IS SHE TOO OLD ?

[bartera]

I agree with Kristy - keep it slow....but a gentle excersize a few times per week will help keep her in good shape, help her resist disease, and allow you to get a few extra "healthy" years out of her.

[Elaine]

I believe it all depends on the horse. There are some horses at my barn who are 26 years old and are doing moderate work. Its important to keep the horse active, even if its really light work. My instrutor uses her horses almost all threw there life as long as they are healthy and capable.
Though i would have a vet check first. Its always good policy to do so.

[Tango]

My sponsor horse Tango is "estimated" at nearing 30 years old, but could be more!!. The owner of the rescue took her on when the riding school closed and they couldn't find homes for all the ponies and her destiny seemed the meat market. I think that the owner of the riding school took a few years off her real age just to try and find her a home, and since she came to the rescue, someone commented that they learnt to ride on her nearly 25 years ago !! So needless to say she is an old girl. However, she really does not look it or act it, and the owner of the rescue has said to me that she still has her tack and if I wanted to rider her I could. So, how old is too old? If a horse is fit and well would gentle riding be OK. By no means would I expect too much of her, but just thought it would be nice for her also to get out of the field and go round the lanes at a slow, gentle pace. Change of scenery and keep her fit. So what do you think, have any of you got OAP horses in retirement that you still ride? I think I will also ask the owner of the rescue to let me get the vet in to check her over first before I decide ??

:confused:

[Kristy]

As long as she's sound and healthy it should be fine. There were some horses at my old riding school who were ANCIENT I mean we're talking about 35 to 40 yo!!! But they were only used as beginner horses only at a walk. So if you stick to a walk and keep her off the hard roads she should be fine!
Just make sure she isn't having trouble under saddle and she is WILLING to work!
And start SLOW! and well keep it slow! Otherwise just let her live out her retirement!
Kristy

[Allie]

There are a couple of over 30 horses at the ranch where I board. One is ridden 2 or 3 times a week, mostly walking and trotting with a little canter work. The other is ridden only once or twice a month, and he is not nearly as energetic as the other one. I think being ridden once or twice a wekk is good for an older horse, as it helps them to keep their muscle tone and keeps them relatively fit. Since the mare has not been ridden at all, I would start very slowly, only 10-15 minutes the first time you ride, then gradually increase it.

Allie

[Tango]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply and for your advice. I will take it very slowly and let you know how I get on.
:) :) :)
Bye for now.

[JoeyJoJo]

Doesn't Sarah/admin have a rescue horse called Tango?

Is this the same horse/person or am I being scatty as per usual and getting my wires crossed?!?!

:P