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Horse Care and Comfort

Is a 17 year old horse too old to jump and do Pony club?

By:

caiti.jane

Date:

2012-Feb-28 at 04:40AM

I'm looking at getting a 17 year old horse. is it too old to jump and trail ride and pony club?

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia 2012-Feb-28 at 05:26AM

My feeling is that this will depend very much on the general fitness of the horse and what it has done in the past. If it is fit and healthy then it shouldn't be too old but it would be a real bonus if it has already done some jumping and pony club work. My first horse who has now passed away had done some jumping and pony club work before we purchased him but then my daughter just used him for trial riding for about 12 years. When he was twenty five years old a young neighbour started riding on him and took him back to pony club. He was a great jumper and just really enjoyed going back to pony club riding and jumping. Unfortunately he did end up injuring his front leg when he bogged prior to a water jump but that could happen to any horse. He was 29 before he passed away so he had a good life. I am currrently teaching a 20 year old horse dressage. She has been with me for 12 years but as she was Western Ridden and raced before she came to me she was initially very frustrating at dressage and with other horses so I gave up and have just ridden her on the local roads for the past 10 years. Started her back at dressage last December when my other horse was injured and she is finally getting the hang of it and proving quite beautiful and fun to ride. Soo ....providing your proposed horse is sound and healthy I would say that 17 is not too old and hopefully you will have at least 10 years of enjoyable riding ahead.

bbarner4628 2012-Feb-28 at 07:23PM

I'm going to have to go with maggieF on this one it really depends on the health and shape the horses is in. I have a 24 year old I jumped in high school so he was 18 when I was done now my little sister rides him and she want to just with him now. He love to jump his hole body changes his altitude changes his a hole different horses when u bring jumps out. I would say they is extra precautions u need to take I ways make sure he get a good warm up and cold down. And I always jump him with his boots on or wrap his leg. And he dose not get jumped ever day ones maybe 2 a week. Then other days we just do area work. I don't want to put to much strain on his joins and muscles. He dose not bounce back as good as he did when he was younger. Hope this help but I think u can do anything with any horses at any age if they are will taken care of healthly and in good shape.

caiti.jane 2012-Mar-01 at 02:14AM

ok. thankyou. she also has what the owner calls heat sores on her face. it looks like Queensland itch, but its on her face. any ideas for how to stop this and if it is permanent?

bbarner4628 2012-Mar-01 at 02:30AM

Dose she have a white face or white were these sore are???

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia 2012-Mar-01 at 03:53AM

I use Filtabac - a thick white creamy ointment combining sun filter and an antibacterial cream on Tricka's white nose in summer. It works really well on Tricka so it may help.