I should have been a little more in depth in my last post of how often do you run your horse. I have a 16 year old barrel horse and I ran him last saturday, and we are planning on running again this coming Wednesday the 27th and Saturday the 30th, and Saturday the 6th. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't overdoing it I guess. We only run once each show. I don't do rodeo, just jackpots so the ground is usually in good shape. Basically we run 3-4 times a month and rarely have weekend shows besides in the winter about once a month. I know 16 isn't that old but it seems most people run horses younger than 10 or 12. I have him on a joint and digestive supplement. I usually poutice him once a week and throw on his magnetic sheet and blanket at least once a week or more. I now am starting to put him on the equivibe 2-3 times a week as well. I hardly ever do barrels at home, I mainly just work him 3-4 times a week to keep him in shape. Any other tips on what I could do to make sure he feels his best? I used to have issued with him but I started seeing a different chiro and farrier and now he is feeling much better. I just want to make sure it stays that way. He gets chiropracted about every 3 months. 

I think you are on the right track. Maintenence is the most important thing in an older horse to keep them feeling their best. They will tell you what is too much. As long as she is happy and working well, I would keep doing what you are doing. My coach ran her 18yr old mare in rodeos last year because she loves her job and hates being left at home. She has slowed down a bit lately, but she was feeling great. She suffered a pasture injury this winter, so is now retired, but that little mare had heart. Listen to your horse, she will tell you what is too much for her. 

Your horse has a fairly easy life.   I would have no problems running my 19yo on a Sat/Sun and Wed, then Sat/Sun again.  At our State NBHA show, he has run 6 times Fri/Sat/Sun with Open and Sr and then Short go rounds.  Those weekends are not my favorite, nor my usual, but he didn't die and actually got faster over the weeknd. 

My 26yo, I'm going to take it a bit easier on him this year and be picky where he goes, but he's raring to go most times.  

They both have hocks injected, PHT stuff, are on MVP 6 way and high quality feed and hay and I'm a licensed equine massage therapist, so they get some pampering on a regular basis.  I would suggest a massage therapist for your horse before the chiro.  Will hold the workover better. 

I run my 20yr old mare, so 16 doesnt seem old to me:). I do pick and choose where I run her and I will do three day shows with 1 run a day. I will run her just about every weekend if there is a place to run. I don't do small jackpots beause I save her for the big open barrel races. I keep maitence on her and mud and wrap her legs after each run. Depeding on time and faciltites I will also cold hose her after our run. I started hock injections when she was 18 cuz she seemed a little sore. I have found she is getting faster the older she gets. two years ago we where placing in the 4D and now we are placing in the 2D. Sometimes I forget she is 20! I also rope and gather cows with her. I am going to let her tell me when she is ready to be done. As of right now she is loving her job. 

The horse I talked about on your last post is 18 this year.  I just started running him here the beginning of May, but he is in better shape arthritis wise than my 13yo so I will give you both of their programs! LOL They're both 1/2D horses, one rodeos and one jackpots. My 13yo gets 2-3 shots of summit a month during rodeo season (since we're running 3-4x a week June to September). My 18yo gets 1-2 shots of summit a month depending on my schedule and how he feels, his schedule is pretty laid back for the summer months since local jackpots are pretty nonexistent here. My 13yo has had his legs ran off from the time he futuritied. My 18yo ran the futurity and derbies and then he sat as a pasture pet getting ran 1-2 a YEAR. 

I put Hansbo sheets on them pretty often. I also always put clay(Icetight) on their legs after hard rides or competing (I don't wrap them, never have), rinse them off in the morning or they just dust off. I put liniment spray (absorbine is usually what i use, or bigeoil) on them prior to riding every single time and competing. I get them chiro'd once a month and massage at the same time. I don't get PEMF or anything fancy on mine, just because I have to travel to someone and they're all further away than they are close. They're just talented ranch horses so they don't get too much for spoiling. I used to get hocks injected on my 13yo however haven't needed them yet this year after starting summit, knock on wood. The 13yo is a bleeder, so they're both ran with Flair strips and vicks in their nose. Other than that, a good feed program and keeping them in PEAK condition throughout the season is key to longevity and keeping accidents and injuries at bay. 

The main thing is exercise every day, unless they have a nice big pasture to roam. By exercise every day i don't mean they have to be ridden at a walk, trot, lope every day, but they need to move to keep those joints lubricated. Even the young ones I rode every day with one or two days just walking, with a long swinging stride to stretch out their back and keep their joints lubricated. I do have a nice pasture so I give them a day or two off, otherwise they are ridden/ponied 5-6 days a week, including competitions. 

My mare is 18 and she is still in her prime.  Or at least she acts it anyways.  She is still as passionate and wanting to work as she was when she was 6.  As long as you are maintaining your horse and you're keeping him in shape, he should be fine.  I don't think most of us give our horses enough credit when it comes to grit and heart.  I think they can take a lot more than we think they can.

You do use summit? I was considering trying it but wasn't sure if it worked.

Oh wow you run a 26 year old? Does he still run like he used to when he was younger?

Sounds like your on the right track. My older gelding is 24 this year and still runs every weekend (when not in lockdown, thanks corona) I have gotten picky-er where we run but only because hes not a fan of small pens. Hes now my moms horse and she runs senior and open on him. No slow button on him ever nor does he look like hes older, most people are shocked by his age. He  does get a set of adequan in spring and cetyl m daily for joints but last time we had his hocks xrayed last year, my vet couldnt believe how great they looked and said they looked better then some 5 year olds. My other gelding is 16 and my main mount. He gets stifles done and cetyl m daily. Both get ridden 3-4 times a week depending on weather and eat coastal hay and local grainery mix which is mostly chopped alfalfa

I do, yes! Use it on both horses. 

I used to use Adequan and Pentosan on my horses pretty regularly. Changed to Summit in October. I have all of my performance horses on it, and my husbands ranch horse whos 12 with a bone spur on his coffin and large amounts of arthritis in his hocks and knees already. Been a game changer! Only horse I don't use it on is my 8yo peptoboom mare. She just doesn't have anything 'wrong' so I dont see why I'd need to use it. She just gets feed through joint help for now (even though I really don't believe in it, why not LOL)

I have my geldings come back story on the Summit facebook page. He went from 5D last spring on adequan to the 1/2D and placing at open rodeos on Summit. Walks in and out of they alley now when he used to rear, buck, kick and stall up at the alley. Went from using about 5cc lasix to 1cc lasix. It truly gave me my horse back. 

Okay! I'm going to go look for your story!