Your 'older horses' and stories of what you do with them!

[ChestnutConvert]

Having not long taking on an 18 yr old ex show jumper who loves to hack and still enjoys schooling, i was wondering what people are doing with their older horses....competing schooling, just hacking etc...

 

[Hels_Bells]

Sam evented up to about 18 then gradually eased off doing a bit of hunting and the odd comp etc and just hacking the rest of the time. At 24 we turned him out to grass as it were as he had an ongoing cough/breathing trouble and arthritus. We eventually found the root of the breathing probs but obv the arthritus is not reversible. He is now 32 and doing great! However, in hindsight, I think I would have kept him going a bit more, maybe lunging him etc and also I had little interest in dressage when I was younger, and he was actually an excellent DR horse, so I should probably have retired him to doing lower level unaff/aff dressage. Moral of my story is that keeping them going within reason when they're older is better for them! I now have a 24yo 13.2hh who I'm considering training to pull a small trap!!! (She's full of beans and has done everything else... dressage pony, polo pony, hunter, eventing pony, triathlon pony so why not trap too!!!)

 

[Allover]

I look after a 35year old TB type, he is not ridden any more but he does know that i am there to serve him, that he can get away with murder and that all he has to do is look at me with "those" eyes and he gets whatever his little heart desires

 

[PurplePickle]

mine arent really old they are 15 but both have problems so I mostly just stand and watch them eat LOL but they are doing a great nannying job at the minute, my mare ive had for 15 years and shes always been a lady of leisure, my gelding I promised him no matter what hed have a home for life after being shifted around so many times before.

 

[Holly Hocks]

I have a 20 year old TB who is an ex-racer. He gets ridden 2 or 3 times a week. He looks better this year than any year since I've had him, but I think that's because I moved him to a DIY yard recently where he's got a 6 month old colt which he absolutely adores and now he's on DIY I can feed him the proper amounts of feed to ensure he's getting everything he needs. He is a fantastic hack, does some schooling and an occasional unaffiliated dressage. He will be with me til the end of his days.

 

[ChestnutConvert]

I guess that apart from injury and anything obvious you just go with you judgement on how there are looking and feeling. He is definately happy, esp after having an excited canter take off at the weekend while out hacking, full of beans (and the ever growing grass!) so schooling with light dressage, poles maybe the odd small jump seems to be right for the moment and over time will ease it off.

 

[NiceChristmasBaubles]

I regard my two ponies, at 17 and 18, as my youngsters! My old girl is 34 and at 18 was fully fit and out competing for RC teams. Mostly dressage, but the odd bit of jumping. I posted about her recently. Will copy it here for you.....

"I went to see my old girl today. We moved a couple of years ago and now live about 90 minutes from where we used to live. I moved the ponies, and they are kept at home, but my old girl has stayed with my friend in full livery. I don't get to see her very often, but think about her lots.

She's 34 and a bit of a quirky mare. She doesn't like change, isn't great out hacking and can be a bit 'trippy' on uneven surfaces (always has been, but I am extra careful with her now she is an old lady). I don't have a school at home, and we also have shooting and low flying helicopters round here, which the ponies are fine with, but I just don't want her to have to deal with these at her time in life. It was hard to leave her behind (as well as costly), but she owes me nothing and her happiness is important to me. I have another friend who has had a gentle lesson on her once a week for the last 20 years and still does (friend is nervous and my girl still 'scares' her after all these years by giving a little buck in canter or spook every now and then!), and she is hacked out round the block once a week as well or lunged. It's all enough to keep her ticking over on top of daily turnout.

I got her when she was 5 (I was a teenager), and we have done a bit of everything - jumping, showing, dressage, Riding Club teams, etc. In our early dressage tests we were frequently eliminated for leaving the arena, but she always managed to show a nice canter half pass, whether or not it was asked for! She has taught me so much and has been a school mistress to many other people. You can ask for lateral movements, but unless you ask correctly, she won't do it (and I swear she knows exactly what you want, but tests her riders!).

