In every issue of Horse & Rider you'll find articles on training by the country's leading experts, the latest on equine health care from top veterinarians, trail riding tips from savvy back country riders, and much more!
WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE OUR SENIOR HORSES; they’re reliable mounts in and outside of the show pen, and they can also be great teachers for riders with less experience in the saddle because they know their jobs. But the way you ride and take care of your older horse day to day is probably going to differ from riding a younger horse. Take time to evaluate your current training and riding routine, and see if these slight riding and horse-care adjustments can help your horse stay happier well into his golden years. Avoid Mental Fatigue Has your horse been doing the same job for several years now? If so, he’s probably experienced mental fatigue at some point in his career. It’s something that happens to all of us, both in…
AS A GENERAL RULE, senior feed is appropriate for horses when they reach the age of 15. But there are plenty of horses that can coast well into their 20’s without ever needing a specialized feed just like there are younger horses who might need to make the switch at a younger age. This is a hard subject to generalize, and it doesn’t mean you should automatically switch your horse to a senior feed on their 15th birthday, but when they get close to this age you should start paying a little bit more attention to their nutritional needs. In the end, it all comes down to your horse and his specific needs. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help determine when it might be time to…
When Kelly was just 8 years old, her mom paid for “Saddie” by trading off babysitting for her $350 purchase price. The yearling was skittish and unsure of her new life with Kelly, but the two quickly formed a bond that continues to grow even 27 years later. Since professional training wasn’t an option for Kelly, she trained Saddie mostly on her own with the help of occasional lessons, which she paid for by cleaning stalls. The pair started showing 4-H together and worked their way up to their first Pinto World Show in 2007. Kelly and her mom weren’t expecting this much success since they were often told the 14.3 mare was too small to compete at a high level, but they proved everyone wrong when they won their…
“Cruzer is the best horse I’ve ever had,” my client explains. “He’s sound, reliable, and still winning at every show. He’ll be 18 next year, though, so it’s time for retirement. Sure gonna miss him….” Wait, I’m thinking, what? Just because he’s getting older doesn’t mean it’s time to quit. In fact, in recent years we’ve seen 21-year-old horses compete successfully in World Cup jumping. Besides, why not consider letting the horse step down to a less demanding job rather than retiring him completely? Then there’s the other type of owner. “There’s something wrong with my horse,” she’ll say. “He’s only 24, and he’s having a hard time keeping up with my friends’ horses on trail rides. I don’t understand it. Is there anything we can give him to up…
