| age comes experience, patience, and | | | | sound, older horse with experience is much more |
| understanding. Three qualities any horse owner | | | | reliable day in and day out. Young horses provide |
| wants in a horse. | | | | energy, and stamina for their rider. However, with |
| Have you given any thought to what age horse is | | | | that energy comes quickness. I have ridden many |
| right for you? The age of a horse is a part of | | | | young (4 to 7 years old), very well trained and |
| horse ownership that is sometimes | | | | well mannered horses that wouldn't think of |
| misunderstood. Many people feel that older horses | | | | hurting a rider on purpose. Their quickness and |
| are washed up and ready for the pasture. That | | | | athleticism, however, made them difficult to ride, |
| could not be further from the truth in many | | | | especially for a novice rider. |
| cases. | | | | Horses with age have had (in many cases) the |
| There are pros and cons to young horses as well | | | | opportunity to see more through the years. In |
| as horses in their late teens and early twenties. | | | | my experience that has meant the horse is more |
| The age of the horse you are looking for is not | | | | stable and suitable for riding out on the trail. |
| as important as to how well the horse fits you | | | | Usually, it takes a little more to spook and |
| and your program. | | | | concern an older, more experienced horse. If you |
| When asked, "what is too old when looking at a | | | | are a novice rider, think about looking into an |
| horse?" I always answer that question with a | | | | older, more experienced horse for your first |
| question. What kind of shape and how sound is | | | | purchase. |
| the horse? The age of a horse is not nearly as | | | | Things To Be Aware Of With Older Horses |
| important as how sound and healthy the horse is, | | | | A Vet Check is critical with the purchase of an |
| as well as how well the horse fits its rider. | | | | older horse. Have the Vet check for Navicular, |
| I recently had a conversation with a man whose | | | | and Arthritis. Cardiovascular is also important to |
| son bought a horse for his family. He thought it | | | | check in the older horse. Ask the Vet to examine |
| would be a good idea to have a young horse for | | | | the horse's teeth and mouth to assure healthy |
| his kids to grow up with. In this situation he had | | | | teeth and gums. A problem in the mouth could |
| no idea of what it takes to handle a young, | | | | lead to lack of nutrition. The teeth of many older |
| inexperienced horse. The horse did not work for | | | | horses need to be floated upon purchase. |
| the family and the kids lost interest in riding | | | | Older horses will need to be cared for a little |
| because of the difficulty they were having. This is | | | | differently in extreme weather. Be sure to take |
| a common myth and mistake. | | | | into consideration that they may need to be |
| Two of our cutting horses were nineteen years | | | | blanketed in cold weather, and may need to be |
| old when we bought them. Both horses were | | | | brought in and offered electrolytes in the heat of |
| purchased to teach youth riders to cut and work | | | | the summer. Having shelter and clean water |
| cattle. We were looking for horses that could | | | | available is also very important. Seniors may |
| teach us the tricks of the trade of cutting. They | | | | require a special feed to maintain a quality health. |
| have been great for us, and one is still competing | | | | Some senior horses do require a little more care |
| and doing quite well. The key to the success with | | | | than a younger option. But don't let that out |
| these older horses has been that we have taken | | | | weigh all of the wonderful benefits they have to |
| good care of them and exercised them regularly. | | | | offer you in the best years of their life. If gentle, |
| Regular exercise and a consistent program is | | | | experience, wisdom, and a desire to please is |
| critical to helping older horses remain active. | | | | what you are looking for in a horse, don't |
| While we do have young horses on the ranch, | | | | overlook a horse in their mid to late teens. |
| what I have found through the years is that a | | | | Always keep safety in mind. |