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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Brenda Imus Questions and Answers > 'Ask Brenda' > At what age do gaited horses need to retire? |
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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Brenda Imus Questions and Answers > 'Ask Brenda' > At what age do gaited horses need to retire? |
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| At what age do gaited horses need to retire? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18th, 2011 07:47 pm |
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1st Post |
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NoMoreHuntersJumpers G.O.G Community Member 
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I know it's dependent on (too) early training and showing, injury, conformation and luck. At some point, though, often around 19, many well-cared for horses' backs drop, and then there's no riding them. I've seen quite a disparity in the condition of ancient horses and how they look and yet cannot be ridden. We had a QH that lived to be 35 who looked like 15 yo. except that his back dropped a bit. He was sound enough to live to great age but not sound enough to ride. Same with a friend's 26 yo MFT: gorgeous coat, excellent health, but not suitable to be ridden because she sometimes wobbled and stumbled. Assuming the horse is well-exercised, healthy and cared for, are gaited breeds any different? Riding career looking towards an end around 17 to 19 yo?
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18th, 2011 09:06 pm |
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2nd Post |
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ladysrider G.O.G Community Member 
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A friend of mine has a 29 yr. old TWH gelding. He is retired from field trials but still goes out on the trails a few times a year.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18th, 2011 09:21 pm |
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3rd Post |
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Trish G.O.G Community Member 
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I've had several horses that have been rideable well into their twenties....a couple who have still been lightly ridden at 30.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18th, 2011 09:37 pm |
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4th Post |
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NoMoreHuntersJumpers G.O.G Community Member
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A friend of mine has a 29 yr. old TWH gelding. He is retired from field trials but still goes out on the trails a few times a year. I've had several horses that have been rideable well into their twenties....a couple who have still been lightly ridden at 30. Are you saying all your gaited horses have this longevity...or are these the exceptions? A ride or two a year is retirement in my mind.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18th, 2011 10:13 pm |
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5th Post |
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ladysrider G.O.G Community Member
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My thought is that horses are like people. Some are vigorous well into their old age, and some are "old horses" before they are twenty. Having said that, a friend of mine (different friend) who has ridden and trained gaited horses all her life says TWH are well known for being able to be ridden almost weekly well into their 20's.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19th, 2011 12:03 am |
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6th Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member 
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It also can vary with the breed. AWP are known for being used/ridden into their late 20's / Mid 30's. And most live until late 30's / early 40's. My Pony's Sire "King" was 41 when he was put down because his back gave out, my pony's mare was 38 still healthy as a mule and only was lost do to Colic , and the vet said had he got to her "in time" she would have lived another 3yrs atleast.
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19th, 2011 12:33 am |
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7th Post |
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NoMoreHuntersJumpers G.O.G Community Member
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My thought is that horses are like people. Some are vigorous well into their old age, and some are "old horses" before they are twenty. Having said that, a friend of mine (different friend) who has ridden and trained gaited horses all her life says TWH are well known for being able to be ridden almost weekly well into their 20's. Ah, this is good to know. There are jumpers than can still do a course of low jumps in their late teens, but that discipline is both hard on the joints and demanding of soundness for the safety of the rider. Jumpers in their 20's doing much more than cross bars are few and far between. It also can vary with the breed. AWP are known for being used/ridden into their late 20's / Mid 30's. And most live until late 30's / early 40's. My Pony's Sire "King" was 41 when he was put down because his back gave out, my pony's mare was 38 still healthy as a mule and only was lost do to Colic , and the vet said had he got to her "in time" she would have lived another 3yrs at least. Yep, a lot of ponies live well into their 30's, unless somebody turns them out and they gorge themselves into repeated bouts of laminitis. About 10 years ago, while I was driving down a country road, I spied an ancient pony - who knows, in its 20's or 30's - that had fallen through the rotten wood cover of a well and was hanging onto the edge by it's toes. I flagged down a neighbor, and together we hauled it out. It was the dead of winter. Poor thing had hypothermia, but it recovered enough to be back out in that pasture in a week's time. Tough, smart little devils.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19th, 2011 05:36 am |
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8th Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member
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Yeah they are really tough, and recover extreamly fast. Little Devils is about right. Any time someone ask what I wish I could improve on Sunny. It's the first thing that comes to my mind "A better sense of self preservation" , my girl. She has absolutely no fear of cougar, coyote or bob cat. She'll even pin her ears and smart off at 18 and 19h drafts. I know many though gaited horses that are still working well into their 20's or 30's it really just depends on aside well from genetics. Proper Nutrician, and handling / training. Why they say , wait until the growth plates have closed and all their bones have solidified before Riding them. AWP Association provides an training guide book, which includes recomendation to wait until the 4th year for riding. Allowing them to become physically prepaired for their "job".
