what do you do with your veteran?

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piggyinablanket

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I have on loan a 26 yr old tbx pony who has arthritis and can only do very light work, but I have been thinking about a bigger native on loan that I can ride aswell as my daughter.
I have seen a 25 yr old, good doer, sturdy native, with no health issues at all and still in work. I am interested in finding out if anyone else has a veteran native of a similar age and what you stilll do with them?
In every other way this one seems ideal/perfect family friend etc a real confidence giver etc. Looks quite well in photos but facially looks older, bless. :)
I just want reassurance really that we can (though taking age into account obviously) still have fun on an old girl! Anyone got or had something similar???
 
My oldest pony is 26 :) She is touch wood in good health for her age. she does lightish work, hacking out, a bit of schooling, I lunge her occasionally (just very steadily and on a big circle), once in a while we will pop over some little jumps, although we haven't done that for a while cos the ground is so hard. I also show her occasionally in veterans classes :)

This is her at a show in May :)

http://www.esphotography.co.uk/events/2010/day22/vet/pages/N22_0675.php
 
My mum was given a 28 yo Connemara Broodmare, by a local stud which had gone bankrupt and was selling off all horses, she is a brilliant confidence giver, my mum who before I had a horse was totally non-horsey hacks her and adores her! Shes got so much character but I know she would never put my very nervous Mum at any harm at all! I often take her in the field for a trot and a canter and she loves it, shes definatley 28 .. going on 8 :)

xx
 
I wouldn't hesitate to take on an oldie, as long as you aren't the bomb about everywhere type! We bought my welsh B when she was 23. She did hacking, mini xc, tiny sj, showing for 5 years or so (although I was VERY particular with the right going etc), plus hacks of up to 3hrs when the ground was good, cantering lots of it. At the age of 30 she was learning half pass and piroettes. She retired at 32 years when she just said she didn't really fancy it any more and sadly died on Sept 17th last year at the age of 39.
(Sorry, had to add pics - missing her a lot today!)
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My oldie is 34, he doesn't do much these days because I dont have much time.

But he is still fine to hack, still canters around the fields faster than I wanted to go. He's the one that will get excited and start prancing around when his feet touch grass.

He does some veteran showing but he cant really be trusted to behave, its too exciting, even in hand.

For fun he popped round the clear round in the yard showjumping (tiny) and loved it.

I think oldies let you know how much they want to do. If their ears and pricked and they are enjoying it then why not (subject to vet of course) He's on the left on my signature pic, enjoying his showing
 
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Excellent!!!! You are really heping me make the choice, have decided to go and have a look, she is Dales so should be quite hardy. Yourstar that is exactly what I want. Confidence giving friend <3
Kat, what can I say..you have sold the idea to me!! she was absolutely stunning pally is my favourite colour, bless her ! What a great credit she was to your care she looked amazing.
 
Hmm, yes, you do have to watch these oldies and their naughtyness. My little ratbag went to do a ridden veterans class at the age of 29, was lovely and looked stunning during the walk and trot round (I think she used to be a proper showpony in her youth as always knew where the head of the line was!), then we hit canter and she started bronching like she was auditioning for a rodeo show! Not only did she embarrass me, but she started a stampede amongst all 19 other oldies! Funniest part was that when I got her stopped and asked judge if I could reset my saddle, she was then stood there sweetly in the middle of the ring with an innocent look on her face whilst the others kept bombing about! It took about 5mins to get them all under control - the crowd thought it was hilarious...best bit was, none of us got kicked out for bad behaviour as they were all so blood naughty! I love oldies!
 
We bought our cob at 19, he is 23 now. 2 seasons ago he did a hunter trial and a bloodhound meet. Today he is doing 2 dressage tests. He jumps, hacks and does county showing. He does better in the cob class than he does veterans (they tend to pick lame thorobreds round these parts..miow..) The other week he did Derby County Veterans showing and he gallopped off in the ring. Husband did a quick salute to the judge as he cantered by.. haha..

We wouldn't think twice about buying an oldie again. go for it.
 
My pony is 22, she is still regularly schooled, hacked, lunged and jumped, she loves it!

I know several people with older natives who still show, do dressage, hack and school, they are just more careful about ground coditions and always make sure they warm up and cool down properly.
 
Excellent! Thank you so much! have decided to go look as son as owner gets back to me.

As for naughties, our little 26 yr old was taken for an amble today, he hit the grass and wanted to 'go'!!!! I wish his legs and the ground were up to it, little monkey he must be feeling well today!
 
What do I do with my veteran?
Exactly the same as I did when I got him as an 8 year old. Hack, jump, compete, try not to get penalties xc for going too fast...
He's 'only' 19 though, I will listen to him and alter his workload accordingly as he gets older as I want him to still be going strong for as long as possible.
 
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