Would you loan a 20 yr old?

I know someone who has! A 14.2hh for her daughter to show her the ropes for SJ. Are you thinking of loaning or want to loan out? A bit more info I think to get a more detailed reply. If it helps, I also know someone (an adult) who bought an 18yo and is delighted with him, exactly what she wanted - a safe but forward going ride that could still SJ when required!
 
I wouldn't buy one, or ever sell a horse this age, but I believe loaning is a great option.

I loaned out my 24 year old, who just wanted a quieter hacking lifestyle, and was solid and bombproof, and he went out to a lovely lady who was just getting back into horses after a 15 year break.

In the loan agreement I (as the owner) confirmed that I would take care of all veterinary fees, if any illness's were to arise. I thought this was only fair due to his age. It would not have been morally acceptable to expect the lady loaning him to cough up, if he developed something age related, and I wanted to be thoroughly in control of any treatments he had if he needed anything.

He came back to me after 18 months, as he started tripping (arthritis was setting in), but he had a lovely 18 months, and then I retired him from riding, but kept him for a further 6 years.
 
You might receive more replies if there was more information in your post.

Why wouldn't you loan a 20 yr old, if the horse or pony is sound and fit for the purpose of whom is loaning it, then I don't see why not, providing the horses welfare is put first...which should be the case what ever the age, I don't see a problem loaning an older horse, many people out might prefer something a bit more mature depending on how much they like to do.

I don't however think it's fair to palm an older horse off on loan just because the owner doesn't want to bother with it anymore, as in pay for it's care and vet fee's etc, nothing wrong with getting a 'younger model' and putting your other out on loan for a slower pace in life but I do think in some cases if you can't afford to retire a horse when it needs it, in some cases it may be better to have them PTS, too many old horses get passed from pillar to post, I think they deserve better than that.
 
Take a look at the latest BHS magazine. There is a 34 year old horse doing high level Le-Trec competitions. I have a 30 and 25 year old that are hacked out for up to 4 hours at a time.
 
Definitely!!

I loaned my boy out when he was in his early 20's and he lived the life of Reilly doing dressage, jumping, hacking etc - he was too fit and healthy to even think of retiring!

When that loan ended he came home, we tried to retire him and he was miserable as sin, so he went off out again to a Mum & daughter share..charmed the family so much they all ended up with ponies!!

Sadly lost him at the age of 30 to a suddenly aggresive internal tumour but otherwise still fit and being ridden regularly - right up to the week the tumour was diagnosed, but it grew so quickly in the space of the next week he was pts)

Never write off an older horse or pony, so long as they are fit and able they can offer SO much
 
I loan a 33 year old lol, as long as she/he can do everything you want then why not?
Ella I got on loan as a 31 year old to act as a companion for my mare. With advice from vet and other proffesionals, we take her for in hand walks, do veteral showing classes and she is even ridden 3 times a week for 20 min hacks :) she's defo 33 too as she is well bred there are records of her birth :)
 
Hiya he is a tb and is fit as a fiddle aparently I havent seen him yet! He is used for schooling & Hacking mainly! She wants to put him on permanent loan but im not so sure! She doesnt have the time or money for him anymore?

Sorry I want to do dressage & hacking? What do you think?
 
I did! Best decision of my life- only he was 21, nearly 22 so nearly as much of a spring chicken as yours would be :P
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I loved every second I had with him, and 5 years on he has just been PTS as a happy old man who was worth his weight in gold about 4 times over. Such a star, he knew all the tricks and gave me so much confidence- and he was unbeatable in a jump off!!!
 
Dogbetty141 said:
Hiya he is a tb and is fit as a fiddle aparently I havent seen him yet! He is used for schooling & Hacking mainly! She wants to put him on permanent loan but im not so sure! She doesnt have the time or money for him anymore?

Sorry I want to do dressage & hacking? What do you think?
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I definately wouldn't write him off although it's good to be cautious. I would go and see him with a open mind and take someone knowledgable with you.

My first loan horse was 27yrs, he had a heart attack after 18months but up till then was fit as a flea.

The mare is lost two years ago was 19yrs when I got her and fit and well till she got lami at 25yrs.

My best friends pony is 36yrs and she's had her since 19yrs, she was still doing mini x-country at 32!!
 
If it was healthy and fit then definately! I've just been offered a 24yr old tb x wb for loan. He's still capable of doing the things of a younger horse, is fit and healthy and to look at doesn't look any where near 24!
 
My first loan was a 23yr old mare, and she was fit and sound and could do everything except jump, but that wasn't because of age :)

My sister loaned a 26yr old through the summer to teach her kids on, and he was worth his weight in gold!
 
Yes. I got my boy on loan when we were both 13 so a fair bit younger than you're asking about and bought him for £5 when we were 18 (long story and nothing to do with his age). He was so amazing and carried on being amazing until he was PTS very unexpectedly aged 27 (colic). I thought I was a brilliant rider, and only after he died, did I realise that I had been a passenger for 14 years. He slowed down a bit for the last year or so and was just hacking (he would have coped with dressage but he just didn't 'do' it!) but was still ridden 3 times a week.

