[arabianlvr87]

Here's a question for anyone who's ever retired a horse.

In your opinion, whnat is a general good age to retire a horse from riding all together? (I know Expressa just retired her mare a week ago)

The reason I asked, I've had a lot of close people in my life tell me that I should concider retiring Cat and look into a nice show Arabian for my next mount.

I know you can give a right or wrong age to retire a horse, it depends on the horse.

And Cat is 23 years old. I still ride her and she doesnt have any apparent problems. She's still very willing to work. Im asking so I dont do anything to hurt her.

[Simon Says]

i my opionion, i believe that you retire a horse when they have given you everything they can give you!!! but on the flip side if you retire them from showing, sometimes they make a great trail or therapudic riding horse, it all comes down to the owners choice, my TB i have retired if we felt they gave all the could give, i lay them up, get on them about a year later and sell them for jumpers or dressage or broodmares, oh i don't know!!

[arabianlvr87]

Im pretty sure Im going to retire her from showing either at the end of this year, or early in the spring.

I just dont know when to retire her from riding completley.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

when she starts having trouble w/ her joints and cant do the normal riding time w/o getting out of breath u should consider retiring her, or just do trail rides at a walk

BBJ

[arabianlvr87]

What do you mean by joints?

When Im warming her up, her knees make some cricking noises, but it's not bad.

The only time she's out of breath is sometimes after a canter, it;s not bad, but she breathes a little heavier than usual.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

like she's stiff all the time. is she on any sort of suppliment? and does the clicking seem to make Cat uncomfortable? Fiona clicks now and then(she's on MSM so she doesnt click, maybe once a month lol) but the clicking doesnt hurt her in any way

BBJ

[arabianlvr87]

I dont think it hurts her. She hasnt shown any signs of pain.

She was on some joint supplements a while back, but I could never get her to eat it with her food. I just gave up thinking it wasnt worth it.

[John]

An older horse will do far better with some light work than just being turned out to pasture. Your well trained show horse is exactly the ticket for a young 4H rider that is learning to care for a horse.I know of one example where a retired arab mare is on 4Her # 6 and is going strong!

[arabianlvr87]

Oh gosh, I dont think I could ever sell her.

Sorry, Im too attached.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

i dont think i could ever part w/ Fiona either LOL

if u try MSM it might work, the horses at the barn all eat it w/o a fuss. its pretty inexpensive too

but if she's not showing signs of pain i'd say keep riding her, but not pushing her over her limit(but u prolly already kno that)

BBJ