Tay getting old?

[taylor]

Tay's been away on loan and he's very fit, he's been worked pretty much everyday, and this week i've been riding every day from half and hour to two hours today and a bit of lunging to give him a break and a canter on wed. but today he was very sluggish. If the weather is good tomorow I want to take him to the woods as a little treat (he getting board of roadwork) but do you think this is too much.
I only intend to walk and trot and maybe a little canter if i'm brave enough but the woods hack takes about 2 to 3 hours do you think he'll be ok, he's 20 now and i don't want to kill him! but in every other way he's like a yearling help!

[Rakeli]

Hi taylor

I think that it just sounds like he was having an off-day. From your post I gather that he's fit and usually can 'stand the pace' of your work so I think that you'll be fine. It's if he wasn't fit that I'd worry - riding for a long time if you're horse isn't used to it and isn't fit enough is unfair.

Hope you both have a good time!:)

[tasha]

I imagine he will be able to cope with it fine, as Rakeli says he sounds quite fit.

However you may want to give him a rest day every week and work him 6 days out of every 7 to give him a chance to physically and mentally relax for a bit.

[taylor]

he had a few days off and we went for a 3 hour hack just walking and he loved it and i upped his food a little to give him more energy and he kept up with Harry so things are looking up, I think it was just the evil lady who looked after him saying to me repetedly before he got home that he was getting old, and how he's an old boy etc etc damn her she was giving me terror

[horsemad]

Originally posted by taylor
I think it was just the evil lady who looked after him saying to me repetedly before he got home that he was getting old, and how he's an old boy etc etc damn her she was giving me terror

I think other people's reactions to an older horse are quite interesting. My horse is 20 too, and some people think that automatically means she is 'past it' and is about to drop dead at any moment!! And I have to admit, I do still have some days when I worry about her, and think she is showing her age....especially when she is having one of her sluggish, can't be bothered days....

.....but then she goes and proves me wrong by getting all excited and wanting to go for a bit of a rake!! I really should have learned by now that it all depends on whether Cindy is interested in what I'm doing with her - if its boring flatwork, she isn't interested, but something exciting like jumping, thats a different story!

So I reckon we should ignore these people who think 20 year old horses are 'old' - we know better!

[Mehitabel]

my old git is 20, and i don't think of him as old. he doesn't jump, but that's because of a tendon injury he had a few years ago, not because of his age. a lot of it depends onwhat kind of life they've had, and how many miles on the clock, as a horse who's had a bad start or been a big time competition horse and done loads will age faster than an 'average' one. the vast majority of our school ponies are in their 20s, and we have 2 in their thirties who are still goign strong. these days, 20 is no age at all!

[Lovecat]

Until September this year I shared a 28yo school horse who was the most forward going horse on the yard - she loved to race when out and would go for hours without breaking into a sweat - this was after having done a morning's school work!

The only thing that gave her age away were the white hairs in her mane and, in the last few years, a tendency to puff a little when going uphill. But having said that my unfit 6yo beastie puffs when going uphill too!

Providing Taylor's fit and well, what you're doing sounds fine. Pride would have her off days but they were few and far between.

Have a great ride!:D

[HAYLEY GITTOES]

My mare is 16, and she is more like a 6 year old!

[Kanuma]

20 is not old at all!!!!!!! harvey my 22 yearold pony is still acting as though he is 2 and if we keep him fit will do an intire show day with me on his back (and im not the usual type you would find on a 12.2hh pony!!!)
my other 20 year old is semi retired now due to injury problems but not old age i also know that somewhere in my area there is a 50 year old pony who up untill a couple of years ago still hunted!!!!

[Kanuma]

here is a pic of me on harvey in august!

[Echo64]

If he's been kept descently throughout his life, then 20 isn't old at all. Some horses who've experienced hardships in their life (cruel owner or severe neglect cases) often don't live that long, and 20 is considered "old" for them.

If he's kept in good shape and he doesn't have any problems, then I don't think he's getting too old, it just sounds like he was having a bit of a bad day.

[Horsegal014]

I was the same way, I rode a previous school horse all the time for is owner and being the age he was I was suprised at how he would carry on like a 3 year old, he would jump and play and dance all over acting like a nut but I was worried I was over doing it with him, we were still jumping (if we didnt he would jump something on his own....most of the time not something you'd want to go over at the moment) but my farrier told me (such a nice man!) that a horse has a certain amount of miles on him, its the owners choice whether to let them last or use them up early.a horse has a certain amount of miles on him, its the owners choice whether to let them last or use them up early. Since he was used occasionaly in the past he still had "many more miles and spunk to use up" until your horse tells you he's not feeling up to it, dont think he's not (you dont want to offend your pal! may not have much luck for your next ride, haha) :p

[nutkin]

One of my horses is 21yrs old and probably gets less work than your horse but we still have done 10 and 13 mile sponsored rides together and gone round them with far younger horses who have come back far more sweated up than my horse. I would take him on a 2-3 hr ride without thinking about it. As long as your horse is sound and willing then he is perfectly able. Like Es i no longer jump him but that is because he has arthritis.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

my mums mare is 20 and she LOVES to go out for trail rides and most of all she loves to gallop around (with an occacional buck when she is really full of it!) and just last year i ended up jumping her over a long that was in the trail.

[epcd3000]

Boomer's about 22 years old and keep'
s trucking along like he's still a young lad! He can't jump because of a hind leg injury several years ago, but he's perfectly fine on the flat. :) He's still very fit, as myself and another lady part-board him and make sure he gets 3-4 rides a week.