Would you hunt a 19 yr old pony who is fit and well in himself?

[mastermax]

Hi , We could really do with some advice please. We have a 19 yr old pony that is on loan for the winter purely to hunt. We were originally told he was quite a lot younger although his owner is more than aware that he will hunt with us. A very kind H&H forum user also had him a couple of years ago. He appears very fit and well in himself is quite happy to canter, gallop and jump through the fields and NEVER stands still whilst hes out. (Quite exhausting!!) We only plan on taking him about 3 or 4 times a month and will obviously feed accordingly and also give him correct supplements and glucosamine. I just have this nagging thought in the back of my mind that... he is 19 years old. Would be very grateful for your thoughts and possible experiences.
Many thanks

 

[CNM]

As long as the pony is fit and in good health there is absolutely no reason why he couldn't hunt, just don't over do, he'll tell you when he's had enough! Don't forget there were 19 year olds going round Badminton this year!!

 

[Irishcobs]

You'll have to see how he copes. If he is getting tired or loosing to much condition then cut the amount of meets you do a month down.
We have a 20yr old ex 4* eventer that hunts probably once a month. He has done a lot of milage on his legs so only does quiet days.

 

[mik]

Yes, he will tell you when he has had enough.

 

[JanetGeorge]

My husband Field Masters on a 19 year old HW hunter who LIVES to hunt. Yes, he takes a bit more care with him - but the old boy thrives on it and also does 'pick-up' duty at the pt-to-pt and leads the racehorses down to the start (and usually behaves worse than they do! :grin

Yes - there's a risk he could drop down dead out hunting - but he could also drop down dead in the paddock. I know which he'd prefer!

I also x-country raced a 23 year old TB many years ago. He'd been a showjumper - short-listed for the Australian Olympic team when he was 10 - and spun on a heart murmur. At 23, he did the fastest time on the day on a stiff x-c course and was unstoppable! He was put down at 26 when arthritis made life less fun!

 

[mastermax]

thank you for your replies. I guess he will tell us when hes had enough. We will be very careful with him and "play it by ear" I have no intention of being a front runner anyway unless of course he has other ideas!!!!

 

[LauraWheeler]

Lucy is nearly 20 and she hunts atleast once a week if not twice. She loves hunting and keeps up with all the young pretenders. At the last meet of last season we hacked to the meet then hunted till 8pm. Everyone was amazed at how old she was as she was still pulling my arms out at the end of the day and there younger horses where nackered! Lucy lives to hunt and if we are unable to hunt when the hunt is in our area she has to be shut in a stable with her top door shut as she will jump out and go on her own. Afew weeks ago i took her showing on the sunday, Cubbing on the mon, wed and sat then did an endurance ride on sun. The vet at the end of the ride could not believe how old lucy was as she was a nightmare to vet she kept tring to tank off across the lorry park! I say keep them going as long as they are happy. I know she'll let me know when she's had enough.

 

[joe_carby]

ye gf little bros pony is 18 and jumps everything and out lasts most of the rest of the other horses if the horse is fit and happy go for it

 

[Baggybreeches]

19 is not really old for a pony.
My old JA was still hunting at 32 (6 weeks before she was PTS), she was as keen as ever, the poor child who took her was mortified by her windgalls, which where because the silly old witch would go round the field 4 times before pulling up!

 

[Annette4]

I took my old mare when she was 20yo and I was out trotting and out galloping the 17.2hh hunters....as long as he's fit enough you'll both have a whale of a time.

 

[mastermax]

Once again, thank you, thank you!! You have put my mind at rest at bit. I was SO looking forward to taking him as I think the little minx will give me a great day!! He is safe BUT with character. My friend is taking my 7 year old cob as he is quite strong out hunting and due to the fact I have MS with a few muscle problems, we felt the pony was a safer bet for me. It means I can continue to hunt without giving up the one thing I love and hopefully stay safe.
Thanks again and I will keep you posted on his first day.

 

[snoopydoopy]

yes! my old pony last hunted when she was 26. Even at that age she used to pull like a steam train and used to bounce on the spot at gateways. She lived for it! and she always new it was a friday night as she would be waiting at the feild gate to come in from 3pm onwards!

