What to do?????

Question

I have a 21yr old gelding who I got on semi retirement just to hack out once a week but no more. I got him from a riding school where he'd been for 17yrs. When he was ther he was constantly going lame and was really fed up. When I first got him I let him have 5 month off without any riding and once I started riding him again I noticed the lameness had disappeared. I kept the hacking to minum exercise mostly walking a bit of trot and the odd canter. He wasn't objective to it and even was willing to go faster. Recently he has started to get more frisky and trots on spot and really enjoys cantering and even wants to jump over things out. I dont want to push him too hard but he gets more frisky each time if I just do quiet hacking. Do you think I should ride him more often and increase the pace? I just feel a bit mean thinkin of the work he used to do but most of the time its him trotting or cantering before I ask! He doesn't buck or rear and doesnt show any signs of discomfort when ridden

Answer 1

IF THE HORSE IS HAPPY WITH IT JUST GO AHEAD, I BOUGHT A 23YRS COB AND HE WAS LAME IN THE BACK LEGS SO I BOUGHT HIM FOR A COMPANION, AFTER LIKE 6 MONTHS REST I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE HIM LIKE HIS LAST RIDE WITH MY NIECE WHO IS 2 YEARS AND VERY VERY LIGHT. SO I TACKED HIM UP, AND PUT HER ON HIM AND THE LAMENESS HAD GONE, LIKE YOURS. I WORKED UP TO TROT WITH HIM AS MY NIECE CANT DO ANYMORE THAN THAT!

BUT I GOT HIM CHECKED BY A VET A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER AND HE SAID HE WAS FINE AND THAT A COUPLE OF LIGHT HACKS A WEEK WOULD DO HIM GOOD!

SO IT JUST SHOWS IN THE RIGHT HANDS A HORSE CAN IMPROVE!

Answer 2

If the horse is sound and remains so after every ride, there is no reason why he couldn't do more if you wanted, especially if he is enjoying himself. Lots of horses work well into their 20's, but the ability to do so depends on the individual horse and how well he has been taken care of over the years. So, if you want to add more to his workouts and he is still doing well, you can. Older horses' bodies do not adapt as quickly, so you will need to add very slowly and watch him carefully for any signs of discomfort or lameness afterward which would tell you to cut back.

Answer 3

Your horse has shown you that for now he's feeling good and enjoying the excercise.  I would go ahead and start riding her more often, and increase the speed of his workload, and just monitor him carefully.

I expect that the five month rest allowed him to rest and heal.  But people and horses actually stay fitter and have less arthritis and health problems if given moderate excercise.  So you probably will not harm him by riding him moderately two or three times a week.

I would spend alot of time long trotting him.  Trotting is much easier on the hocks and back than loping, so I would allow alot of trotting to increase his fittness and help him burn off energy.  If he seems comfortable to canter for periods I  would do so, I suspect he'll tell you when he's had enough.  My current show mare has had mild back problems, and when she doesn't want to lope she'll start loping for me, but then try to move back to a trot unless I keep leg on her.  She does this even when trail riding.  When she does that, then I know its a sign that she isn't feeling great, and I won't push her.  I suspect this gelding will be able to tell you when it hurts in the same way.  He'll likely ask to slow down, and he'll act lazy.  Perhaps it isn't lazy so much as sore, and I would allow him to help you decide how fast to ride.

And riding 2 or 3 times a week is probably easier on him than only going out once a week.  He will be able to maintain and even increase his fittness level going out regularily, while if he is only ridden once a week he will lose tone.  And many horses start to lose their training and responsiveness when riden infrequently, he'll stay more tuned-up and obedient if taken out regularily.

I personally would not jump this horse on a regular basis, I think he's too old and has done too much.  Yes, popping him over a tiny jump now and then would be fine, but if he goes into regular jumping you are going to put his joints and back through some extra stress that might irritate things.   It would be like taking a sound, healthy senior citizen, who can walk and even run for periods of time, and then asking them to do gymnastics.  The extra bending and flexing could very well aggrivate their joints and then they won't be able to run or walk so well, either, at least for a a while.

I don't think you need to feel mean about the work level he's done in the past.  Yes, its true that the life of a riding school horse isn't easy.  But consider the life of a wild horse - they travel on average 15 miles a day from the age of 2 days until death.  The regular work your horse received obviously didn't do him major harm, there's plenty of show horses out there that would NEVER make it sound until 21 years of age!

You would also really help him to keep him in turn-out as much as possible, even 24/7 if you can.  The constant ability to move about, and graze at will is ideal to keep a horse healthy.  Also, you might want to talk to your vet about adding glucosamine to his diet on a daily basis.  Glucosamine can help with arthritis and mild inflammation.  I actually buy mine at Wal-Mart, it is human quality meds, and I add it directly to my horse's grain twice a day.  But check with a vet before adding any suppliments.

Good luck.  Sounds like you've gotten a nice horse, and it sounds as though he is going to really enjoy this new part of his life!

Answer 4

21 years isn't all that old. I was still competing on my gelding at the age of 23 when he died due to a twisted intestine. If the horse feels good and feels like doing more then go a head and let him. He will tell you with his actions when he's ready to completely retire.  Let him work out and then let him tell you when he's had enough.

Answer 5

As long as he stays sound, I think you can ride him more often and do more with him.  21 is really not that old and many horses still are able to do everything they could when they were younger.  He was probably ridden way too often, and not given quite enough time to heal between lamenesses when he was a school horse.  You giving him 5 months off was probably just what he needed to finally become sound again.  Increase the amount of work slowly, and keep a sharp eye out for any soreness.

Answer 6

I would just enjoy him and don't push him.  Trot and cantering on the flat should be okay.  I would not jump him tho.  Remember old horses are like  elderly people, they will get injured much easier and do not bounce back.

Answer 7

If he wants to do more, than sure! Just make sure that you do it gradually, instead of jumping him for 45 minutes straight. Go out for a hack, come back to the arena, jump over a fence or two... just do it gradually. He is an older guy, so make sure that if you're going to be doing those 3 footers, get a vet out there to make sure he is sound to be doing arena work.

Answer 8

I agree with the others who said riding him more often is a good thing...21 really isn't that old for a horse.  It is more a question of health and good condition rather than age.  For example a ten year old horse that has had injuries or poor nutrition will feel much worse than a twenty-five year old horse that has always had excellent care and is in good health.  This horse may have ten to twelve more riding years in him.  Just keep him in as good as shape as possible, and like the others said, watch him closely for signs of discomfort.  Good luck, I'm glad he's doing so well for you!

Answer 9

I think it'd be fine to ride him, unless he had back problems. My aunt rode her one horse untill it was 28. A lot of horses ride to at least 26-7 ish. He still has a lot of energy in him, you should exercise him.