What is a good age for a first horse?

[Cortez]

But they can…..

Some can. And older horses tend to go lame more often than younger ones, what with progressive damage and arthritis etc.

 

[teddypops]

Some can. And older horses tend to go lame more often than younger ones, what with progressive damage and arthritis etc.

I know. I was replying to someone who said they couldn’t.

 

[windand rain]

I think the three day veterans show would surprise many there are lots of horses and ponies working into old age Growing up 55 yers ago I rode a 22 year old TB mare that had had 15 foals in her lifetime she was ridden while pregnant and again when the foal was weaned so had months rather than years off. I am certain that the bulk of pony club ponies are well over 19 as some have been doing ponyclub games for more than one generation at high level. Still my point is it is insulting to think just because a pony is old you would ride it lame It is simply wrong to do so at any age. I know people on here who have had horses PTS at very young ages due to severe skeletal problems or unfound lameness. 7 year olds with life limiting arthritic changes etc. My personal preference is to keep horses all their comfortable life I am very much a pragmatist if they are not happy physically or mentally and are untreatably in pain then they are PTS what ever their age. All that said I prefer to buy young unspoilt ponies as they haven't been spoiled in any way

 

[splashgirl45]

I disagree when people say a horse can be ridden into their late 20s 17 - 23 is a common age for a horse to be retired. I have seen people riding very lame old horse . I say it actually depends on the horse some young horse are very good first horses.

I think it depends on the type of life the horse has had and the type of life you expect from them. Mine all did riding club level comps and were still sound and being hacked till 22, 24, 25 and 31. The 31 year old was only 15 hands and also had 4 years complete retirement while still comfortable. I also don’t agree with working anything who is unsound and always consider quality of life. In my experience the smaller horses and ponies stay rideable for much longer. It does make me cross when someone boasts how old their horse is and they are still riding it and I wouldn’t even have kept it alive in complete retirement ..

 

[Miss_Millie]

Hi, I am just wondering, given that people who know you are concerned about a horse having enough mileage left, what is it that you want the horse to do? Also what size are you looking for? Keep in mind that an older 14.2 is quite different to an older 18 h.

I bought my schoolmistress when she was about 14 to 16, true age is unknown as the passport says younger, but even the seller told me that he did not believe it to be correct. She is now 18 - 20, and has been much less trouble health wise than either of my younger horses. But of course it is luck of the draw, and I am careful to keep her fit and pay close attention to how she is feeling. I have to say that I do not regret for a second buying an older horse, as at the time I needed to re-build confidence. She has done that job 100%, has never once spooked the whole time I have owned her, forward going and responsive but safe, and although she still has plenty of 'go' in her, if she wanted to retire tomorrow she would owe me nothing. Truthfully in terms of fun she has been the best horse I have ever owned, as we never have 'off' days, she is always exactly the same.

I just want to hack, go on fun rides and have a lesson once a week So nothing too intense, I don't intend on competing. I think you found yourself a real gem there, and that is certainly the sort of thing I'm looking for too. I know that I still have a lot to learn and I think an older horse could teach me a lot.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I think it depends on the type of life the horse has had and the type of life you expect from them. Mine all did riding club level comps and were still sound and being hacked till 22, 24, 25 and 31. The 31 year old was only 15 hands and also had 4 years complete retirement while still comfortable. I also don’t agree with working anything who is unsound and always consider quality of life. In my experience the smaller horses and ponies stay rideable for much longer. It does make me cross when someone boasts how old their horse is and they are still riding it and I wouldn’t even have kept it alive in complete retirement ..

Yes it is definitely a case by case basis A previous share horse I had was mid 20s and you wouldn't know it, she was very energetic and her joints were still very supple. There must be many factors such as their breeding and how much work they have done in their lifetime.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I think you also need to think about sellability. As this is your first horse you may decide after experiencing horse ownership you don't enjoy it as much as you thought. Owning a horse may not be as wonderful as you think. Also being new to buying a horse there is more of a risk of buying something unsuitable.

I would say 13 would be maximum age for purchase for first horse as should you not get on with it or decide horse ownership is not for you after trying it it will be easier to sell on than a horse in their late teens.