 

[skewbald_again]

We took yd's pony aged 22 out to 'see hounds' last year and he set off like a steam train, had the best time, quite put the light back in his eyes it did, of course he bucked like a four year old and had no brakes to speak of but they had the best fun.
I think it must be something he's done before !!!!!

 

[rosie fronfelen]

our 17 year old arab is in his 10th season as a whips horse, never had a day's problem, he'll carry on until he knows he's had enough!

 

[CrazyMare]

I take my 17 year old, alongside jumping regularly. Only change I've made lately is to put her on a joint supp.

 

[Mike007]

Just to be on the safe side I would get the vet to give him a check over,heart ,that sort of thing.I am sure he is as tough as nails and there will be no problem with a considerate rider.

 

[ttt]

Yes. My 15 year old daughter hunted her 19 year old pony for the past 3 years.
The pony was 19 going on 9 my daughter would come home with blisters from holding her back.
The pony loved hunting.

 

[Lolo]

I've given up hunting my 25, soon to be 26,yo TB because he's too much for me to handle! He's got more and more nadly behaved as he's got older, and despite being a sweetie, he's also mental!

 

[marmalade76]

Yes, I would and have done in the past, one up until he was 21.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

My old hunter hunted twice a week from the age of 5 till the age of 20!! He was a bit creaky near the end but changed from old man to revvy hunter as soon as he heard hounds. As long as they love doing it and are sound enough to do it then crack on!!

 

[MrWoof]

Hi , We could really do with some advice please. We have a 19 yr old pony that is on loan for the winter purely to hunt. We were originally told he was quite a lot younger although his owner is more than aware that he will hunt with us. A very kind H&H forum user also had him a couple of years ago. He appears very fit and well in himself is quite happy to canter, gallop and jump through the fields and NEVER stands still whilst hes out. (Quite exhausting!!) We only plan on taking him about 3 or 4 times a month and will obviously feed accordingly and also give him correct supplements and glucosamine. I just have this nagging thought in the back of my mind that... he is 19 years old. Would be very grateful for your thoughts and possible experiences.
Many thanks

I totally agree with most replies to this Post.
The pony will tell you "when".
I hunted an ex-chaser when he was 25 (still a very hard puller then) and lady I know hunted her old fellow at 28.
Keep him fit and warm, feed him well - and have lots of fun. Some ponies are just born to hunt.
If he does "go pop" in the hunting field, then what better way could he go?
Just ensure that you know when he is running on "energy" rather than "adrenaline" - especially at the tail end of the day.

 

[PickledOnions]

I hunt a 27 year old pony, who goes forever but once he is tired, he tells me and we go home, pulls like a trooper and pings over anything you ask of him, infact he out does some of the younger horses and ponies sometimes :grin:

 

[Couloir]

Go for it! My 23 yr old ex puissance horse still hunts regularly, the only thing I'd say is that you have to use your head and not get carried away - when you feel he's starting to get tired, take him home. My boy generally only stays out for 2 hrs max, and although he could carry on all day, he'd be running on adrenaline and would probably go until he keeled over!
Have fun!

 

[KatB]

Yep, I used to hunt a 26yr old ex Hurdler, whose conformation etc had gone south, but he still loved it!! Used to give him a bute the day afterwards as he got a bit stiff, but I think if he hadnt of been able to go out, he would have just given up tbh!

 

[marco]

no worries at all i hunt a 20 year old every week, leave im home he goes nuts!

 

[palomino698]

My Irish pony is 27 and has hunted every season since he was four, he retired at Easter when his old suspensory injury started troubling him again and with no job to do he has aged dramatically this year. Our little Sec A hunted for the first time in his life at 20 and had six wonderful seasons until my youngest outgrew him. The pony will let you know when it's time to call it a day. Make sure he doesn't get cold standing around, and Cortaflex may be a good idea too - I'd give my oldies half a bute if they'd had a lot of fast road work or heavy mud - just keep an eye on him, he's mature but certainly not ancient!