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Post by kt with Hanni on Dec 31, 2008 0:03:20 GMT 1
This is quite a hard question to answer as obviously every horse/pony is different...I am a very paranoid horsey owner especially as Hanni gets older. He is 22 and is a cob. I am hoping to get a new saddle soon to replace stolen one so will probably not have ridden for one month...I have been walking him in hand once a week (Hacking normally). I was going to start him back into ridden work slowly and see how it goes (haven't had problem before) but I was hoping to take him to a local show in the summer just to have a wonder around. I don't school or jump him anymore as no facilities to do so. I guess i'm just being paranoid and wondering what to expect and how much I can fairly ask him to do. He doesn't show signs of arthritis just a little overweight...How much do you do with your older horses!? Thanks
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Post by jakeandbarneysmum on Dec 31, 2008 0:39:25 GMT 1
My old boy was in light work up until he was 28 years old. I only retired him when I use to get the eyeballs rolling up into their sockets when he saw the tack coming out, and I was also quite heavy for him. He lived another 3 happy years of retirement before passing away.
But every horse is different. I would say, if Hanni seems happy, there's absolutely nothing wrong with continuing to work. You've had him a long time, haven't you, so I'm sure you'll know when he's had enough!!! The work will help to keep his weight down, too.
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Post by Susan on Dec 31, 2008 0:44:32 GMT 1
I ride out regularly with a fellow livery on her lovely Fell aged nearly 29!!! and that is guestimate from a vet a few years ago so she could be older.. and oyu know what she is spritely.. she often has a lacking of brakes if we have a blast. She may take a half hour our so to get moving on winter hacks at Flynns pace then she is keeping up like a good un. she is ridden 3 times a week. in winter one night in the school and both weekend days hacked out. In most weathers as well. Little puts off Tally.. she lives out 24/7 365 days in a trace clip and rugged med weight. She has a sheen to her coat and has not dropped off at all and no dip to her back.. you would never know she was a elder pony at all..She is amazing..
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Post by Susan on Dec 31, 2008 0:46:41 GMT 1
Oh and often our hacks are 2 hours at weekends..
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Post by gemmamarygold on Dec 31, 2008 8:42:16 GMT 1
Mum's horse is 22 next month. In the summer he hacks out 4 or 5 times a week, for up to 3 hours at a time. He's still got a good blast in him! He does take longer to warm up, and does show early signs of arthritis but apart from that he's fit and dandy!
Just let Hanni be your guide.
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Post by rhillahorse on Dec 31, 2008 8:47:43 GMT 1
Rhilla is 28 and hacked out a couple of times a week for between 90 mins and up to 2 and a half hours. We don't trot on the roads though. She's really active and full of beans *touch wood*! ETA - keep an eye on his weight as it will put more of a strain on his joints
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Post by Pauline on Dec 31, 2008 9:27:59 GMT 1
Some one I know has a 26 year old horse that completed 78km endurance ride in September and in October completed the veteran class at the Arab Marathon. My own ponyu was still doing endurance at the age of 24 years old. Distances up to 50 miles. If they are healthy and fit then they will soon tell you when they want to stop. As for coming back into work I would do 4 weeks of good power walking and then add in some trotting. If he is showing no signs of any problems other than being over weight then you will have no ptoblems taking him to shows in the summer. Kt have you thought about doing some Pleasure Rides with him. Depending where you live in Oxfordshire these are your local endurance group and they do training / pleasure rides. www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk/ or www.endurancegbcotswold.co.uk/
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Trouble
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Post by Trouble on Dec 31, 2008 11:03:07 GMT 1
My old mare was a TBx and she was still taking me out galloping at the ripe old age of 34! She had bone spavins and arthritis but was happy and comfortable on Devils Claw/ginger and cider vinegar....only reason I retired her was because I broke my neck on someone elses horse and I didn't trust anyone else to ride my horse with all her problems.
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Post by mags on Dec 31, 2008 11:34:07 GMT 1
As long as he is happy keep going, I know of an eventer who did badminton at 21 and loved it
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Post by ukshowjumper on Dec 31, 2008 11:43:01 GMT 1
Misty is 22yo when she went to a lighter rider and even with me she was hacking/schooling/jumping 6-7 days a week, lots of fast work etc, competing....we won a hunter trials even.
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Post by horsey123 on Dec 31, 2008 11:46:05 GMT 1
we have a 26 yo tb
he is a right handfull he jumps gallops (not always when you want it) he is always i my back garden after jumping the 5 ft fence
he is ridden every day or hes gets really bored and get up to norty things with my 6 yo and is also free schooled in the morning as is all my herd to cheak for soundness and he is the only one who has always cum up 100% i am tacking him out for some dressage and maybe novice eventing this summer
so he is ridden 6 times a week and is free schooled for 10 mins every morning
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cubic
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Post by cubic on Dec 31, 2008 12:46:55 GMT 1
My 22yo is still hunting and loving it, and was master's horse (hunting hounds) until a few months ago. They take longer to get fit when they're older, but you've got plenty of time before the show. Little and often is better than going out for hours only a couple of times a week, and often the less time they spend in the stable, the looser they stay in their joints.
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Post by fallenangel on Dec 31, 2008 15:56:49 GMT 1
My old girl is 29 and as 2nd in two low level Trec competitions in 2008 We're planning to do some tiny showjumping and more Trec this year. We'll keep going for as long as she's keen, if ever she says no to something that will be it. At the last Trec the only points she dropped on the PTV were that we trotted the bending poles instead of cantering. She got full marks for everything else, including the 4 XC jumps!
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varkie
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Post by varkie on Dec 31, 2008 16:03:54 GMT 1
I think it's impossible to generalise on a horses age & level of work. I have known some horses who are physically incapable of work or much work, at just 15 or 16 years of age - or younger! As a result of wear & tear & arthritis. On the other hand, I have known others which were working into their 20s & even 30s happily.
Some years ago, at one yard I used to work at, I used to ride a few horses who were in their 20s. I used to take them XC, SJ, dressage etc. They all did fine. One or two began to show some stiffness or wear & tear as they aged, and we just tailored their work accordingly. Most of them were actually better in work, if only light work, to keep them more supple.
I even remember a couple of ponies in the local pony club - one was late twenties, one mid thirties. Both were still doing all the clinics & summer camps, including all the jumping. As I recall, they were both excellent & keen little jumpers.
As others have said, you have to look at the individual, and if they are happy & coping with their work, then you are fine to carry on.
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Post by kt with Hanni on Dec 31, 2008 19:07:10 GMT 1
Thanks for the responses. So reassuring to hear all these stories about lively fit older horses! :-) Well he still chases the sheep in the field and did flying bucks the other day too so he is obviously feeling good still :-) I'm so paranoid :-) Yeh had him 12 years and he doesn't feel much different just takes longer to get fit as someone said above. Pauline will look at the link. The only problem is I have n transport and not much confidence riding in a large group of horses as Hanni got a bit OTT last time :-) Would love to have confidence to though :-)
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