When is a horse 'too old' to work....

JackDaniels1

JackDaniels1

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A livery is bringing her elderly horse back into work after 6 years of retirement to 'keep him moving' . She is getting such bitchy comments/talking behind her back by several members of the yard saying it is cruel. I'm not sure of the horse's exact age but think it's late twenties, sound but 'looks' old with no muscle and slightly underweight although gets plenty to eat.

Got me thinking, when is it time to stop a horse working...?
 
My 33 year old still likes a gentle plod, I don't trot him on tarmac. My vet advised me some 8 years ago to keep him working to avoid arthritis.
 
You can't put an age on it, each horse is different. Her horse, sod all the female doggyness!
 
I thought the same TBH aslong as only gentle work. Feel would do them good.

I don't understand why she is getting such a hard time.
 
We retired our now 30 yr old at age 25 after she had a nasty ongoing bout of colic which really pulled her down for months. The vet could not say why she had colicked, she had quite a hard life before she came to us, as a broodie and R&D cob, so we decided to retire her. She has lost all her muscle tone but is sound and healthy and we often think that there are a few people who would like to hack her gently BUT we will not bring her back into work. Apart from anything else her saddle will no longer fit her changed shape.
I think that the owner knows best (in conjunction with the vet).
 
I have an oldie :)

I retired him fully about 3 years ago, but not because he was unable to do work but because I felt I was too heavy for him at his age and size. My youngest daughter still has the occassional plod on him and he comes for walks regularly.

It is very subjective dependant on the health of the horse. If it's well and the work is gentle, I don't see a problem :)
 
It depends on the horse. I have known horses still be working with novice riders well in to their 30's, they wernt being worked hard but were still getting all the variety that they will have had earlier in their life. If the horse is happy, sound and the work it does doesnt make its condition worse ie. make it stiff for days then I dont see the problem with it as long as horse and rider are happy.
 
The oldest on our yard got to 47.... 10.2 Heinz 57... Tried to retire her twice but she was just too much to handle without the work!! She worked (lightly) up until about a fortnight before she was PTS... Amazing little pony that taught more people to ride than I've had hot dinners!! It's all down to the horse and the owner... If the horse is capable, then it should be the owners choice. Even if she only walks him round a school for 15 minutes once a week!
 
The first horse I part loaned was 29. She loved being hacked out. She retired a couple of years later and had a good few years of retirement before being pts. As others have said it all depends on the horse. The owner will know the horse better than anyone else though.
 
if anyone can convince my 30 year old mare that shes too old to work feel free... my biggest issue is shes still not a calm hack for anyone and spends anytime ridden trying to gallop off! mind you she still has normal muscle tone etc, just has some arthritis in her fetlocks which doesnt seem to bother her when shes jumping trotting poles or doing extended trot
 
If you're in good health, it's like people, it's use it or lose it. Keeping active is important for all of us mammals, unless we want to waste away. Common sense and an appropriate vet/doctor are always helpful. I ride a 22-year-old who did 2-hr hack yesterday, two dressage tests Sunday. He looks absolutely fabulous. Not too much, but not too little is the answer - and always with a respect for what they can or can't do.
 
They're too old when you know they aren't enjoying it anymore or as Dafthoss said are affected the next day or worse for exercise. Some need to retire at 20, some might be late 30's, there's no right or wrong age.
 
I was hacking out my mare at 29 years old. When she saw the saddle and bridle her little ears would come forward and once they where on her she was as keen as mustard. I am sure it depends on the horse but if they can continue to be ridden regularly even if it is just gently it probably does them good.
 
What a great question!!! Everyone has given great advice too. The oldest horse I heard of was 51, someone posted me on facebk. I think a lot of horses retire too early and maybe work will increase the appetite to allow weight gain. I agree that, like people, retirement age depends on your job, your health and your willingness to carry on ;) x
 
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