[Blazzing Ripper]

Ok,

I have been horseless for some time now and have recently decided to starting searching the market for the elusive Mr/Mrs Perfect.

Im not looking for a world beater, just a nice, safe horse that I can go trail riding on and attend ARC every month, maybe an Ag show once a year just for the hell of it. A kind natured horse that wants to be my bestie, is reliable out and that I can enjoy, stress free.

I have been riding a horse for some ppl as their kids are no longer interested and horsie will be advertised in Next months Horsedeals (comes out Monday).
This horse ticks every box. All the major requirements are met with flying colours- safe (Tick) sound (Tick) Sane (tick) good after a spell (tick) easy to do everything with ie: float/shoe/etc (tick)
Even the minor preferences such as size, colour, gender, good looks, breed... are all spot on

BUT THERE IS ONE ISSUE- he has just turned 18yrs of age.


Im not at all worried about soundness issues with this horse- It is as sound as a whistle, in excellent order and has been very well looked after.


What is everyone's opinions and considerations for the 'mature horse' regarding working lifespan, special needs, etc?



BR

[heavy horse]

I prefer a mature horse to a younger one, if he/she ticks all the boxes grab him/her.

We had a horse that was estimated to be around 16 when we bought him after a number of years he was still running up and down hills everyone commented that they hoped their horse was that fit and healthy when they reached his age, well he died at 25 not bad for a horse. Then OH got to have a look at his teeth he was in his 30's. Up until the time he died he was never sick.

A friend bought her horse when he was a 2 year old and rode him until 3 years before he was pts and that only happened because he went down in his stall and no one could get him up he was 40.

That make the horse you're looking at relatively young.

[improv]

Is he showing any signs of a drooping topline? And what type of diet keeps him nice?
How often are his teeth done? And what condition are they in, considering the last time they were done?

If he's is only kept in top condition by piling in expensive feed, lots of vet & denistry care, yada, yada..... then I might think harder.
But if he maintains his condition well with a normally good diet & care, I'd go for him.

I would get xrays of at least the front legs done.
While an older horse will have some normal wear & tear showing, the radiologist should be able to spot anything more sinister that might prevent him from having good years left yet. As well, it gives one a good reference point for future changes.

[mum1]

I have been looking for quite a while for a horse to reintroduce me back into riding after giving up through health reasons. I need a smaller horse so many are great but just not suitable. I saw a lovely horse on the weekend at a friends place,he also is 18 years old but not really what I want and really too big. I have thought about it hard since then but need to practical as I cant lift a heavy saddle,let alone reach up to bridle etc. I have two perfectly lovely horses here and one is a broody whom is 14 yrs old and I think I might end up getting someone to give her a tune up and see how quiet she is under saddle. She is a gem on the ground and is broken but hasnt been ridden for years.

Agree with the above poster that any mature age horse will have some type of degenerative changes but not all are impossible to deal with.Most are just the ageing process which unfortunately effect some more than others (just like us).A vet check will certainly pinpoint whats happening but will also bring up everything.Its up to you to accept just normal wear and tear or to be a bit more choosy if anything really suspect shows up. Hope it turns out for you.

[Fernloch_girl]

Each horse is very different and you can't even generalise within a breed. I've only ever owned one TB, but he lived to be 27 (died of snakebite ) and didn't even have a HINT of arthritis at that age, even though he'd raced in his younger years. He ALWAYS was a good doer, never got hard fed and was dead quiet. If you're happy with this horse in every other aspect, get a vet you really trust to look over it and give you an honest opinion. I think older horses can be terrific!!!