Cowgirl, I Have A Horse Question

[rowdy ridgeback]

Ok, I wrote a while ago about trying to find a horse. I have looked at several. I did come across one. Tennessee Walker 14.2h which is perfect for me. It is a mare though. Kind of wanted a gelding. But here is the thing. She is 21. Is that too old? I know my trainer would say out of the question. She likes them about 10. So what do you think?

 

[Snark]

If you don't mind me jumpin' in... If the mare is healthy and doesn't have any leg/foot problems, I don't see a problem with buying an older horse. Have a vet check her over for a clean bill of health, let him/her know what you want to do with the mare (trail riding? competition?) and see if he thinks there will be any potential problems. With better health care, my vet says he's seeing more of his clients' horses living into their thirties and forties.
A friend, my sister and I went in together to buy a horse in his late twenties (28 actually) to keep him from going to the auction barn, (and then probably to the killers). His conformation wasn't that great, he was barn sour and turned out to be quite a handful. (We'd bought him with the intention of keeping him as an extra horse for friends/family to ride but he turned out to be too much horse for a beginner.) I liked him because of his go-get-'em personality. Anyway, my friend lost her mare that same year, we gave her our half of Jackson and she kept him for the next 23 years.
Yep, Jackson lived to be 51, she competed with him in eventing until he was 40, and rode him 'til he was 46 when he started having trouble with one knee.
Jackie at his first event, at age 32:

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

Wow! Well thats good. Yes, I have a vet that would do a vet check. He also does my dogs so I know he would have my best interest at hand. But I know my trainer would say no. She is a nice Tennessee Walker. They have great temperments and she is gaited. Small too 14.2. I am a lot more confident on smaller horses.
My trainer does not go and see horses for people. She had offered me her lesson horse that I love. I would have to buy her and keep her on the property and let her use it for her lessons for a year.

 

[SummerRiot]

Depending on what you are going to be doing with your horse, age doesn't really have a huge factor in it.

I competed in Barrel Racing with my 23yr old Morab mare until we decided to retire her to just trail rides. She would have LOVED to keep going, but it was me that decided she was done. She was given to a little boy who now competes in Western Games with her. He sweeps ribbons all the time

I know a lady who just retired her 32yr old gelding. He pouts in the field when he isn't used, so he went back at work again!

As long as the horse passes a vet check and X-rays you should be good to go

Just feed them healthy, keep them fit and they will live forever!

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

This would just be a horse that I would ride around in the arena and on the trail. No barrels or roping. Nothing like that. My son might use her for 4h. Just basically be loved on and light riding a couple times a week.

 

[Snark]

What are you wanting to do with your horse? Just mosey down the road/trails? TWHs are great for that (there's a group of... uh... mature... ladies, known as the Wild Bunch, who zoom down the trails of a local park on their TWHs. They're a fun group but hard to keep up with!)
If your trainer won't help you look at horses, why should her opinion count? She hasn't even seen the horse, so how can she say no? If you buy the mare, will she refuse to give you lessons? Personally, even if I loved the horse I was taking lessons on, once I bought it, I wouldn't want anyone else riding the horse but me. What happens if you want to ride and your trainer has a lesson scheduled? Or the horse has already been worked all day and you'd like to ride too? Not fair to the horse, I think. I don't think your trainer needs a year to replace the lesson horse either.
Don't you have a friend who's experienced with horses helping you? (or was that someone else?) Anyway, if so, what does she think of the mare?

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

Well, this is how it goes. I have been taking lessons for a few months on this horse. Nice little quarter pony. 14h. Perfect for me because I was scared of horses. She said that she is going to sale the horse to one of her students. $2000 and then $160 a month for my lessons and boarding. Sounded like a great deal in the beginning. Told her I would think about it. She knew I was wanting to get my own horse. I think she knew I would leave if I got my own. And I know this isnt good horsemanship but I would really like to learn on my own horse. I have to form a bond in order to trust. Weird but that how it is for me. So, I have been watching stuff at the place I get my lessons. The horse is use quit a bit. It is her best horse. Also noticing other things.

 

[Snark]

Bad things? See, that's what I'd be worried about if I bought the lesson horse - when would I be allowed to ride if he's constantly in use? I would probably wind up NOT riding just because I felt sorry for him having to work so hard.
Well, it isn't THAT bad to learn on your own horse, especially since you're a little fearful anyway and you're not looking to compete (or using your first horse as a stepping stone to go to a more advanced horse). For trail riding and letting your son use her for 4H, she's sounds like a good deal. How is her temperament? I'm guessing she didn't appear 'flighty' or you wouldn't be interested in her. Ask the owner how the mare gets along with kids. My old Morgan, Rocket, absolutely adored children and would stand like a rock for hours while they crawled all over him. My sister's mare, on the other hand, didn't acknowledge any human being under 100 lbs and would walk right over them. (That's not saying all mares are like that, just that particular mare.)

