Old Horses/School teachers

[RU2U]

What is the oldest horse you would buy for your kid to learn on. I just bought a 26 year old TB and am having second thoughts. Horse is trained out the whazoo. Very steady-eddy, exactly what my 10 year old daughter needs. I am just concerned about lameness and heartache. (After some work she moves abit funny on her knee, not lame just not quite right)

Was shown over the summer pulled 2nds and 3rds in dressage training level, prior history: she showed 3rd level. Never marked down for lameness, but it was acknowledged that she is off on it. Ok I bought a old lame horse!

Just too many people telling me I am crazy for buying such a old horse. So tell me about your old ones.

[trina1]

We are lightly showing (I mean w/t, w/t/c, xrails) a 32 year old pony and he is going great - my 8 year old galloped around the fields on him bareback today. He is sound, happy and glad to be used. Our other ponies are 27, 23 and the youngest is 15. I have to get on the 27 and 15 year olds myself to "get the bucks out" before I put my 7 and 8 year old kids on them.

[Buffyblue]

Old horses and young girls are a great combination! I think you made a wise choice. The horse probably has some arthritis but staying in work/moving is great for that. You could check with your vet about something like Adequan or a supplement (Cosequin). Oh, and the oldest horse I bought was 31!

[Timex]

Clients of mine picked up a 33 year old app last summer to do the w/t and crossrails stuff, and he's still totally capable of cantering around with no problem. Haven't seen any soundness issues, although keeping weight on him is a minor concern. But for the job he needs to do, he's perfect!

[macmtn]

No better combination for her first horse. My first horse was 33...and I learned Everything from him. AS for the heartache of losing him?...I wouldnt have traded my first oldie for all the yougsters in the state.
You made a very good choice and that old guy will appreciate a great home for his last years. This be good!

[KPF]

I just "bought" (for $1) a 25 year old TB ex schoolie a few months ago. I'm so in love with him it is not even funny. :D I'm still really lacking confidence from a horrific fall/injury and needed something quiet to hack at home and he needed a good home.

It is the best thing I've ever done... he has impeccable manners from years as a school and IHSA horse and is really quiet. I'm not sure how sound he'll end up being (he's rehabbing from an injury and I've just started trot work with him) but I'm hoping he'll be OK for a couple light rides a week. Even if w/t is all we ever do, I'm happy. I take a lesson at another barn once a week and get a "real" ride in there.

He's a bit of a hard keeper but I don't mind... he's such a grand old man. He makes me smile each and every time I see his handsome face.:D

I doubt you'll regret your decision... he sounds wonderful for your daughter. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all!!!

[snkstacres]

The only horses that live to be really old folks, are nice horses. You just bought perfection, kinda like an old car. A bit rusty but very trusty. He who laughs last, laughs best. Your older experienced gentleman will get your daughter there safely. And that, that is all that counts. His experience will make up for her lack.

As for the heartache, well, way too many of us have lost young horses. Death is a sure thing for all. Yup, it will hurt, but, she will have many NICE memories of her first steed.

You did the right thing, and he now has his forever home without you being out of pocket for 20 years or so. Good choice.

[SevenDogs]

I evented my first horse BN/N and successfully competed at recognized First Level Dressage into her early 30's all the while others told me she was too old while their 6 year olds were going lame. After that she stepped down to W/T/C and some light crossrails lessons happily into her mid to late 30's. she didn't fully retire until her late 30's and I finally lost her to old age at approximately 40. She was bucking and galloping in the turn-out the day before she died.

Keeping them moving (I found at least five days a week was best) is the most important thing. Then work with your vet on any maintenance issues (adequan, supplements, etc) and you will have the best experience possible.

Older horses are quite simply the best! You are the smart one!

[Old Equine Lady]

One of the best horses I own is a 27 yr. old TB cross, in a school for 22 yrs. of her life. She is blind in one eye, but still carries the guests like a trooper!

[S1969]

Hmmm....just looked at an ad for a 20 year old QH today. I was wondering the same thing. Apparently the horse is very sound, well-schooled and experienced with kids and experienced as a lesson horse. Maybe I should inquire further....otherwise he seemed perfect!

[SLW]

You did fine. The locals around here say when buying a horse for a beginning youth rider, the age of the horse and rider combined should be AT least 25 years old.

Good luck!

[Grataan]

See here for more on my oldst er http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=227744

She is now gainfully employed babysitting/nanny-ing my friend's weanlings (I left her open this year)
Most of the time she divides her time between growing babies and carting around 10&under riders. She's been there done that got the cooler and LOVES teaching the kids.

She gets legend IV, Cosequin ASU and occasional bute. She has an old suspensory injury, sometimes caudal heel pain syndrome, and mild arthritis in her hind legs. Most of the time she's aces, but a few days she looks just 'off' not lame, just off. She warms up out of it 85% of the time.

I wouldn't sell her for a million dollars. A horse like that that you can put peoples children up on and trust to teach them the ropes, to carry them in a 20 horse w/t class or trot-a-course, they're worth millions in my book.

[JohnDeere]

We have a couple of old schoolies who are fairly lightly used, 1 lesson per day. They get ALL the beginners. They will try to move to catch a rider out fo balance. They are ~33 and ~36. They get the best care & are still in good weight.

They are priceless in the barn.

[Skeezix]

Sounds like a wonderful combination to me.

Plus, in a society that only seems to like shiny and new, you have also taught your daughter an invaluable lesson.

[starrysky]

I know this isn't really that old, but the horse I just started leasing is 18 - I am going to learn how to jump from him, and he has years and years of teaching left to do!

[HorsesinHaiti]

If I ever go back to the States to work, I hope to lease an oldie to learn the basics of jumping and dressage on.

[Laurierace]

Every horse breaks your heart eventually. Young or old we never know how long they will be with us. Enjoy the time you have together and hope for the best.

[sanctuary]

I have 8 lesson horses, 2 are under 20! And they're 14 & 16! Couldn't ask for better "assistants"!

As my BO says "They don't get to be this old by being stupid!"

[RU2U]

WE GOT HER!!!!!

Gotta tell you...old lady went to load into the trailer (old owner loaded her for us into my trailer), and she said "I ain't that OLD!" She yanked back pulled the lead out of her hand and did a lap around the farm, ran across the street told those horses good bye and and sedately walked back to the trailer, loaded right up and stood in the trailer like a champ.

She has a really nice floating trot as she blew past me! She also gallops real nice too!

She is content in the barn and my 10 year old daughter was up at 6:00am running out to feed her Empress with me.

Happy Birthday Nikki!

[kahjul]

An old friend and I were just discussing this. One of her oldies (at 32) is re-leased every other year or so. She is pretty picky about where he goes, but he just keeps finding new kids to teach. He is still jumping little stuff and cantering around. He is still a pig to bathe! One of my oldies just hit 26 and is on her 5th child in her home. She still does the Foxfield summer camp-hasn't missed a year since she was 9.