Today, my eldest son rode her. I never imagined he would get to his teens and still have her 'at his disposal'. It was so lovely to watch him trying out shoulder-in, leg yielding etc, on a horse that knows what she is doing. For me to watch them together is wonderful and quite emotional, and a reward for all the hours spent teaching her, then him on his naughty pony and now they are trying things out together.

She may not be an Olympic medal contender, but she is truly my horse of a life time. Thank you Tiff! (Just Tiffany).

ETA I nearly lost her when she was 25 years old to pedunculated lipomas when she had major major colic surgery with 5 hours on the operating table, 30' (yes, 30 feet!!) of gut removed and a very poor prognosis - but she came through thanks to Liphook, lots of TLC and her attitude!"

 

[Toffee44]

Toffee is 18 next year and she still hacks. Is unsound due to arthritus but vet happy for her to walk, trot and odd canter judging how she is and the ground no school work. She varies day to day to be honest. Shes still a spritely spooky welsh who on the occasion spooks, sinks her hocks and buggers off at a beer can in the road

I ride a 20yr old ex SJ and he is still very much full of life and loves going jumping still.

 

[[69117]]

My old boy is 24, and still hunts and competes up to twice a week (and when I say hunts, I mean he really hunts... he jumps everything, is up with hounds all day, and occasionally stays on past second horses)

and he is so incredibly naughty and full of himself that when he's really really fit I have to lunge him before I get on or he'd dump me within seconds!

I've had people telling me that it's cruel to keep him going, but he's so happy, loves his job, and hates standing around doing nothing. My vet has said that he's a credit to me (cue me bursting into happy tears and kissing said vet whilst in very dodgy pyjamas and holding a bag of frozen peas) and to carry on with him until he tells me he's ready to slow down.

Yes he HAS to be in at night all year round, yes he HAS to have ridiculous amounts of feed and only the very best haylage to stop him looking like a rake, yes I give him bute after a hard days hunting to keep him comfortable, and yes he has a heart murmur.... but he's a happy boy, and we've agreed that when he does eventually go, he'll go out hunting with a massive heart attack. He thinks that's a great idea

 

[ChestnutConvert]

Thanks for that nikicb given me the reassurance that as long as they are fit, well and happy then you can keep going. I'd love to have a similar story to tell in years to come.

 

[NiceChristmasBaubles]

Thanks for that nikicb given me the reassurance that as long as they are fit, well and happy then you can keep going. I'd love to have a similar story to tell in years to come.

It's just a matter of listening to them. When Tiff started pulling up at fences, I stopped jumping her unless it was on a soft surface, and then a few years later I stopped jumping completely, but she was still out doing dressage and veteran classes. I still wouldn't put a novice on her. One canter the other day with my son, and she was well up for it! He's fine on her (been well trained by his Sec A), but still have to be careful who rides her after all these years! Good luck with your new boy.

 

[Vikki89]

I have a 17yr old who is usually exercised 6 times a week, hacking, schooling and jumping.
Over the summer i took him to a ODE, hunter trials, dressage and SJ up to 3ft (i don't often jump 3ft, usually up to 2'9, the one time i jump 3ft away from home i qualified for something )
We went out quite a bit but not every weekend all through the summer, he is still full of energy, keen, fit and healthy.
As soon as he shows signs he needs to slow down then we will, otherwise we will keep going as we are, he loves his jumping

 

[Brummyrat]

Ive had my 20 year old Section D since he was 3 and he's not aged a bit apart from a few grey hairs! The day he doesnt terrify me when we hit grass will be a sad day indeed but I can't see it coming just yet! We still have dressage lessons, jump and yesterday we hacked for the first time in ages - he's dodgy in traffic so got two friends to babysit us, he loved it, jogged all the way there and all the way home with the occasional air above the ground! If you look after the basics and are lucky with soundness then like us, age is just a number

 

[ChestnutConvert]

So far he seems healthy enough, will cross fingers for the future and may even give him a small jump although he apparently would jump 2ft as it was 4 ft, hold on tight time, time will tell but until the time he starts to tell me different i will just continue as we are and enjoy it.

 

[HollyB66]

Here's a pic of me 'just hacking' on a 20mile endurance training ride in the summer. She's 18yrs old and my first horse. I've had her nearly a year now, we started off slow last winter with 15-20 minutes in the school, building up to beginning to hack out in April and now doing any pleasure rides we can find.

