their old age (esp 1 mare, who hated being brought in and would piaffe back to the field!) and really enjoy the freedom and relaxation.
 
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