Gratuitous photos of him at the Badminton ride aged 24, just to show how lovely he was. He did all the big fences as well but no photographer on those, they make more money on the smaller ones I suppose!

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Aged 27, 3 weeks before he died:
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If it's the right horse, fit and healthy, then yes. My friend loaned a 23yo ex-racing TB for a year then bought him, he's now 26 and still going strong! He's the perfect horse for her, she's not very confident and he's total gent.
 
Definately.

I got my boy on loan when he was 18, had known him since he was 4 though. Friend then gifted him to me as she didn't want him being passed around and doesn't have the grazing to have him back.

He hasn't changed in the time i've had him, he'd still quite happily buck me off lol
 
Don't be put off by the age. I still have & ride my first pony, she's in her 30's now & granted, she's not as nimble as she used to be but she has plenty of go in her. Does veteran showing, hacks out & is still capable of a good run on the beach. She's an absolute star.
 
Like everyone else, yes! Don't be put off by age. But just remember to look for the signs that all is not well or that the horse is slowing up a bit, and adjust his/her/your lifestyle accordingly. Old horses may need a bit more cosseting (warmer rugs, deeper beds, better and softer food when their teeth start to go) but they are often very healthy, and such fun to be with. They're wise, and full of character. We've had several over the years, and usually they've ended up being given to us. They've been a privilege to look after.
 
I loaned my old girl when she was in her early twenties, i had just come back into riding at the age of 30, she had Navicular and needed a quieter life which was fine by me, she was a proper school mistress and put up with my rubbish riding and confidence issues, she even taught my daughter to ride.

Her owner gifted her to me after i had loaned her for a year and we had 6 years of happy riding together, we went to the beach, daughter took her to shows and pony club, she was brilliant.

She had 2 years of retirement before she was pts and i was with her until the very end.

It is was the best decision i made to take on an oldie, but you need to be aware of their age and ride accordingly. My mare suited me at my age & riding experience, but did not suit her old owner who was a teenager and wanted to bomb around everywhere.
 
Myself I would have a 20 yr old cob/cob type on loan as they are good to keep weight on.
Just go see the horse and take someone knolledable with you,then decide!!!
Good luck!!
 
I think the responsible thing to do if you have a healthy and fit 20 year old IS to loan it out, you can then keep an eye on its welfare. What I don't like is when I see 20 year old or older horses for sale. If they are that old they are usually not worth much and could end up in the wrong home. Just vet your loan homes carefully and have a good agreement written out, you can find them online. Hope you find a good home
 
we have only had good experiences of "oldies" my daughter had a 22 yo welsh x tb on loan for 2 1/2 yrs & did sj/xc/pc camp/hunting & she was ace! she has now gone on loan to an another pc rider to do more of the same as we were offered a bigger horse, also on loan,he is 18yo & is just soo much fun, he is forward going, jumps 3"6 double clears easily & is the perfect school master to really have some successfull/safe fun on,after loaning him for 8mths we have now bought him.he shows no signs of wanted a slower pace of life & just enjoys all we do with him !! having said that i am always carefull to keep him in regular work to keep him fit enough to compete(hack out eod)stable at night if cold /wet,keep well rugged/ & feed glucosamine suppliments. several people have said to me they would never buy a horse of his age & yes it is a gamble, but for us so far its worked,we wouldnt have been able to afford to buy a younger horse of his quaility & when he finally retires he will just be a lovely friend to have around.
if you can loan this horse definately give it a go good luck:)
 
I guess i agree with a lot of others and would hope that you would not be put off as every horse is very different. I am soon going to loan out my boy for a nice quieter hacking and dressage home as he has arthritis but its controlled and as someone mentioned i would still pay vets bills for treatment for this and any other illness due to his age, it is only fair. My vet says my boy looks like hes 12 and boy does he act like it! There is no way that horse is ready to retire hes still so full of life loves being out and about and has so much to give someone. Im only doing it so i can have a new horse to go back to eventing but someone looking to hack with a bit of dressage would love him! I did worry about his age when thinking about loaning but i think you need to see the horse. One horse at 20 and another may be very different.
 
If it was fit ad healthy and did the job I wanted yes I would loan one, I wouldn't however get one on full loan where it came to my yard or buy/sell one.
 
I took a 26 year old on loan last year - if not for him i probably would have given up riding after the heartbreak of losing my old horse. He came along at just the right time and He's been fab and can still do everything i need him to. He took me round my first dressage test too.
They all have so much to offer whatever the age so shouldn't be dismissed.

Good luck
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I bought my boy aged 18. I knew he was the right horse for me. If i get another 6 or so years riding then that's great. If not so be it. He is the best thing i have ever bought and have never regretted my decision . Who's to say you loan/buy a younger horse that they will make old bones any way? They all have there own problems regardless of age.
But I suppose only you can make that decision. If it's what you want go for it. It might be the best choice you've ever made.
 
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