Would you slow down a 19 year old pony?

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mazziek

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Hello, I have a 19 yo, conne x shes very happy in her work loves her jumping and galloping through the fields. Vet checked her heart everythings good. a few comments have been made on the yard that she not be jumping any more and she should be slowing down, we jump maybe twice a month, she would do more if she could. shes always very keen, never trips, tires too quick, never reluctant to let me on, i get on n thats us were off! should i slow her down or just let her tell me when shes ready to slow down? she had a month off in july and she was a pain, forever trying to escape when i brought another horse in, she was grabbing my jacket. what do you think?
 
I think she'll tell you!! So long as her back/teeth/general health are checked regularly and you check her legs each time you jump I'd say keep her going. It won't do her any good mentally to slow her down when she is obviously enjoying her work so much. Many horses work to a much greater age than this - sounds like you are keeping a close eye on her so let her have her fun!
 
Personally as long as pony remains fit and happy would keep doing what your doing.I think as long as you listen/watch they will let you know when they want to slow down/easier life.
If I remember it was an old pony that won a class at royal highland one year it was well over 19!!It was a affiliated jumping class
 
I think.....that your pony will tell you when its time to slow down, and it doesnt sound like its time yet
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unless she is finding it difficult, then why stop? My friend's pony is 26 and still showjumping etc, granted only smaller jumps (2ft 6) but she is still loving it and often winning the classes.
 
She will tell you when she's ready to slow down! I've known 30 odd year old ponies to still be out Galloping about the countryside, popping logs etc. A few jumpies every now and then isn't going to do her any harm. Keep the (Old?) girl happy!
 
Only if you think she's telling you she wants to.

Look at Over to You, Hooray Henry, and that Swedish horse at the recent Europeans, they were all either 19 or 20 and competing at international level.

I would probably be a bit choosy about the ground I jump on but other than that, I'd carry on as normal.

She sounds a great girl!
 
MY old boy was still a loon at 27 when he died very unexpectedly of colic. He had slowed down a bit (since the age of about 24) but was still fit and in work and did the Badminton ride aged 25, albeit a bit slower than he would have a few years before, but he jumped all the jumps. Listen to your horse, not all those negative people.
 
Nope - she will tell you when she is ready. My TB at 29 still went hunting, XC and SJ - the week before she died due to being kicked on the leg, she was second in a 2'6 speed round SJ competition - the only thing that beat her was a 14.2 arab and she was 15 years older than anything in the top 6.

What I did do was to have her given a good once over by the vet when she had her jabs - her heart and lungs were sound and he said she was more like 13 than 29 physically. I was careful when galloping as given the chance she would run until she dropped if another horse was in front - she was still the fastest on the yard at 29 too.

However, I never did fast work on hard ground and took great care to warm up and cool off as she was an OAP - but there again I do this with my 5 year olds.

Finally, vet told me never to attempt to retire Breeze, when she had an injury at 27, she faded away before my eyes as being out of work really did not suit her, she worked until the day she died.
 
Pfffttt I took on my old loan pony at 18yo.....we won a HT at 22yo....I only gave her up because I got too heavy for her, she went to a younger girl who still whizzed all over the place with her.

She'll soon tell you when it's time to slow down. I'd take a bit extra care (only jumping on good ground) but other than that forget what busy bodies are telling you.
 
My friends ex-eventer as taken up team chasing at the tender age of 18 and is loving it. Have to be careful about the ground but he is not ready to retire yet. When life too easy for him he just takes the michael. I am sure he will say when he is ready and no longer wants to play so hard, as will yours.
 
My grey girl (Below) is 21. We were XC this spring and a few SJ. It wasnt until the ground hardened up when i stopped for the summer.

She is still just walking hacks to keep her ticking over as ground still so hard.

I will see how she does this winter (as LOVES the mud) and if there are any XC in the spring with nice soft ground, I wouldnt think twice about taking her round.

You need to listen to the horse - if they start changing their jumping style (like putting in a little one before, or being very clumsy) then I think it would be time to reconsider things, but until then, just look after him, enjoy him and dont be silly with what you ask of him. xx
 
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