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

Well, I have looked at at least 10 horses. In last couple of weeks. I just basically see the temperment of the horse. I watch the owner catch, groom, saddle and ride the horse. There hasnt been another one that I wanted to go back and look at. I always brought my 9 year old son with me. I didnt have him ride or get near but I had him stomp a little bit.
But at the place that I get my lessons, I have just been watching a lot more things that have been going on. It is hard to find western lessons here. Everything is english. There is one lady that I am going to start using for ground lessons because she only does english/dressage/hunt seat. So I worked out with her to just do ground stuff. I might be able to talk with her about the horse but the horse is western trained.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Wow, pardon my stupidity, but horses live a long time!

I had no idea... I'm sorry I don't know anything about them, good luck with your search!

 

[Snark]

Well, I have looked at at least 10 horses. In last couple of weeks. I just basically see the temperment of the horse. I watch the owner catch, groom, saddle and ride the horse. There hasnt been another one that I wanted to go back and look at. I always brought my 9 year old son with me. I didnt have him ride or get near but I had him stomp a little bit.
But at the place that I get my lessons, I have just been watching a lot more things that have been going on. It is hard to find western lessons here. Everything is english. There is one lady that I am going to start using for ground lessons because she only does english/dressage/hunt seat. So I worked out with her to just do ground stuff. I might be able to talk with her about the horse but the horse is western trained.

Hmmm... most horses, even if they're initially trained western, can switch to english without a lot of trouble. My first horse (a QH) was western trained but actually was better being ridden hunt seat. I'm just not familiar enough with TWHs to know if they can trot when asked. I do know they're renowned for having smooth gaits, including a 'rocking chair' canter. Talk to the english trainer and see what she says, all horses can benefit from some dressage work (just like all dogs can benefit from some obedience) and so can you.
If the mare's temperament seems good, she's good with kids and the vet says she's healthy, you've found a horse that's worth her weight in gold!

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

I just had no desire to ride english. I was actually going to maybe start taking lessons with the YMCA. They have certified trainers and you have to take tests to move on to the next level. But they wont help you find horses or look at horses for you. That is actually where I was going to keep my horse.

 

[Snark]

Wow, pardon my stupidity, but horses live a long time!

I had no idea... I'm sorry I don't know anything about them, good luck with your search!

If you're talking about Jackie, he's probably more the exception than the rule although I've known several horses who lived well into their thirties and a couple who made it past forty.
My vet was also took care of Jackson and he said he loved to bring up Jackson's age to the husbands of horse-crazy women. While Doc worked on the horse, invariably the husband would ask how long horses live (probably hoping the hayburner would go to that Great Pasture in the Sky sometime soon). Doc said he loved to watch the husbands' jaws hit the ground when he'd reply he had a fifty one year old patient.

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

LOL. Yeah my husband asked me if he was ever going to see me. Hopefully we will be able to buy a house with land next year.

 

[Snark]

I just had no desire to ride english. I was actually going to maybe start taking lessons with the YMCA. They have certified trainers and you have to take tests to move on to the next level. But they wont help you find horses or look at horses for you. That is actually where I was going to keep my horse.

Well, that's pretty cool... The closest Y to us is just your usual run-of-the-mill swimming, jazzercise, softball, gym kind of place. Are you going to go look at the mare again?

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

Yes, but I need to find someone to look at this horse other than the vet.

 

[springer spaniel]

I don't mean to but in but if you can try to bring a horse trainer

I'm thinking of getting a horse myself

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

No feel free. Yes I have a trainer but she doesnt look at horses for people. So I am trying to find someone else to come look. You can hire people to do this but they really dont know you.

 

[Snark]

Didn't you have a friend who warned you off the horse with arthritis? Or am I thinking of someone else's horse related thread?
I'm guessing, from what you said before, that your trainer also boards horses. Are you acquainted with any of the boarders? Is there anyone you feel you can trust enough to go with you to look? (Wish I was closer, I'd be happy to go look with you.)

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

Yes, that was me. She will let you board if she can use them for lessons. I really dont want to do that. I dont know how much she would be using the horse. I just didnt want to get involved in that. Like I said they mostly do english here. My friend that I was talking about, her 11 year old son is going through cemo right now. Dont want to ask her to come look at a horse 40miles away.