I have a 19 year old native pony who I have had since 5 and he has spent the best part of the last 2 years, with a gap of 9 months in between injuries, on box rest with controlled walking due to soft tissue injuries which has not been fun at all. Luckily I am on part livery which takes the pressure off except financially and he is very easy with his in hand walking. But he is now getting expensive with his care at over £200 a week he has to be walked 3 times a day to reduce the colic risk and with working and not living really near by I can only go once a day after work and not every day as I sometimes have to work late, decisions around his care are stressful.

I am not someone who will keep on going with box rest indefinitely as I want him to have decent life and for me that includes group turnout. Up till 17 he was in very good health and hopefully he will recover from this injury. He is a lovely boy and I will do my best for him but I certainly won't get another horse.

Thanks for your honesty, it's good to hear all sides of the spectrum. I have had unwell animals in the past (not horses) - I think potential illness and grief on our is part and parcel of animal ownership. But it isn't enough to put me off if I'm honest. I'm much happier with animals in my life, even at the low times I have no regrets

 

[Cortez]

I have to say I have never seen a horse over twenty that didn't look old, if you know what I mean. A lot of people like to boast about how their veteran horses are still out and about at 25/6/7 doing XY or Z, but IME they always look stiff and tentative and not remotely like a young, athletic horse working well and happily. I know there will be loads of people who will gainsay this, but having judged many a veterans class I can tell you that older horses are like older people: not what we once were.

 

[stangs]

OP, are you looking at native horse breeds or pony breeds? If you're looking at ponies, 15 should be fine.

 

[Miss_Millie]

OP, are you looking at native horse breeds or pony breeds? If you're looking at ponies, 15 should be fine.

I'm open to anything but so far I've been looking at mostly Welsh cobs, as I generally get along with them really well

 

[Miss_Millie]

I have to say I have never seen a horse over twenty that didn't look old, if you know what I mean. A lot of people like to boast about how their veteran horses are still out and about at 25/6/7 doing XY or Z, but IME they always look stiff and tentative and not remotely like a young, athletic horse working well and happily. I know there will be loads of people who will gainsay this, but having judged many a veterans class I can tell you that older horses are like older people: not what we once were.

I guess there are so many factors at play. My elderly Grandma is still very active in her 80s with no health issues, not on any medication etc. She is an avid gardener so has kept fit, she has also lead a rather pleasant life without having to work too much. Some of that could be genetics too. Equally you hear of heavy smokers living into their 90s, it doesn't make sense but some people are just lucky!

I imagine it's the same for horses - depends on how hard they have been worked etc. I would say that some horses like the routine of being ridden, even if it is just at a walk. Or even just a walk around the block on a lead rope to keep their joints more supple. My mid 20s share horse was a force to be reckoned with and would overtake the younger horses on fun rides, you couldn't have held her back if you wanted to!

 

[Jaqa]

I find this insulting my 25 rising 26 year old pony has not been off work since an injury at 6 years old she is fit and loves hacking out so some horses

Totally agree. Keeping older horses in work provided they are sound is actually GOOD for them. Talk to any veterinarian and they'll tell you about the benefits of exercise in older equines. Same as if we became couch potatoes after being fit most of our lives, it tends to not go well. My mare (a 15 hand horse) was actually retired for a while in her late 20's (she needed a surgery and then I broke a leg) and she became so depressed about not being able to go out and about as usual I was horrified at the change in her. I had to bring her back in and then she was super happy and looked in fantastic health again. My mare was kept vet checked and remained sound, and looked a fraction of her age. People asked she was roan when I was out and about and spoke to passers by because she was going a bit grey but still pranced around and was fat and healthy. She could outrun the other horses in the agistment in the paddock easily even in her late 20's to early 30's. Obviously not all horses will be in this category, but if they have good conformation, have not been pushed hard when younger and are looked after, there are definitely horses out there that are sound and happy in their older years. You also need to be sensible and only do what the horse it fit and sound for, but not everyone riding a horse over 20 is pushing a lame horse around. On the other hand, I've seen unridable 13 year old horses that are riddled with arthritis and shouldn't be ridden at all due to terrible conformation or injuries. Honestly, my mare stayed bombproof sound through the years with just slight stiffness creeping into her fetlocks in her late 20's that was un-noticable unless you flexion tested, and managed with joint supps. I've seen plenty of older horses happily trundling around the pony club and adult riding circuits as well without lameness. Age alone is not the be all or end all for soundness, it's a factor to take into consideration.

