Is it true that cantering an older horse will break limbs?

Has this gelding been vetted? Unless he has some exotic bone deficiency or disease going on that this "expert" knows about, then I wold think that the breaking of the "limbs he/she was referring to might be low hanging ones. Just a joke folks...Just be extra attentive when you try new or strenuous activity and make sure that he is fine before going on to the next phase in his training. When you do try something new with him, wait a couple of days for anything to show up before adding a new task...that way, if he does develop any issues, they will be isolated and easier to treat.

This is likely redundant of someone's answer because there are so many! Either way, I have two things to say. First, i have a horse who is in his mid-twenties (used to be a huge eventer, is now a schoolie) but he still LOVES to jump, never mind just cantering. He has way more energy than lots of horses one quarter his age, I think he would be really sad to retire, the minute you get on him he is pumped and ready to run, you need to really hold him back! Which leads up to pint number two; when you canter you horse does it feel like he is going to break under you? probably not. Use your judgment, if he is doing fine and is healthy and happy, why fear he is made of glass?

I have a 25 year old Arab/quarterhorse mare that I still canter. I don't gallop her and I don't canter her for long spells but I do ride her quite a bit at walk/trot and canter. I've never been concerned about her bones. I think that I'll know when she needs to slow down more. Horses are like people - if they have always done it, then they can continue with few worries as they age - use common sense.

The person at your riding school is an idiot. I hope she isn't an instructor! The level, speed and type of work you do with your horse is down to his own condition not just his age. My horses are kept at a rescue centre where we have horses well into their 20s who still compete over jumps including cross country. Our vet knows this and has no issues with it as they are in good health and thoroughly enjoy themselves. We have a pony there who is in his late 40s and can still manage a canter now and again with a small light rider.

It isn't true. I have a 22 year old PercheronxMorgan and I canter even gallop him sometimes. I use him for some light competitive trail. My main competitive trial horse is 11. Some of the people I compete against horses are about 21 and they are right up there with me! So who ever told you that doesn't know what they are talking about.

I wonder if, when they said "break", they meant "break down" or otherwise have some kind of detrimental effect, as opposed to actually snapping the bone. Not that it makes much of a difference! It's perfectly normal and fine to work older horses at the canter as long as they are sound, fit and healthy. As with any horse avoid lots of fast work on small circles, as that is hard on joints.

Just like people, some horses will be more delicate than other horses as they age, but if a horse's leg will break if he canters at a certain age, there would be no old horses.

I cantered and jumped my first horse until he was in his mid twenties. I know plenty of horses in their twenties that still canter and lope around.

Ha! My first gelding is 18 and I ride him daily (it ain't light work either).

Just make sure that you pay attention to warming up and cooling down. Some stretches wouldn't hurt either. It's much better to keep a sound, older horse fit and exercised than to retire them. Early twenties is not that old for a horse, really. Just take good care of him and he'll have lots of go for years. :)

Rubbish, rubbish and more rubbish.................................

Of course each horse is different with different problems, but a normal sound horse can do anything a younger horse can do. I rode my pony horse(any horse that is not a race horse on U.S. race tracks are called ponies) until he was thirty and then I gave him to a kid that did 4h events with him til he was 33 and still going when I moved away and lost track of him.

I will say this, older horses have good days and some days they might be a bit less energetic, just be aware of it and adjust accordingly.

That's just rubbish! My old Arab did training level cross country jumps in his twenties. Your horse will tell you if or when he gets too tired, but if he's still in good shape there is no reason at all for him not to canter.

Enjoy every moment.