When is a horse to old to ethically ride them

sheep said:
What?
I don’t think a yard owner has any say on whether or not you ride your horse… if you mean a yard can’t / won’t facilitate retirement livery or 24/7 turnout, then that’s something entirely different surely
Click to expand...
Sorry for the late reply I have heard stories of people being bullied out of yards and told to leave because yard owner didn’t want to keep an old retired horse in their yard . Most of these people were happy to pay full livery and keep the horses in their same routine and they were willing to pay for it . Some yard owners nearly expect people who have non ridden horses to be put out in a field and barely visited with poor care till the day the horse die when I was in previous yard before I moved i saw how awfully these horses were treated not enough food and yard owners only checked them a few times a week . Lucky I now have an amazing yard owner who lets older horse stay in the yard .
 
Last edited:
I have a 27 year old warmblood out on loan (loaner has had him about 10 years now!) and she just told me she currently has two fingers bandaged after he carted off with her during a canter.

He’s been managed with arthritis for a good 12 years and I firmly believe he’s still going because he’s stayed in work, albeit happy hacking these days rather than eventing.

He has a home with me for retirement (unless loaner wants to keep him, I would never take him from her after all this time) whenever the time comes but whilst he keeps his sense of humour, I know he’s happy to carry on!
 
The oldest I regularly hacked out was 32 years. He no longer jumped but was happy doing all that was asked of him. We did try to retire him in his 20's and it did not work. After a week of not being caught in the field and watching the others go out, he just stood at the gate and stopped eating. Caught and tacked up he never looked back.
 
I am in the "it depends" camp. Do I think the horses at that age that are visibily stiff and lame should be galloping around 5 days a week? No. No horse should be no matter the age. However, there really is something to be said for keeping a horse moving more generally. Mine is 19 and very arthritic and therefore lame and stiff but vet and chiro (and even human chiro who is horsey) all agree that he needs to be kept moving but I have majorly adjusted his work. We still go for rides but usually once or maybe twice a week and it isnt schooling work nor is it cantering let alone galloping about.

If the horses were older but moving fine (even if a bit stiff) and happy, then why not? My horse's best friend is nearly 30 and looks like he's in his teens (if it weren't for his grey hairs) and still moves well for his age...a bit stiff from arthritis but is still schooling. He's perfectly happy. I wouldn't consider this to be the same as what was described in the initial post though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top