Last Sunday we were out for 5 hours 'exploring' a local Trot route and some local orchards.

Now the winter is here we've just started schooling again. I'm hoping to start a few little jumps, as I know she loves to jump but I'm not that good.

 

[Solstar]

my 'older' boy is 24, he's an ex-riding school pony (was at RS for 10 years) he's worked 6 times a week, loves his work, loves going out hacking and jumping!! he used to, in the past, regulary jump courses of 150cm... not bad for 15hh!! he does still love his jumping but it seems his limit is 2ft6 now. I have had him for 5 years. rode him out this aft and he was full of it, jogging, plunging about and snatching at the bit!

 

[rhino]

My warmblood is 19 and is no different to when I got him at 8 years old

He is ridden 6 times a week, competes dressage, xc, trec, anything really! (though only to RC level). His most recent hunter trial he flew round - unfortunately was almost 30 seconds UNDER the minimum time to penalties placed us 3rd. Not bad for a little old man!

He is fit and healthy and I don't treat him as a veteran.

 

[SmartieBean09]

Ok, hoping this works as never posted pics before......

This is Jamin, she is 27 years old and is semi retired. We hack out and sometimes go in the school for a bit of flatwork.

We dont compete as Jamin is petrified of travelling and I am happy enough at home. However we do enter 1 show a year which is held at our yard each summer.

 

[AGAGE]

Ted has officially decided to grow old disgracefully! He is now 19.5 years old. We've had him since he was a 14yo.

When he was in his prime, he competed up to medium level dressage very successfully with my sister, winning many affiliated comps. Prior to this he came second at Ponies UK, as a show hunter pony at competed at HOYS. He was always the horse that all the girls in BYRDS wanted, so well behaved, perfect manners and stunningly beautiful. He was a pleasure to take out competing, travelled well and settled in when staying in overnight stalls.

That was until he reached 16 at which point, he turned from Mr perfect to Mr rebellious! At 15 he suffered a tendon injury and had a year in field. Vet re-scanned and said he was sound to do dressage and showing but no hunting etc. I brought him back into work and he was perfect for a year or so until our we started veteran showing. I'm sure he sussed that it was veteran showing and was most put out.

At our first veteran show he was generally well behaved, although managed to cause much amusement. When we went to do our individual performance , he wouldn't trot properly behind. I was about to retire him thinking he was lame, only to find my mum and sister in hysterics, alongside other spectators sniggering. He had got his 'willy' out, and obviously couldn't trot properly with it swinging around between his legs, it was very embarrassing!

At another local veteran class, he pranced, head in perfect outline, and felt absolutely amazing!! Only I had no control over braking or steering! When the ride trotted, he cantered to the front etc then when the ride cantered, he bronked, and threatened to jump out of the arena! Much to the amusement of the spectators. We were politely asked to leave the arena! He was in no pain or discomfort, just incredibly full of it, as he'd just been clipped and it was the first frost of autumn! This is behaviour was from a horse that's competed at HOYS! Personally, I wouldn't recommend attempting veteran classes, all the one's I've been to have had some very naughty horses (mine included) riders have fallen, several judges have said the veterans are always the worst, behaviour wise!

Since then his arthritis in his hocks has worsened so we now only hack once or twice a week, however this isn't without event. Yesterday, he did a very excited buck going into canter and then refused to stop!

I think he knows that as he's getting older, he can get away with murder, he only has to look at me with his big, brown eyes and he gets what he wants. He is thoroughly spoilt. I am very proud to own 'the old boy', and see it as my duty to look after him as best I can, given he's been such a star in the past, I feel we owe it too him.

 

[TelH]

My oldest pony is coming up to 27. We just potter about hacking and a bit of schooling, a very small amount of lungeing and occasionally jumping, but only tiddly jumps now. We also do a bit of vhs showing

 

[eventergirl87]

Scoob is 17 and still wizzs about with the best of them! Been on all RC team this year off to Olympia for quadrille finals.... will be hunting this winter and now I've got a job will be doing more BE come spring as he's so full of it! Infact this year I think he thinks he's lenamore and just coming into his own :lol:! Especially on the flat!

