would you buy a 20 yr old???

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Yorkshire dumpling

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well actually free to good home

as most of you that have read my posts will know, i am a sucker for a thin / suffering/ bargin/ cute etc horse :rolleyes::o

i have been offered from a friend of a friend free to good home a 20 yr old small pony
Q:good to catch
A: we heard it into field shelter to catch but then she is fine
????????????????????????????????????????????????

bomb proof lalalala....
although would not be ridden would have her as companion only

opinions ?? have you ever purposely got an older horse and your good and bad experiences of it please ??
thanks muchly for reading xx
 
20 for a pony,even horses these days isnt that old!
Tbh if it looks healthy and moves well (no stiffness etc)and i could afford a pony to keep mine company then yes i would take it on :)
 
A friend of mine will only ride ponies over 17yrs old. She doesn't trust anything younger!

Her current chap is 19yrs old, ex whizzy PC pony who damaged a tendon and couldn't jump any more. She took him on after his year off, and they are now going great guns in dressage. He's her dream pony... safe as houses and sensible now not to scare her. So yes :o)
 
Good experience - Bought an 18yo tb 5/6 years back for bargain price. She hadn't done anything for years. Brought her back in to work, now she's mainly a show jumper and I'm looking to possibly affiliate her this summer as she is very talented and quick against the clock. And yes, she now is a 23/24yo. I was going to take her out hunting this season but due to snow / ice didn't get round to it. Still may take her in a month or two (money tight atm :()! She's sound, fit, healthy, and my god does she like to stretch her legs! She's not 'old', infact she is very young at heart and in body, it's only her teeth that show her age :) (Let me know if you can see the video or not, I've never posted one from photobucket on to here before!)

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/AlexandJess06/Jessie/MOV01912.mp4

DSC00046.jpg
 
In my life I have bought two horses in their twenties, the other one was an old eventer pony and the other was a TB mare. The pony was so full of life that I couldn't even think about retiring him, he kept on competing in little local shows and he won every time, and at home he was keeping company to the foals, and never got tired of playing with them! He was the best and I never regretted buying him. He was put to sleep at the age of 27 due to a heart condition. :(

The mare was 21 when I got her and had for two years, she was put to sleep due to melanoma. When I think about these two and other older horses I've known, I could definitely get a pony in their twenties, but a horse, probably not. :rolleyes:
 
I took on a retired 29 yr old TB last June - purely with the intention of giving him better care until the end of his days, and I didn't expect him to see out the winter. However, he's improved no end, rules the yard, is a delight to have around and totally owns my heart! He's come through the winter really well and I don't see him going anywhere any time soon :)

I also have a retired 26 old TB but we've had him since he was 6 months old, and a 19 yr old NF pony who is still out there winning everything he turns his hand to.

If your little chap is happy and healthy, and you know you could be his last home so are prepared to see him out, then go for it. I can be very rewarding.
 
Wowser! Ponyfeet, you definitely wouldn't think she is over 20 looking at that :eek: :)

I wouldn't have a problem taking on a 20yo no, but then 3 of our 5 horses are 20 or over anyway! :D
 
If I had my own land and could afford another then yes absolutely, I had a pony that was 19 when I got her, she did everything! She was fast, jumped higher than my boy now (who's 14.3hh) and she was only 13.2! I won loads on her, and her age didnt matter! It only meant we could go in for vetern classes and win ;) When I got too big for her she was sold to best friend who then carried on jumping and moved her to a schooling yard at the age of 23, then about 2 years later she was moved to a lady that used her for kids lessons, I sadly dont see her anymore, but believe she is still going otherwise I would have been told by my friends and her family!

I say go for it!
 
I bought a 22 yo pony with a lot of miles on the clock for my son. To be fair we had known him for 3 years so knew what we were getting. Still have him he is 29 now. He was retired once outgrown but is still cheeky. He is a good companion as he has no desire to dominatea at all.
 
No I wouldn't even if she was free. Wouldn't have anything older than 13 to start with and that's the very oldest I perfer to take on 9/10 yr olds.
 
