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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
  
| I haven’t ridden in about 5 years since I had my kids and I’m dying to start riding/running again. I can’t afford to buy a new horse any time in the near future. I have my retired 26 year old in my pasture that my husband is telling me to leg up and start running again but I just don’t know if that would be fair to him or not. A little background… he did not start running until he was 12 years old when I put him on a pattern (he was a western pleasure horse his whole life before that). During those years I would only run him 2-3 times per month and exercised 1-2 times per week so he was definitely not ran hard and put up wet. In 2012 (at 20 years old) he was running strong until he had colic surgery. At the time, my mom was going through cancer treatment so I stayed extremely busy helping her so I never started running him again. Before that he was completely sound. Never been injected, no injuries, nothing at all. He always loved his job and loves to be ridden. I have gotten on him a couple of times over the past few years and he still loves it. Rides just like he did back in his younger prime. I just know that since I have gotten older my body hurts worse and I don’t exactly want to move the way I used to when I was younger so I can imagine that’s how it would feel to a horse lol. I’m not talking rodeoing hard every single weekend or anything. Maybe twice a month to a barrel race with light exercise during the week. Part of me wants to run him again because I know I will never have another horse like him and I’m losing precious time but then again I’m afraid to start running him and something happen to him due to his age and I would never forgive myself for hurting him. HELP!!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 225
Location: Montgomery TX | I am in the same boat - my old man is 25 - well, he was my dad's horse. My dad passed away 2 1/2 years ago and he's been sitting in the pasture. I pulled him out of the pasture a couple weeks ago - started legging him up and feeding him a little more. He is blossoming with the extra feed and exercise! He is so much happier than just sitting in the pasture. So i figure I'll start looking/saving my pennies and ride him til he says he's done. The first day I pulled up with the trailer - his ears perked up and trotted to the gate and was ready to go. It made me sad but warmed my heart at the same time.
I'm not planning on hauling hard - a playday here and there maybe a jackpot once a month or so.... just to get back in the game. And I figure 'ol steady eddy will help me get my seat and confidence back.
Edited by bten 2018-07-12 4:02 PM
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I would leg him up and pick where you go, good arenas, ground etc. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
| bten - 2018-07-13 12:58 PM
I am in the same boat - my old man is 25 - well, he was my dad's horse. My dad passed away 2 1/2 years ago and he's been sitting in the pasture. I pulled him out of the pasture a couple weeks ago - started legging him up and feeding him a little more. He is blossoming with the extra feed and exercise! He is so much happier than just sitting in the pasture. So i figure I'll start looking/saving my pennies and ride him til he says he's done. The first day I pulled up with the trailer - his ears perked up and trotted to the gate and was ready to go. It made me sad but warmed my heart at the same time.
I'm not planning on hauling hard - a playday here and there maybe a jackpot once a month or so.... just to get back in the game. And I figure 'ol steady eddy will help me get my seat and confidence back.
That's exactly what I need too, a confidence boost and to learn how to ride again with the weight that I have put on over the past few years.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
| rodeomom3 - 2018-07-13 1:08 PM
I would leg him up and pick where you go, good arenas, ground etc.
Anywhere that I go would be covered arenas with decent ground. I'm more of a jackpot type than rodeos and pretty much all of our jackpots are in nice covered arenas. That is a great thought thanks for the suggestion. |
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Veteran
Posts: 225
Location: Montgomery TX | runnin.on.dreams - 2018-07-12 4:11 PM
bten - 2018-07-13 12:58 PM
I am in the same boat - my old man is 25 - well, he was my dad's horse. My dad passed away 2 1/2 years ago and he's been sitting in the pasture. I pulled him out of the pasture a couple weeks ago - started legging him up and feeding him a little more. He is blossoming with the extra feed and exercise! He is so much happier than just sitting in the pasture. So i figure I'll start looking/saving my pennies and ride him til he says he's done. The first day I pulled up with the trailer - his ears perked up and trotted to the gate and was ready to go. It made me sad but warmed my heart at the same time.
I'm not planning on hauling hard - a playday here and there maybe a jackpot once a month or so.... just to get back in the game. And I figure 'ol steady eddy will help me get my seat and confidence back.
That's exactly what I need too, a confidence boost and to learn how to ride again with the weight that I have put on over the past few years.
yep - got 30lbs that need to go. but just getting back riding, I'm down 7 already, sooooo....   |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
 
Location: sunny california | I would not ride if it was too hot |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 885
| JMHO at his age, let him be retired. Pasture or trail riding is one thing but to leg him up for barrels, if he were mine, I wouldn't. That is just me.
Edited by okhorselover 2018-07-12 7:08 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Just let him be retired, hes 26, I would just do trail riding on him, I would not want to be putting any strain on him at this age and not been rode in the last 6 years that to me would not be the right thing to start him on barrels again I would just enjoy the trail rides. |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I’d ride him again, but I wouldn’t run barrels on him again.