Doone is 18 retired 3* eventer and had a troublesome year basically play it by ear with him but he's happy as larry! Beginning of the year was schooling at home to advanced-med and popping 1.20

Stumps only just turned 18 (NZ born) retired 4* eventer and was pinging round ON this spring. Will carry on doing RC type stuff and genrally being a space hopper (in that he's bright orange and bounces about!)

 

[rubysmum]

Ruby is almost 21 - schooled & hacked 5 times a week - gets out to do RC level dressage once a month & as i have no transport - hacks an 8 mile round trip & then does a bit of stressage
we are planing joining the new yrs day meet & have just started a tiny bit of cross pole jumping again & she is the yard favoutite to nany silly babies out in traffic
she is my horse of a lifetime & i really hope we have many, many more yrs together

these are great posts to read - fiill me full of cinfidence for the future - such lovely veterans

 

[SillySausage]

My boy is coming up to 19 now, and he gives the youngsters on the yard a run for their money! People regularly ask if he is a baby, and are really shocked at his real age He is ridden 6 days a week, sometimes twice a day. He does hard schooling and still jumps 1.30m! Hacking is now out of the window since attending a hunt ride, he likes to try out every new rider (has a good buck on him!) and he goes to the field with his rope round his nose. I treat him no differently to what I would any other horse!

My loan horse is 20 and still hunts twice a week, is still strong as an ox and has years left in her yet

 

[PinkHorsey]

My Boy is 18 and 2 years ago i decied to have a go at the veteran Horse society showing classes. I had never shown before but my local show had a class both in hand and ridden. I found everyone in the class really helpful and watched what they all did and tried to copy. We came 2nd in the in hand and won the ridden This gave me the bug! I have qualified him for the regionals both last year and this year , which made us both feel great. We compete in the Pre-veteran class which is for 15 - 19 year olds after that ther is Veteran classes and then at the ripe old age of 26 the veterna plus class. The great thing about it is that it is for home produced people, the horses can have knocks or bumps as well. We do about 4 a year and my boy loves it! They even have a dressage section which we tried this year and also got to the regionals with that. I really recommend doing both. Before i started doing these classes i was losing intrest in riding as i felt i didn't have a purpose and i was only tending to ride twice a week but this last year i have rode almost everyday (apart from the snow) and this has kept my horse much freeer and loser as well as happier.

 

[RunToEarth]

Bertha is 30/31. This will be her last winter as she is old now, she hunted with me until 24, where she put in her first stop and was retired to pottering about. She is a complete star.

 

[Dizzydancer]

Starzaan i think that is a fabulous idea,Doing what he loves!! They generally will tell you when they no longer want to carry on but its true the longer they keep going even only gently the better they do, my friends 30yr old still goes out 5times a week and is quite often mistaken for being a youngster inexperienced in fact he has been there got the t shirt but just loves to mess around, he no longer jumps but thats her choice he still does if he has the opportunity when loose in the school!

 

[arizonahoney]

Not mine, but meet Megan - 24 y.o palomino Welsh C - barrel racer and pop-star!

Yellow Horse

 

[AprilBlossom]

I recently acquired an 18y/o ex SJer (apparently he won the HOYS puissance back in his day with Robert Maguire!) who I am convinced hasn’t ever hacked out. He gets this weird look on his face as if to say ‘why am I standing in this mud with you hanging half off my to reach that gate?’ and I just don’t think he gets it! He’s quite happy to potter round the village on the roads, where people look at him and he can meet other horses in their fields en route, and he will gladly show off his stuff in the school. I’m yet to contact the previous owner to see if he can still jump – last summer he was doing 1.20s and that so he’s capable, and I’d look to take him to the odd fun ride and local show to keep him ticking over. I think the work will keep him younger for longer, if you know what I mean, and am looking forward to enjoying a good few years with him before he heads off to the big stable in the sky!

I am a big fan of the older horse, there’s a lot of people too quick to write them off when with a bit of extra feed, they’re just as good as a younger one!