I bought my lad nearly a year ago, he's 19 this year, but the only thing that shows his age is his teeth! He's a Dutch WB with good jumping breeding and this really shows! I took him to the Royal Navy champs last July and we came 4th! He's full of life, bounces around on the moors and can be a bit of a handful when not in regular work but I wouldn't change him for the world, I've had such a good year with him and look forward to many more! Our golden oldies are very underated! I must admit at first I wasn't looking to buy an older horse, but he came along at the right time for the right price and it was just meant to be. He really is my pride and joy and will have a home for life with me :) xx
 
We have a 27yr old which we got a year ago, little welsh A, he keeps our horses company whicle another is out. He is used about once a monthh for my nephews to potter about on. He was a rescue.

Worth his weight in gold and is enjoying a well deserved retirement after 20 years in a riding school. Why not have one. :D

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There are loads of circumstances where an older pony/horse is more suitable. An older companion is more likely to be suited to retirement, I loaned a 30 year old as a companion and he was a super chap! A young child's pony can also do the little work required safely into its later years. I would also consider a former competition horse that had worked to an advanced level and could teach me the moves!

Then again there are also the exceptions like PonyFeet10's horse which doesn't look a day over 10!!!!

If you have a job for this pony and the means to keep it, take it on!
 
I havent actually read all of the replies but....

In the summer of 2005 i returned from a 6 month stint in the USA and came home to find i was having to retire my horsey (i gave him 3 attempts to hack out and he struggled), i didnt want to bute him up just to ride so he retired graciously. Then i saw an advert in a tack shop for a 23 year old Hann x Arab, well i was intruiged by the breeding, and when i spoke to the owner she had said how highly strung he was, that they thought he was a rig etc etc, well, that was it - i was going to see him as thats my type :)
I went and was pleasently suprised as he was the only shade of chestnut i like (not a huge chestnut fan!) anyway, i went for a long hack with the owner and her other pony and that was it, i was having him.
He hadnt been in a box for 21 years.... but he loaded straight away (my mum had said if he doesnt load in 30 minutes, leave him)

Hes still with me now, aged 28 - he'll be 29 this year. I dont regret it for one minute !
He also isnt a rig, and is as quiet as a lamb! The owner had a few contraptions and gadgets she rode him with, and said i had to continue as such but i got rid of them straight away and have had no problems.

i am also a sucker for a sob story and need to learn not to take on older/knackered horses though as i do now have quite a lot!!! (nothing wrong with any of them but i do sometimes wonder why i have so many horses 'happily' living their days out with me)
 
I took on an elderly shetland in 2002 and had a fantastic 6 years with him. He was estimated late twenties by the vet who owned him and I barely had any trouble with him, with the exception of recurrent conjunctivitis. Do it! :)
 
i bought my dear old freddy at 20, we had some amazing years! (cleared up in veteran classes, showjumping and had so much fun out hacking) he gave me his golden years and for that i owe him so much.
i wouldnt do it again though, im not ready for that kind of heartbreak again just yet.
 
Depend what I wanted to do with it. I wouldn't buy one as a riding horse for myself, I like youngsters. As a companion, I don't see why not, or a light hack or childs pony (beware of the age limit on childs best friend though)

Lottie is 31 this year and no more expensive to run than Beau who is 10. Less so, her insurance is lower, she needs shoeing less often never hurts herself (touches wood) and doesn't constantly require new stuff!.

Plus it sounds like you know where it's coming from which is a plus.
 
Yes, a been there done that 20-year-old would be ideal for me. I only want to hack so we could take life gently together. Only prob is it can be difficult to get comprehensive insurance for older horses and ponies, so big vet bills might be an issue.
 
I've just rehomed a 20 year old pony to a local family (not my pony..she was dumped at a friends). She's a cracker, she jumps, hunts, XC, hacks alone and in company and is WAY WAY WAY off a gentle quiet retirement home!!! She's the most fabulous pony and believe me if she were a hand higher I'd have kept her myself cos you cannot find ponies like her and certainly not for free!!!
 
I did. Well, I didn't buy, but was given a 20 year old mare at a time when I needed a companion/nanny for my then yearlings. That little Arab mare, although she's never been ridden by me, was the horse who introduced my young niece and nephew to riding. But in her real job, of being a nanny to the boys, she was absolutely brilliant - she taught them how to be happy and well adjusted horses and is worth her weight in gold. She's 30 this year, still with us, and will remain here for the rest of her days.
 
