What age is the earliest a good horrse should be retired?

Question

I have a 14. yr old warmblood with sore leg muscles and some people say to retired him. Is it possible to still be able to ride him with certain vitamins or should it be okay to let him rest?

Answer 1

It is totally dependent on the individual horse.  Some continue to be ridden well into their twenties whilst others are retired by the age of 10.

I would not listen to your friends, they are not necessairily experts, but do ask your vet for his/her honest opinion and take their advice.

Answer 2

Mares who have colts differ.. they are good for a long peroid as long as the weight is not forced upon them..As for geldings I had one that i rode for years beyond 14 and he still could swim a river with me on him..17 is usually a max unless good care an a right diet in time has strength them..Giddup like Colonel Bain says!! he he

Answer 3

sore leg muscles? sounds like he should be retired and able to live freely on a farm and enjoying himself

Answer 4

at only 14 your horse should be in his prime.

It depends on the horse and what you do with him.

For something like sore muscles I would have him vetted to make sure what is causing this. You may be able to alter his work schedule some and he may have many more productive years.