I know there have been 20+ year old horses still competing at high levels. Pretty sure Heath Ryan was riding one of his horses successfully in big grand prix comps into the horse's 20's. I recommend reading this for a perspective https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/putting-age-size-and-soundness-perspective

 

[Jaqa]

I have to say I have never seen a horse over twenty that didn't look old, if you know what I mean. A lot of people like to boast about how their veteran horses are still out and about at 25/6/7 doing XY or Z, but IME they always look stiff and tentative and not remotely like a young, athletic horse working well and happily. I know there will be loads of people who will gainsay this, but having judged many a veterans class I can tell you that older horses are like older people: not what we once were.

I personally don't think this movement is too shabby for a 28 year old
(Please excuse the poor resolution, had to grab it off my FB account which used to compress videos terribly.)

 

[southerncomfort]

To throw another cat among the pigeons....

For me age is one factor but what I'd be looking at is mileage. Similar to buying a second hand car....are you going to buy the newer little hot hatch with a lot of miles on the clock, that's been razzed about by a boy racer who hasn't bothered having the car serviced? Or the older car that's not done much more than weekend drives around country lanes, and been meticulously cared for?

Very crude analogy I know, but the point is that if you dismiss a horse on age without knowing any more details you could miss out on a really good horse.

 

[Cortez]

I personally don't think this movement is too shabby for a 28 year old
(Please excuse the poor resolution, had to grab it off my FB account which used to compress videos terribly.)

You're not going to like this, and I don't want to hurt your feelings, but even in slo mo, that horse is not sound.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

You're not going to like this, and I don't want to hurt your feelings, but even in slo mo, that horse is not sound.

Why say it then?

 

[ihatework]

OP, when going into buying a horse you kind of have to accept that it’s unlikely to be this fantasy, happy ever after.

There are so many variables to horse ownership that people giving single examples of ‘well my horse was doing XYZ at 25’ is NEVER helpful. It’s unrealistic to expect and plan for a horse to still be in useful work into their 20’s. If it happens fab!

There are lots of people who think they have sound horses who quite frankly live on a different planet.

IMO there are a lot of mildly unsound horses that can still do a useful job. But you have to open your eyes to it and manage them accordingly.

So here are some generalisations from me - note the word generalisation (there will always be exceptions).

The smaller the horse, the bigger chance you have of soundness in later life.

The better the conformation the better the chance of a sound horse.

A good dose of native/Arab/something less ‘sports bred’ will probably increase your chances.

The early care, training and mileage will all impact them later. But you possibly won’t be able to evaluate this when purchasing.

I have a working theory that fundamentally unsound horses tend to start to show obvious clues in the8-12 yo bracket. If they are still doing a good job and sound for purpose at 13/14 then I reckon you stand a chance of them still doing a good job early 20’s provided you are willing to pay and manage for inevitable arthritic changes.

Horse buying - clear as mud eh?!

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I bought my oldie at 10 and he’s 26 now. He’s had various issues over the years but us as sound as he’s ever been and enjoys his hacking. Plenty of younger horses with issues out there.

Having said that it’s true most older horses will stiffen up so I wouldn’t go over 15yrs. Loaning an older horse would be an alternative. I’d get the horse you need now rather than worrying too much about the future which you can’t control. I see so many people over horse themselves and their ambitions get smaller rather than bigger and they find owning a bind as a result.

 

[Jaqa]

Feelings not hurt. Had to have a deep lump removed from the top of her leg just after this video was taken which is likely were any perceived unsoundness you believe is there may be coming from. Horse vet checked out sound apart from very minor forelimb fetlock stiffness that was not visible apart from cranking up the flexion tests on this area following this and was managed with joint supplements very successfully. This could not be seen in her paces, only by some resistance to having the joint flexed right over during the flexion test. The vets that checked her over (there were a couple over the years) had no significant issues with her soundness at this age, and she remained far sounder and moved better than many horses significantly younger until she passed away in her 30's.

 

[Cortez]

Why say it then?

Because the video was presumably posted to show how jolly sound the horse was at whatever advanced age it was, and since it wasn't jolly sound at all it kinda backs up the point I was making, non? Why wouldn't one say it?

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Because the video was presumably posted to show how jolly sound the horse was at whatever advanced age it was, and since it wasn't jolly sound at all it kinda backs up the point I was making, non? Why wouldn't one say it?

The poster said she didn’t think the movement was “too shabby for a 28yr old” not that it was “jolly sound”

The poster wasn’t upset by your comment so no point in discussing further.