At 15:20:30 on 17.08.11, LaurenAndCaprice wrote:
I jump two of my friends horses for her because she isn't confident with jumping, one is 18 and the other is 24. All I'm wondering is what height I should take them over and heights & widths of spreads? The 18 year old is a 14.3 cob/native cross and my friend has taken him up to 1m10, & Ive jumped him to 90cm. Im perfectly confident with jumping to 1m10 so Im not sure whether I should jump him to that? The 24 year old Ive jumped 4ft about half a year ago so will it be okay for my friend to jump her in a competition with 7 jumps,the highest being a spread 2ft high with a 2 ft width? Please help thanks (: xx

At 21:49:46 on 22.08.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
When a horse is 24 in human years that is roughly 64, and you have to think even though the horse is capable of jumping 4ft is it good for them? With older horses i think they should take it easy, they have had their life jumping, galloping and being energetic and as they mature they tend to sway toward wanting a quiet life of hacks and plenty of carrots like a retiring OAP, for example (human example) someone who is a high jumper when they are in their 20's will probably have no interest in jumping high into the air at 60, they more than likely want to take it easy, fair enough i know a 19year old arab that is the fizziest horse ever but although he loves jumping and is very strong we only jump him over small jumps occasionally as a treat, its not even a monthly thing for him, he mostly chills in the field and goes for nice hacks once a week and he likes his life on the quieter side now. This is just my opinion but it is how i see it :)

At 10:00:53 on 23.08.11, JaymeeLS wrote:
I'd probably have to think long and hard about the 24 year old. But depending on how the cob/native has aged over the years he generally should be fine with what you're asking from him. My girls had a pretty easy life from the age of 9 doing not much more than basically what a donkey would on a beach from 9-16yo. She hasn't been worked into the ground, so as for being 16, she's 16 with the body of a 12/13 year old(okay a fat 12/13yo), which is the prime age for any top level competitor. It all depends on the horse and how it's aged/any health complications/how hard they've been worked all their life. As for quiet hacks with my girl, they're not really do-able(a quiet one anyway) she's fizzy, spooky, unpredictable in new areas or ones she hasn't been in much(understandable) hell we don't even know how she's going to react to a show environment! Uhoh! Haha.

At 07:58:41 on 25.08.11, LaurenAndSamxxLurrve wrote:
Thanks (: Sorry I never got back on with that account I lost the password :L Thanks for youur opinions (: x

At 16:05:27 on 26.08.11, zoeh29 wrote:
Hi I think your horse would be fine I ride a 20yo (Mandy) who raced til she was 13 then was a hire horse for the hunt then went on to become a grade A showjumper so shes been well and truly hammered in her life yet I regularly compete her doing 3-3'3 and never had a problem. They don't always want to retire her old owner tried to retire her and she got really depressed and stopped eating now shes out competing again shes really bright and shiny when she sees jumps she gets really wound up and gallops at every fence you point her at :) I say with the 24yo if they seem happy and willing to jump and they don't seem uncomfortable there shouldn't be a problem my friend regularly competes a 24yo in 2'3 and 2'6 courses. The pic is of me and my horse Mandy :D

At 16:33:56 on 26.08.11, ToriSilverson wrote:
If the horse is happy and willing to jump the height then go for it, i jumped pepsi (29 year old tb mare) last week at camp because my horse pulled a shoe and went lame the day before the last day (competition day). we went clear over a jump cross course at 80cms lol

At 22:50:40 on 27.08.11, nut_lover wrote:
yeah i agree that if the horse will happily do it then go for it! the mare i ride is 21 but since she spent most her life not doing anything she acts more like a 7 year old most the time :P but yeah. if the horse is willing to do it and shows no sign of refusing or not enjoying it then dont hold back! this is a photo of me and the pony i ride about 3 weeks ago.

At 08:48:20 on 10.09.11, LaurenAndSamxxLurrve wrote:
Thanks everyone (: Love seeing your pics! xxx