Getting my new horse next week!!!!

[jettgirl24]

We're competing at 3rd level and I'm planning to bump up to 4th level toward the end of next season. I'm hoping that in the next couple of years I'll find a baby with FEI potential that I can get started while Watchy finishes out his upper level career at Prix St. Georges.

I'm also thrilled because I have a wonderful 16 year old girl riding him a couple of days a week. She is blind and is currently getting her para-equestrian certification to compete with him this next season. We're planning to take him down to DelMar for her first para-dressage competition with him in March! Her ultimate goal is to qualify to go to the 2012 Paralympics in London. She will likely borrow a horse for the games as Watchy will be a bit too old to make an overseas trip but I am SO proud that he will be the horse to help her get there. I'm just so excited to see what the future brings with this horse!

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Whatya you mean that Watchy would be too old, he is never too old to do dressage as long his heart is into it!

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

A few years back, I had a vet check on a 17 yr old TWH I got for trail riding and pasture mate for my 6 yr old green spotted saddle horse, the vet told me 17 was not all that old for a horse that was used and in good condition.

At the time she told me she was taking dressage lessons on a 30 yr old.

 

[jettgirl24]

LOL, this is true... We'll definitely still be competing back here but he's a bit of a nervous traveller so I would be worried about him on a 10+ hour airplane ride to London... Plus with the expense that it would involve it will probably be more likely that she borrows a horse over there. My trainer has a couple of connections in England and Belgium that have unbelievable horses. How cool would it be if he did go though? That would be totally amazing

 

[welsummerchicks]

Para riders usually find a horse to ride in the country where the event is taking place. There are a great many fantastic Para horses available in England, all eager to partner with anyone, I think that sport is even bigger there than it is here.

At the advanced levels, dressage is a very demanding and vigorous sport, just as demanding as show jumping or eventing at the higher levels. The horse has to be extremely fit and able to work very vigorously, not just at a competition, but every day in training.

All upper level athletes eventually have to stop competing, even horses.

Often they compete for some years, then work as a schoolmaster for a while, then just go for light hacks, then finally go to full retirement. The plan has to be made for each one individually.

Most of the time, dressage riders would rather cut off their own arm than see their advanced horse be pushed on inappropriately. That's why they don't often sell them. Because you can't count on people to 'drop them down' appropriately.

I know one competitor who sold an old advanced horse - the buyer had to sign a contract stating s/he would not compete the horse. The buyer actually went on to compete the horse anyway - the seller was furious. It's very difficult to enforce such a contract so many of us just keep them forever. Mine will die here. Til then, he lives the life of a king.

 

[jettgirl24]

I believe Peter Gray did that when he sold Collo 5 this past year... I know he didn't want him competing at Grand Prix anymore, although I don't know what the exact agreement was. My friend got to ride Collo at Para-competition up in Canada last spring... What an amazing horse! How I would've loved to buy that one

 

[welsummerchicks]

Boy that is for sure! What a horse!

Sometimes they will require that the horse can't be competed at all, sometimes that they can't go above a certain level. I think someone the stature of Gray could make it stick.

In my case my horse had a career ending injury and can only be ridden at a walk and cannot do anything that would require him to use himself. It makes me physically sick to think of anyone asking him to 'do his stuff'. He'd do it too, despite being totally out of shape and in pain, because that's just who he is. I'd rather die than see that happen, he is never going out of my sight. He busted his rear for 15 years for me, the least I can do is provide for him after he is done.