I know, I know, it depends on the individual. I have an 18 y.o. that still jumps. But then a friend has a 17 y.o. that is so crippled with arthritis that she can never be ridden again.
I just wanted to know in general, at what age do you consider a horse old?
2008-08-07T18:48:31Z
I've just seen questions on here where people consider horses that are 15 to be old, and I think that's odd because that horse most likely has at least another 10 years in it. With the way nutrition is these days, most horses are living to be over 25. That means it has at least 40% of its life left. That's like calling a person in their late 40s old. Although I know that may be old to some of you kiddies on here (LOL), it's not like someone that age is almost done with their life and should be "put out to pasture!"
Redial2008-08-07T19:10:59Z
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I consider 0-3 baby years 4-10 teenager young adult years 11-15 adult and 16 and up senior. but seniors can still do amazing things
I consider 20 - 25 starting to get old (you know depends on the horse) between those ages is when work has to be cut at least %25 for most horses or more (there are a few exeptions of course) and I consider 26 - 30 is when riding should be kept to a minimum...and 30-40 is retirement with MAYBE a light ride here and there if possible.
That is just the way I look at it. If a horse is kept threw decent or better conditions through he/she's whole life they should still be able to w/t/c until the age of 25 or 26. Some horses that are even kept in good health their whole life seem to start going down hil fast at the age or 17 or 18 so, like oy said, it just depends :)
**Oh, and I have a GREAT example of a horse being ridden just as much as a 13 or 14y/o horse :D
My Arabian is 22y/o and I just had a lesson on him doing leg yeilds, turn on the forehand, and jumped 18' - 2' oxers with PLENTY of spring lol xD and in the middle of a thunder storm lol :P but he was a good boy hehehe
A horse is only as good as the health care and training provided. A horse who is backed to early and not given the proper nutrition will age and break down much faster than a horse that is properly maintained and not worked harder and faster than he's matured. In general I consider 20 and up to be old. I won't breed a mare or stallion past 20(or earlier if health requires). I think at 20 the horse has given his best and deserves to rest or be used as a little hacking pony. I've had different horses that actually couldn't take their old age sebattical- THEY JUST LOVED TO PERFORM! I have a now 26 year old mare that still runs barrels in the high 14 and low 15 times. She is completely healthy and as hot as a 3 year old. She was given the best health care, feeds, and wasn't started until she was 5 though. Therefore she rarely fell ill, never went underweight, and her joints didn't wear prematurely.
I think that the breed, there usage, and how young they where started has alot to do with it. I would consider a 15+ quarter horse who started barrel racing at two to be getting up there and start looking for a retirement home. however that same horse who has been a pasture pet or a light show horse and was started over the age of three in his prime. I know Arabians who are still jumping at 20+ though with no signs of unsoundness. and shetland pony's live just about forever. I learned to ride on one who was in his early 40s.
Well, when I was looking for my first pony, I considered 16 or 17 old. Now that I have seen the horse world from an owners point of view, I would say that 20 is old for a horse. :)
But as you said, it certainly depends on the horse. I know a retired horse, half blind, half deaf but still full of life at about 36 years of age!