older rider /older pony blues

[Brychen]

I have a 16 year old welsh d 14.2 Hh pony , I am 42 ish (eeekkk) mum to a 20 month year old boy (really eeekkk), and work full time till whatever but they do let me go 5.30 ish most times (eeeekkk) . I used to do long distance (upto 50's) with my pone in his hay days before I had my little boy.

Done some pleasure rides which have suprised me,realy enjoyed them but took as much to do 10 mile as it used to to do 30's!Took a few days of last week to ride my pone and I do worry about him. he is massive now compared to what he used to be, managed to acquire two splints on field rest and his backs a bit dippy. BUT he still went out for 2 1/2 hrs with a friends 9 year old TB type and outrun it ,she had to canter to keep up with his racing trot and when we galloped -well .


am I unrealsitic to expect him to get upto 20 mile rides, I do worry that maybe I ask too much of him but he has such gusto. I do consider getting a a second hrose but I think i could only fit everything in by turning my old boy away. I worry that doing so would shorten his life span as Most horses I have seen retired dont go on for that long. I also dont want himto be second best.

sory if this seems a pointless query i am just in a bit if a quandery at the moment.

[Est]

Sounds fine to me, if you're happy the splints have settled. An older lady at my yard retired her 15/16 yo last year for no particular reason, think she just went a bit "off" riding, and he has lost his sparkle and has the slightly dippy back you mention. Start slow, keep his back comfy while it strengthens, get both of you back to full fitness ;) and get out there and start having some fun :D So many horses keep working and enjoying themselves well into their twenties these days, and Welshies are pretty tough anyway. You could easily have another decade of riding with your boy, maybe longer :) Don't waste it!

[eventerbabe]

16 is a spring chicken!! my 17 year old welsh cob is as batty today as she was when we bought her at 3 years old. The horse will let you know when they are ready to slow down :)

[Ross]

My old lad was being ridden until he was put to sleep at 24! He wasn't happy turned out in a field at all... So long as you reduce his weight and build up the work gradually, as I'm sure you would, there's no reason on earth why he shouldn't do 20 miles.

Ross

[teabiscuit]

here's a picture of me and Sandy-27 years old (the horse that is) and off to the beach for a canter, he's a section D too and he's had a busy life
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h222/teabiscuit_01/newcamerapictures044.jpg

16 is no age :)

[Trewsers]

What a good thread! Our Joe is 15 now, (he's recently been undergoing some tests to find the cause of his lameness and its not looking good but thats by the by) - just wanted to say, you've all made me feel better, cos I get sick of people looking all sage and saying "oh, he's 15 - well" - with that look - like he's a real old biddy or something!!! BTW, teabiscuit, your Sandy looks marvellous, what a gorgeous colour:D

[Trewsers]

, I am 42 ish (eeekkk) mum to a 20 month year old boy (really eeekkk),



Hey, good for you:D there's hope for me yet then (I'm 36 and considered quite freakish as I haven't produced a child yet:rolleyes: ) - sorry, rather o/t but just had to say....:)

[teabiscuit]

thanks trewsers

hope Joe gets well soon, he's still a youngster at 15 :)

[Brychen]

Hello

thanks all for cheering me up, teabiscuit your cob is ace. I suppose I am being a bit daft really as my pone can still keep up/outpace much fitter horses (friends Tb x showjumper and other friends hunter pony) . Just a bit sad that I am having to accept reality and become a happy hacker-but then I am actually enjoying just hacking, pleasure rides etc with no pressure to perform which other wise makes riding a bit like work. i just wish my pone could go on for ever but lifes not like that unfortunatly!

p.s. trewsers i always said I would have a child but the body clock started banging at 40 and I decided to have a child and fell pregnant within a month - how lucky was that!

[teabiscuit]

can we see a picture of your boy?

[jenren!!]

I ride Cassie - a 24yr old mare and she's still going strong (soz about pic quality)

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/jenren22/cassie2.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/jenren22/cassie.jpg

Jenny xx

[teabiscuit]

she's very sweet jenny

love your heels-wish mine would do that:)

[Afellpony]

Your cob looks absolutely gorgeous!!!!

[Brandy Snap]

I supose the age of a pony is all relative. A pony of 16 might not be as sprightly as one of 30... it depends on the pony.

But your boy sounds like he's doing fine. You'll know when he needs to slow down, but I agree that retiring them completly can be the death of them.

My boy is 24 and we mostly hack out. A hack for us avarages at 2- 3 hours. (and thats on hilly land) I school him as well, for about 30 mins a time. I am arranging a sponsered ride for some time in september, it'll be a day ride with a pub stop half way round. He'll be taking me on that.