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19th, 2011 05:17 pm |
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9th Post |
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Walkin in Wi G.O.G Community Member 
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I am semi retiring my 25 yr. old Rocky Mtn. mare this year. I might take her out on a few easy trails just because I thinks she would like that. She still looks great and has all her teeth and is healthy, but going down hills seems to be getting a little harder for her, as she "waddles" and I feel like she might not be safest to ride anymore. Part of it could be less exercise the last few years though since I got two younger mares to ride. If she was ridden more and in better shape maybe she'd actually lose the waddle but since I have others to ride I probably won't be able to test that theory. I do have friends who ride 18-20 yr. old gaited horses all over the place on long trail rides, and they are doing fabulous. Weeklong camping trips and lots of miles on some pretty rough trails, and they are going strong.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19th, 2011 05:46 pm |
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10th Post |
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NoMoreHuntersJumpers G.O.G Community Member
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Walkin in Wi wrote:I am semi retiring my 25 yr. old Rocky Mtn. mare this year.... Good to know. I have to wonder if these horses were brought along as babies by the owners. I'm skeptical of sales info describing 4 year old horses with hundreds of miles of trail riding. I wonder if these horses were ever examined to see if their growth plates are closed before being put into heavy work. I'm looking at some older horses, but I'm not willing to buy a predictable 4 years of riding followed by 10 years of retirement.
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20th, 2011 01:28 am |
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11th Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member
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I was looking at a beautiful TWH Colt, he's got great blood lines but he's not even 2yrs and already has 15 rides on him. HorseClicks.com has some beautiful gaiteds. But yeah, I would suggest finding one that was started around 3 - 4yrs old and is maybe about 10yrs? I really think you would be happy with something around that age. SOME are calm/sane before that. But it's a good age to start. Then you just take really good care of it as I know you will. And it should give you a good 15 - 20 years of ride ability. And they've often found with horses, the longer you keep them working , as long as they are sound. Even just easy flat trail rides 2-3x a week, they live longer and stay healthier longer in their golden years.
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20th, 2011 07:49 am |
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12th Post |
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NoMoreHuntersJumpers G.O.G Community Member
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SunnysMum wrote:I would suggest finding one... is maybe about 10yrs? ...But it's a good age to start. Then you just take really good care of it as I know you will. And it should give you a good 15 - 20 years of ride ability. ...the longer you keep them working , as long as they are sound. Yep. I've always considered the ideal age around 8, so I'll follow my gut on that. It's sure a learning curve whenever you change disciplines. I finally figured out how the online horse trader business works, how to read the gaits, and what to look for. There's some pretty discouraging and depressing horsemanship out there, recorded on video for all the world to see. I'm stunned by how fast horses sell. People must buy them sight unseen. That's the only way they could move so fast. I've made contact with two women trainers/breeders whose training is respected. I also found a small breeder who starts his RMH horses and brings them along slowly, teaches them to drive before they're ridden. I've got 3 or 4 decent prospects, the youngest horse 6, the oldest 10. Keeping my fingers crossed for this weekend.
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20th, 2011 02:27 pm |
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13th Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member
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Cool, also...something else to keep in mind. The shorter backed ones, are going to last longer than ones with the longer backs. And are going to be naturally smoother. The more square in confirmation between the shoulder and hip points if you know what I mean.  If not I can try and explain better.Last edited on Thu Jan 20th, 2011 02:29 pm by SunnysMum ____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20th, 2011 06:07 pm |
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14th Post |
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NoMoreHuntersJumpers G.O.G Community Member
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I got it. I'm pretty good on conformation.
