Retired my horse today

[countrygirl99]

He's 26 and I've owned him for 17 1/2 years. He was originally bought for my son and been my ride since 2014. We've done everything thing with him. He's done Pony Club and Riding Club teams jumping and hunter trials with my son. I've done dressage, TREC and (very) low level jumping with him. I've taken him on holiday to Wales and we've done beach rides. He's cheated the grim reaper a couple of times and had an eye removed 3 years ago The last year has just been gentle walk hacks due to arthritis but he came in lame from the field a couple of months ago and progress is slow. Had a chat with a vet who I knew would talk straight this morning and the decision is made. Now I'm sitting on the sofa having a quiet sob at the end of an era.

I hear you. I've got five oldies, all living their best lives in rude health (also with one who's blind in one eye). Not riding isn't the end of the world, in fact being around them on the ground and just hanging out together is arguably just as good. At 26 he's earned his retirement.

I retired mine at 22 last Sept. He was fit and healthy but as an ex-racer I felt he had done more than enough and I wanted him to have a good few years to enjoy just being a horse.
He is in a Herd of 6 on 20 acres a 5 min drive away from my house. Stables if needed but lives 24/7 otherwise.
I see him twice a day, every day but sm honestly still grieving the never being able to ride him again. Have had so many offers of rides/competing but he was a horse of a lifetime and quite frankly nothing will ever live up to him.

It does make it easier seeing how happy and relaxed he is, I know he is living his best life and I have lots of memories, photos and billions of rosettes to look back on. I am so proud I could give him the retirement he deserves.

It's tough but hopefully you can look at like this ie positively. They owe us nothing.

What a beauty! He’s gorgeous!
A little cry is definitely in order but I hope you enjoy him and he enjoys his new life of leisure for rest of his years.

Thanks everyone. I've known it was coming because of the arthritis but he has done so much better on the hard ground this summer than I was expecting. In a way I feel relieved to have taken the decision and not having it hanging over me anymore. He'll be happy hanging out with his buddies in the field and frisking me for treats

My boy is retired at 22 but due to my injuries. It’s great having him around and I enjoy him as much as when he was ridden. He is living a grand life with the herd and still an utter joy to be around :)

What a beauty. Hope you can concentrate on the good times and he has a bit of time in a nice field.

Wow he’s gorgeous! If you can pick one, what was your favourite outing on him?

Mine was missold me, hes only 14 and I've had him nearly 4 yrs. He can't be ridden as he has a number of physical issues which didn't get better with medication so he's a field ornament, pain free when not ridden. Luckily for him I love the bones of him, he's such a character. Today he's been at the vets and its cost me nearly 1k! I've spent about 10k on him now but he's worth every penny.

I can remember when my last horse who was 24 and I'd owned and loved for 17 yrs when he was pts had to stop jumping 5 yrs before I lost him due to a reoccurring injury. I felt my world was over. It felt like the end of an era so I know how you feel as I lived for my jumping. I did dressage and fun rides but gradually had to stop doing those, then hacking but only being able to hack up to 90 mins a week. Gradually the walls closed in and even that wasn't possible due to lameness. It was a sad day when I had to retire him.

We fall in love with these gorgeous creatures and its so sad when they start slowing down in their old age. I like looking after my retired lad and enjoy seeing him and being at the yard. But I wish I could ride him.

I hope he has a lovely retirement @countrygirl99 , we have a 32 yr old retired pony that we’ve had since she was 6 and all of our others had at least 2 yrs retired before they passed on .