The old guy has been retired. Enjoy your horse without causing harm. You both deserve that. There’s my two cents, for what it’s worth.
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | Bear - 2018-07-12 5:32 PM I’d ride him again, but I wouldn’t run barrels on him again. The old guy has been retired. Enjoy your horse without causing harm. You both deserve that. There’s my two cents, for what it’s worth.
This!!!! |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | okhorselover - 2018-07-12 5:06 PM JMHO at his age, let him be retired. Pasture or trail riding is one thing but to leg him up for barrels, if he were mine, I wouldn't. That is just me.
.....and I agree 100%. You can think they look happy and want to go do things but what goes on in those bones and joints you can't feel, but that horse can.
You also run the risk of him falling with you.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | I just want to step in here and say that one of my pet peeves is folks recommending that a person "just trail ride" if it's a lame or older horse or one that has possible soundness/physical issues. Trail riding is and can be very taxing on a horse. The varied terrain conditions, and hours on trail can sure be a lot harder on one than just an easy lope around a pattern for 20-30 seconds. I prefer to just say "light riding"...period.
Light riding...on good ground is where I would start. See how he feels and if nothing else that will get you back in the saddle and enjoying time with your horse again. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1273
Location: South Dakota | runnin.on.dreams - 2018-07-12 4:12 PM rodeomom3 - 2018-07-13 1:08 PM I would leg him up and pick where you go, good arenas, ground etc. Anywhere that I go would be covered arenas with decent ground. I'm more of a jackpot type than rodeos and pretty much all of our jackpots are in nice covered arenas. That is a great thought thanks for the suggestion.
I agree. Especially if you let him pick his own speed. |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | I remember at a large barrel race a small girl riding a 25-year-old barrel horse, making nice runs, and the announcer bragging on this combination. Forgot to mention they were "literally" pushing and shoving this horse into the arena to start his run.
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| I’m thinking if you take care of him (joints, leg him up correctly etc) and let him go his own pace, I don’t see a problem with it. You’ll know if he doesn’t enjoy it. Just make sure he’s painless.
No one here knows that horse like you do. Read him as you go.
Edited by RoaniePonie11 2018-07-13 9:23 AM
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | TrailGirl - 2018-07-13 8:31 AM
I just want to step in here and say that one of my pet peeves is folks recommending that a person "just trail ride" if it's a lame or older horse or one that has possible soundness/physical issues. Trail riding is and can be very taxing on a horse. The varied terrain conditions, and hours on trail can sure be a lot harder on one than just an easy lope around a pattern for 20-30 seconds. I prefer to just say "light riding"...period.
Light riding...on good ground is where I would start. See how he feels and if nothing else that will get you back in the saddle and enjoying time with your horse again.
You can obviously disagree, but to say it’s a “pet peeve” when people render such a harmless opinion has me scratching my head. I don’t think people were suggesting extreme trail riding. It’s not a very complcated dilemma. She asked for opinions, and people took the time to try to be helpful and offer theirs. If that’s a pet peeve, I’m guessing you have a lot of them. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | *Sigh*...Bear...it's not just the way it was harmlessly presented here... If I had a dollar for every sale Ad I see that mentions soundness issues etc and then says "good for trail riding only"...I'd have a wallet full of cash. Just wanting to put it out there that "trail riding" can mean many things...and is certainly more taxing than many must think.
Sorry you took issue with my statement. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | TrailGirl - 2018-07-13 8:31 AM I just want to step in here and say that one of my pet peeves is folks recommending that a person "just trail ride" if it's a lame or older horse or one that has possible soundness/physical issues. Trail riding is and can be very taxing on a horse. The varied terrain conditions, and hours on trail can sure be a lot harder on one than just an easy lope around a pattern for 20-30 seconds. I prefer to just say "light riding"...period. Light riding...on good ground is where I would start. See how he feels and if nothing else that will get you back in the saddle and enjoying time with your horse again.
Did'nt say go climb a mountain, jump a few ravines while trail riding, LOL Just go have a quiet trail ride, I dont know what kind of trail riding you do but I like a nice quiet ride.. Gave my opinion on thoughts about a 26 year old retired horse that has not seen a barrel for 6 years just pasture, I think trail riding would be a good thing for him. I have one that is 25 { hes in my avatar, picture} retired from barrels no health issues and I want to keep him that way too so if I feel like he needs rode then I will hit the trails on him why risk it at that age. My Pet Peeves is someone that feels like being a {blip blip} to others that are giving their honest opinion.. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | What the absolute hell. My comment was hardly inflammatory. Read it again maybe. You have your opinion...I have mine.
Just wanted to put that out there in part because as a former vet tech I have seen SO many horses that were injured or otherwise became unsound for speed events etc that were then marketed or told they would still be good for "Trail riding" as if the uneven ground and miles wouldn't be a problem for a sore horse. That's all I was saying. That "light riding" and Trail riding are not one in the same. period.
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