What age do you consider to be old for a horse?

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!

It depends on the horse. If it's healthy and rideable...I'd ride it no matter what the age. I think some horses suffer terribly if they are just all of sudden retired and turned out to pasture. They get so use to all the attention of grooming and talking that they got and then all of sudden they are put out to pasture and no more attention. Although we as humans think we are doing something kind for the animal...It's not really the age I look at unless its a younger horse...its what shape they are in that tells me if I would ride it or not.

If I could have one more horse...I'd love to have a horse that was the been there done that kind of horse!

Age is nothing to me...it's their health that I look at first.

i believe it really depends on the breed of horse.

The recommended the age 20yr + Only depending on breed. Here ill give you a couple of suggestions.

Australian Stock Horse, Quarter horse, Appaloosa, Arabian (great stamina, all rounder horses) ect. Roughly about 22-25years old

Ponies about 25years old

Thoroughbreds, Tennessee walker, all the light breeds breeds roughly about 21-23years.

Yes as you did say there are horses still ebing ridden at age 30. Im wondering if you guys have seen the article about the 37yr old arabian that is still competing in major endurance competitions. Empresive ay lol.

it really also depends on the horses physical health and the life there've had.

Anyways hope thta help explain :)

haha p.s.My mums 46 and i call her old my bad lol. See im 14 and a lot of people say thats young but its not compared to other kids. lol

Well aged horses are said to be over 12, but there are champion showjumpers still jumping at the Grand Prix level at 16 and 17 years. It more depends on the health condition. I knew a six year old Appy who has Arthritis so bad that no one can ride it. But there are a lot of horses over 20 who are still in really good condition

Depending on breed, management and environment, the domestic horse today has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. It is uncommon, but a few horses live into their 40s, and, occasionally, beyond.

!5 is not old at all for a horse. The oldest horse I had was 37! A lot of people I know think that 15 is old for a horse and its not. Horses can live for a very long time if they are taken care of and not abused.

it would desire to be somewhat extra problematical to coach a fifteen 12 months previous horse as damaging to a three 12 months previous yet no, i don't think of 15 is previous. previous to me is 20+ years. If i became attempting to get yet another horse, i might prefer some thing 3-8. it particularly is basically my own opinion. i've got not got something against older horses, I basically like the extra youthful ones. If I got here upon a superb horse it particularly is the style of horse i'm searching for however the age became 13-15, i might purchase it if it wasn't too extreme priced. If the horse you like is healthful and sound and you're taking stable care of it, it would desire to stay to be approximately 30! in case you like him, decide for it! stable success!