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Is Your Child's Horse Too Old?
One day at a large stable, a young rider was heard to say that it was time
to “trade in” her 15 year old horse for a younger one because the gelding
was getting too old. This seemed so sad, not only because such a
young person had this idea in mind, but because it seems to be a foregone
conclusion in the horse world. It also reveals the prevailing opinion
that horses are somehow disposable. Recently, an 18 year old Arabian gelding
was Champion at a major show. On TV, a 22 year old warmblood was
grand prix jumping. And a 29 year old Quarter Horse still gives lessons
to children.
So how old is too old? In the case of children,
when looking for a horse, consider two factors: 1) will this be a
lifelong obsession for the child, or just the latest passing fad, and 2)
how much will the expenses be for training? If your family just wants
to try a horse out, lessons or a lease may be best. It is ironic
that families often want to buy a younger horse that will be sound
for the next 10 years, when the child’s interest may wane in two. On the
other hand, horses 15 and older are often the best and most affordable
buys. They are usually trail and/or show savvy, are very well trained,
and if cared for properly, can live to their late 20s or even 30s with
no more vet expenses than a younger horse. Talk to someone who has
owned a cherished horse in its golden years and find out how it enriched
their own.
Finally, before you trade that 15 year old
horse in for a new model, remember that this is a living and sensitive
animal. Your discard might go to a nice new home. Or that gelding/mare
that you or your child pampered and brought carrots to every day may not
be going to a home at all. If everyone thinks mature horses are useless,
the next stop for that “trade in” may be a feedlot. One wonders how
much love he could have given someone for another 15 years.