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20th, 2011 11:03 pm |
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15th Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member
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Figured you were
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24th, 2011 03:24 pm |
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16th Post |
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Drifters rider G.O.G Community Member 
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My Arabian mare started slowing down around 25. She became semi retired then. That's when I bought my SSH. She was ridden around the yard until she was 28. Then she told me she was ready to for full retirement. She died at 30. Her last couple of years she just wanted to hang out in her paddock and not be bothered too much. She kept all her teeth although they were worn down.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25th, 2011 12:16 am |
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17th Post |
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Painted Horse G.O.G Community Member 
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When I was doing CTR, We had a fellow come up from NM with his horse. He was 86 and the horse was 28. They competed in a full weekend of Open Class CTR every other week, And consistantly placed very high. So like people I really believe it depends on gentics, luck at not getting injured over their career, and good nutrition. If they get a couple bad injuries and arthritis sets in. They are done. If they stay healthy and you keep them active, Like the engergizer bunny, they just keep going.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26th, 2011 12:05 am |
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18th Post |
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fireandice G.O.G Community Member 
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I rode my mare until she was 30, she did very well. I think it's important to keep them at least a little active. My old man will be 31 late this year and I rode him until about 3 years ago, on the same trails everyone else rode on. The only reason I don't ride him at all now is my fault. I lent him to a [mistakenly] trusted 'friend' for a week for her husband to pitter patter around with. She put him, for some strange reason, in a small damn round pen to do that join up crap, and wound up bowing both of his tendons. All she had to do was throw the saddle on him and let her husband enjoy a seasoned horse for a little while. It wasn't rocket science. It was the first time ever in my life I did something like that, and my horse paid the price for my foolish choice. Anyway, now he's just a very old man who also doesn't want to be bothered with much. He likes his brushing, his food, and Stroker :-D T.
____________________ My pony knows all my secrets. I braid my tears in his mane and whisper my dreams in his ears. |
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20th, 2012 04:52 pm |
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19th Post |
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wlknhrslvr G.O.G Community Member 
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This is one of my favorite topics! My main riding mare is 22 and still the same as when I bought her at 12. No health issues at all. I plan on riding her in LD (Limited Distance 25 miles)endurance rides this year. I had her fit for endurance last year but finances kept me from actually attending the rides. I owned this mare's grandmother from age 19 until she passed away at 32 a few years ago. She was trail riding until the last couple of years when she slowed down after an injury. The previous owner/breeder did not start them until around 4 0r 5 and no heavy riding until around 6. By comparison I have a Paso Fino mare only a year older than my Walker and she was shown early in life and ridden pretty hard. She is a very hard keeper and arthritic so she is basically retired and only does occasional rides around the farm. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a horse between 17 & 20 for trail riding as long as the vet check comes back okay. I would never purchase another horse that was started early and I have seen ads for 2yr olds that have had a lot of miles put on them. That borders on abuse in my opinion. It is pretty common in the show barns to start them around 18 months. I have a young mare, she turned four last fall, that was started around 2 lightly and she came to me with some stifle issues and behavior problems I believe were caused by too much work in the round pen at a young age. Thankfully her previous owner cared enough about the mare to pull her from training and let her grow up before serious damage occurred. This is a lovely mare, gorgeous mover that could have easily had a successful show career but would have been ruined in the process. One misconception about older horses I'd like to point out is that they "calm down" as they age. I have yet to see a horse change its personality just because it got older. My bomb proof mare was just as calm at 5 as she was at 25. My extremely forward mare has yet to slow down and would still be considered a horse for an advanced rider even though she is 22. Some horses may slow down because of pain from arthritis or injury but for the most part if they are brats at 10, they will be brats at 20.
____________________ Stacey "Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and, once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed." -- |
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20th, 2012 09:07 pm |
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20th Post |
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goranbockman G.O.G Community Member 
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This depends very much on the frequency and consistensy of riding, as well as warming up and cooling down properly (which is true for all athletes). A healthy Icelandic, treated according to the above, can be ridden until its dying days=well into its 30ies.
____________________ Smooth gaits are a gift of God |
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