May trade for a new horse thoughts please?

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

How's the search going?

Do you have bulletin boards at your feed stores you could post on? Farriers or trainers in your area you put the word out to? Boarding/training facilities you could contact?

The gal I got my first green horse from always has horses. She's in Burlington near Bellingham. They consign, trade, buy, and sell.

Website: http://www.foreverton.com/for_sale.htm

 

[arabianequine]

Cows found freezers!YAY!!! So I am still looking but not as desperate to get the cows gone cause they are sold. Anyways I will keep looking and I do appreciate your help. A few rescues no I am looking so that may help.

 

[arabianequine]

What do you all think about this horse? He is 24 and free. Owner said she thinks he could handle weight of probably 250 which I am more then that 270 plus weight of tack....what do you think on the weight issue...he seems kinda small to me. Hooves look a bit long but considering age, free, and some others I have seen he looks like he is in nice shape.


These pics were done today owner says.

 

[patandchickens]

Although he looks rather muley and unattractive in the pics

, I really don't mind at all the general structure he's got -- rather upright both in front and behind but not to a degree that would seriously hinder light recreational riding, and there are a lot of things *right* about him.

HOWEVER, and this is a pretty big however, his back has really swayed a considerable amount. (It's not *just* that he's resting one hind foot in the lower pic - he really is pretty swaybacked all the way along). Although he is decently muscled for how his topline has sagged, it is just BEGGING for trouble to put a lot of weight on that already-failing structure. Cuz there is really only two things that can happen with swaybacks in older horses -- they can get worse slowly, or they can get worse quickly. And at some point -- for him, he may well have already reached that point -- it starts causing the horse pain to carry a rider.

He looks like a really good old soul, and if you were looking for a *kids* starter horse I would say sure go look at him (I have known horses like that or worse who did fine for some years with light riding by VERY LIGHTWEIGHT riders). But for a horse for you, to carry substantial weight, especially if you want him to last more than a year or two (and by no means would I guarantee even *that*), I just don't see it as being in this particular horse's best interest, you know?

Sorry, I *swear* to you that the right horse for you WILL turn up

,

Pat

 

[welsummerchicks]

I don't think this horse looks that bad, certainly not muley. They just aren't the most flattering photos. He's a little easy in the topline due to age. Realistically, no one knows how long a 24 year old horse will be ride-able. It depends on how hard the miles have been and how well he was cared for, as well as what sort of ageing runs in his family, injuries he's sustained, etc. His legs are pretty doggone clean for all the age he's got on him. He doesn't even have any filling in his legs or any 'jewelry' on them. No curbs, no obvious signs of anything.

Occasionally I run into a 'low mileage' oldster who simply hasn't gotten any hard miles put on him, and these horses can be completely comfortable working lightly for quite some time. In fact, a little reasonable exercise keeps these fellows limber and comfortable.

If the OP were to be determined to gallop and jump, or show every weekend in ten classes, or cut, or rein, I think the choice of the horse would be a very finely divided matter and I'd be dissecting his conformation. But if I recall, she's interested in riding casually, lightly, at slower gaits.

And an older horse can be ideal for that. It might be a good match, as long as you understand that no one can say how long a 24 year old will be working. It really depends on what really - realistically - you'll be doing - riding hard or light.

My friend has a 35 year old she rides lightly, and enjoys. He also 'babysits' her younger horse. Another gal I know had a horse she raised and rode lightly - the horse was still being ridden at 30, but of course, lightly. Another gal I know bought a 20 year old school horse. He's thriving under her care. He's taken better care of than the Olympic winners, LOL. She really is not at all interested in riding intensely - she walks mostly, and trots a little in the ring, and then they just enjoy each other's company. She doesn't want to get pushed to do more, so she and the horse are perfect for each other.

Sometimes this is the best thing - for a person to regain their confidence on a trusted old friend, and to give that trusted friend a good home where he can be comfortable and well-treated.

 

[michickenwrangler]

I'm with Pat. At 24, there's not a lot you can do to help a swayback. My friend lost one of her horses at age 27. He was swaybacked, mostly being ridden by her skinny daughters and the ligaments and muscles that hold up his chest cavity and organs just began to deteriorate. He was euthanized, loved until the day he died.

If you're looking for a pasture ornament or pet horse, he'd be fine and probably is a big sweetie. For riding, even light riding if you're a big woman, I'd pass.

 

[Hound]

Here we go with the exceptional anecdotes again

He looks like a good old boy BUT not what you need. Sadly an old horse is a liability, and before buying one it is important to consider what you would do when it was no longer 'useful'. Most people can't afford to keep retired horses as well as something they can ride, so it's either necessary to sell (well probably give away if you're lucky) the old one, or quit having your own riding horse. Obviously the older a horse is, the more likely this is to fall on your shoulders and the sooner it will happen.

 

[WIChookchick]

^^^^^What they ALL said^^^^^

He is a cutey, but it looked a bit over at the knee and you can't do a sway back at nearly 300 pounds, on a 24 yr old horse. THey have the chance having a life ending something such as colic, or something that they just can't bounce back from quicker than a slightly younger horse.
AND there is arthritis to deal with, keeping weight on, possible cushings.... you name it.

Carol

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Oh yes, just to clarify, I did not mean he was unhandsome, just that the photos make him LOOK rather unattractive

Honestly I like the horse, and if he were younger and less saggy I would say he's a real good prospect.

Would not want to put 275 lbs plus saddle on that back, though, as it is. I will bet you ANYthing it will not hold up, maybe not even for a day before the horse gets real sore. Seen it happen a lot.

Pat

 

[welsummerchicks]

You're quite right. I forgot the rider's weight. That's going to be close to 300 lbs with the saddle and tack. Normally, I hope a light rider is on the older horse, unless it's a draft cross.

As for the 'here we go with the exceptional anecdote', you're emphasizing one part of the post and ignoring the other. I present both sides because both sides exist. Generally, if one only says the older horse represents a risk, 20 people get on and say bull! My horse is old enough for the Golden Discount and still fox hunting, or whatever.

They are NOT meant to be ironclad proof this horse will be voting for 3 more presidents. It's to say it DOES occasionally happen and note I said OCCASIONALLY I find a low mileage oldster. As I ALSO said - no one can say how long a 24 year old horse will be rideable, and that was the FIRST thing I said.

The gal who dotes on the old riding school horse...she may have him a couple more years. It's not like this is going to go on ad infinitum.

Is an older horse really ALWAYS a liability? No, I also disagree with that, it's too much of a generalization. For some people an old horse will be just what they need. And not everyone minds being a horse's last home, even if it's just for a few years.

That IS, however, the reality of the old horse. Some horses are staying productive for more years - better worming, vaccinations, more pet owners. It does happen. ALways? Nuh uh. No one has a crystal ball.