We've got two 22 year old's. One is looking a little stiff, but then he is an ex Master's horse and has had a hard life hunting. The other seems to have regressed this year and feels younger than he has for years!

There is a lot to be said about happiness and good care being the elixir of a horse's long life.
 
Due to his age I would honestly get him tested for Cushings first. I know it is not a guarantee that he will not develop it but it is like any vetting - okay at the time. The reason I say this is that the expense of a Cushings case is horrendous: frequent blood tests, medication, hay diet - may not be able to live out at all, bedding (heavy use of due to weeing a lot when Cushings not under control).
My pony has Cushings and I have another with EMS and I am stony! at the moment after both with lami this winter despite all precautions taken.
When my pony hangs up his horseshoes and I get another to ride (if affordable) I intend to get it blood tested for Cushings first. May not be part of the standard vetting but I don't care. Heartbreaking to turn it away if Cushing positive but even more so to take it and have to have it PTS for economic reasons.
 
yep bought a 20yr old pony for a reasonable amount of money this summer for my son to do mounted games.
He came fit and ready to go, loves his job and is sound as a pound

Plenty of life!

phoebepartyandgames051-1-1.jpg
 
I took a 17 yr old on loan then 2 years later bought her aged 19, she retired aged 27 just doing occasional light hacks & passed on aged 29. Wonderful mare, so patient yet with frisky streak. She was a wonderful schoolmistress, taught me so much, deeply treasured. Wouldn't have traded her for any other horse.
 
PonyFeet10 said:
Good experience - Bought an 18yo tb 5/6 years back for bargain price. She hadn't done anything for years. Brought her back in to work, now she's mainly a show jumper and I'm looking to possibly affiliate her this summer as she is very talented and quick against the clock. And yes, she now is a 23/24yo. I was going to take her out hunting this season but due to snow / ice didn't get round to it. Still may take her in a month or two (money tight atm :()! She's sound, fit, healthy, and my god does she like to stretch her legs! She's not 'old', infact she is very young at heart and in body, it's only her teeth that show her age :) (Let me know if you can see the video or not, I've never posted one from photobucket on to here before!)

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/AlexandJess06/Jessie/MOV01912.mp4

DSC00046.jpg
Click to expand...


aww she looks like a fun ride :) she really doesnt look her age she is lovely xx
 
Sammii819 said:
We have a 27yr old which we got a year ago, little welsh A, he keeps our horses company whicle another is out. He is used about once a monthh for my nephews to potter about on. He was a rescue.

Worth his weight in gold and is enjoying a well deserved retirement after 20 years in a riding school. Why not have one. :D

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he is sssssssssssooooooooooo cute!!!! i will gladly take him off your hands if you ever dont want him :D he looks cute cute cute xx
 
I bought a 20 year old welsh x gelding as a companion to my young highland. I paid £800 for him, with very crumbly feet but a good set of tack. My daughter started riding him and he taught her everything. She went from being terrified to jump 18 inches, to galloping round a home made xcountry course flat out. Unfortunately, he got lami and when he was being treated, she decided not to ride him again if he got better. She sold his saddle and got £400 for it. Sadly, he developed a bad infection in the other hoof which wouldn't clear and he was pts at 26 years old. Definitely her horse of a lifetime. She would lie down with him in the stable and he was such a gentleman. Sadly missed even after 10 years. RIP Mr B x
 
Lovely thread - I've never brought one that old and have always tended to sell at around the 12 mark. However now in my 40's I have 3 coming up 16 and they aren't going anywhere. It really really annoys me when I see older horses for sale or worse free to good home. Same with dogs.
 
Mine are 31 and 19 years old and I didnt have to think twice I always go for an older horse every time. As long as it doesn't have any major vet issues then there usually fine just a bit extra tlc and mine are fine never had a vet bill other than the usual yearly vac's and teeth in 20 years of owing my big lad.

Had a younger horse 14 year old but I had nothing but vet bills in the end he was so bad vet advised me to have him pts but it was for the best wouldnt want him to suffer on my account.
 
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