Calling all readers:
Send me your stories about the oldest, sound, show horse you know.
And the oldest person you know still showing.
Pictures would be appreciated.
I want to showcase some of the good things in the show ring and not give all the press to the BNT trainers, who seem to believe any press is good press.
Send stories and photos to tjamouse@yahoo.com
Thank you,
T Jean Maus
29 comments:
What about dogs and dog owners?
This is a great little video clip:
http://debbiedavidson09.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/when-im-90-years-old/
Mary
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/archives/2006/0608/113.shtml
NZ event horse Glengarrick, who was 20 when he finished 7th at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. He's now packing his owner's cousin around the lower levels.
And Mark Todd!! He came out of retirement for Beijing, at 52.
Eer, woops ... didn't read the last line.
Time for me to get some sleep, it seems :D
We have a very old Quarter Horse gelding at the barn. Snip Sans or is it Sans Snip? Anyway, he still takes our little walk trotters and acadamy kids around at the open shows here and there. I think he's 31 this year ;).
Good idea, TJM! I am going to have to wrack my brain on this one (and yes, I accidently typed "rack") as the only show horses I know of in AZ that are old are ASBs that are in really poor condition. I'll find something, though!
well, technically it is not "showing", but I ride a 20yo (who still acts 8) in endurance...did 600 miles this year so far and this weekend we are doing a 3-day ride...I don't know WHEN he'll retire as he just won't quit...love that horse :) He's my profile pic
I know somebody who did her and her horse's first dressage show early this spring (Yes, I said first).
They're both the same age: 20.
(He's not sound enough to jump any more, so why not do dressage? Makes sense to me!)
I did a 250km endurance race for charity on a twenty six year old Arab x Welsh Cob mare in the summer, and she kept up with my friend's 7 year old thoroughbred! I don't know if it counts as competing really, there were prizes for the winners but it wasn't showing as such. But in the Pony Club where I am it's common for ponies to still be competed well into their thirties, usually in gymkhanas.
And Ian Millar, the Canadian showjumper competed in the Beijing Olympics aged 61, and hopes to compete at the 2012 Olympics too apparently!
Thought this might make a nice [relevant] followup to your previous post. This family took Shelbyville head on several years ago with their naturally gaited stud, "Champagne Watchout": Walking On Ranch
We have a former "big lick" horse who had a massive meltdown here (so we learned about the whole TWH debacle the hard way). We've worked our way through them and although he still gets in a tizzy sometimes, his many issues have all but disappeared to reveal an awesome (and wonderfully eccentric) personality.
June Holeman was 62 or 63 when she competed at the NFR in the barrel racing a couple years ago. She was still running barrels some this last summer too.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u287/MorbidRagdoll444/Picture356.jpg?t=1259265868
That's Missy, a 32yo Quarter Horse owned by my trainer. We don't know much about her past except that she was trained for WP. The photo was taken at an open show last year during the little girl's first showmanship class. Missy is still sound, healthy, and still being ridden by the girl in the picture. :)
My old barn owner is a right bitch, and none of her horses are really taken care of in a proper way, but I will give her the credit she deserves- her 29 yr old ex competitive cutting mare is still sound, still happy and still mostly fat. She is one of the last living daughters of Doc Bar I think. Or someother big name.
Oldest rider is my favorite Miss Violet and he's pushing her mid 80's and still whopps ass on all the yong team penners.
Hey, Endurance is an official FEI event, so it counts!
And Missy looks great!
Ruthie
We have a pony that was retired last year. He packed around little ones for years. And taught countless kids to ride. He went on trail rides, walk trotted and cantered until the day he was retired. He turned 37 a couple months ago. His name is Amigo.
I rode a 29 year old QH gelding on a 5-hour trail ride. He kept up with the other horses fine, but had to take a "breather" about 1/2 way up a long hill. His name was Hoppy. He died of colic when he was 31.
Interesting Horse Records:
The tallest horse on record was a Shire named Samson. He was 21.2 hands (7 feet, 2 inches) tall. He was born in 1846 in Toddington Mills, England.
The oldest horse on record is "Old Billy," an English barge horse. He was 62 years old when he died, living from 1760 to 1822.
The record for the highest jump made by a horse is held by a horse named Huaso who jumped 8 feet, 1 and 1/4 inches on February 5th, 1949 in Vina del Mar, Chile. He was ridden by Captain Alberto Larraguibel.
The record for the longest jump over water is held by a horse named Something who jumped 27 feet, 6 and 3/4 inches on April 25, 1975 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was ridden by Andre Ferreira.
My first horse Lady Tiazz who is now 27 still gets out there and teaches some cloverbuds how to show.
I know this isn't showing but Duane Fankhouser (sp?) was still riding young horses, 3 & 4 y/o's at the age of 84. He rode mostly saddlebreds, NSH and Arabs. He also drove them in harness. That was quite a while ago. I doubt he's still around, but if he is, he's probably still doing something horse related.
My uncle is in his mid 70's and he has ridden his entire life, as did my grand father and his brothers. He has never used a bit on his horses, mistreated any animal, nor has he been afraid to confront someone who was being abusive. (He actually roped some foreman and dragged him across the ground for being abusive to his animal.) He has trouble riding these days but has always trained his horses in teams to drive a small wagon. His taught me that they need to do more than one thing to keep them from being bored. My uncle retired his 27 year old grey and placed him with a gentleman (in his 80's) who wanted to find a "safe" horse he could ride a couple of times a week as a respite from his wheelchair. My uncle was so very sad to part with one of his best partners but found him a perfect match. They are all enjoying an easy life which is much deserved.
Our 27 yr. old OTTB just retired from playing polo this past summer.
Also, we have a 26+ yr. old Appy that was winning first, second and Division Championship ribbons all summer in Eventing.
I won my first trophy (for jr. equitation) on 31 year old pony named Howdy. Later on that day he got an a special ribbon for being the oldest guy there...and I think the looks on the snotty riders' faces when that happened were worth more to me than the trophy.
My nine year old son will be showing my old appy show horse this year. Sugar is 25, from time to time acts like a six year old (as per my vets) and 2 years ago had a filly. And she really is a lawn ornament: she 'winters' on my back lawn.
Kind of a "back in the home town" local story here, but I know a pretty little bay gelding named Casper who has been "21 for the last ten years" (very definitely over 30 years old, I've been told) that is still very active. He's used for show jumping (small rails) in the summer months, and for helping sick kids in therapeutic riding in the fall, winter and spring. Very attentive to his rider, and has a stellar work ethic. No idea what breed he is, or what his exact age number is, but he's a happy little ray of sunshine in a lot of sick kids lives and really inspiring to see. Just to share. =)
I assume you don't need national champions? My old mare lived to be 30, and showed her last show at 23 years of age-- she won in western pleasure. Yes, she was old style, but there is just something inviting in watching a mare with her ears pricked and interested, her movement relaxed but clean, and her slow jog and lope naturally laid back, riding with almost no contact on the bit because she doesn't NEED any. She was charming even at that age, and people loved her. I still miss that old mare.
What happened to this blog? Is it ever going to be updated again? I just found it and after reading the part at the bottom about people coming after you I'm worried!
Back in 2006 I learned to play arena polo--the youngest schoolie was 26. One of the ones still competing in the arena, as well as being in the school, was 31 if he was a day and only given to the strongest, fittest rider.
Okay, in every single video, every one was in bad posture including your daughter. Her heels weren't down, her knees weren't bent and the girth was way too tight. Also, horses HATE being pulled by a long lead rope. Maybe the bridle was too tight or the bit was too small, cause that can cause a cut and the horse may act on bad temper cause it's in pain. Your daughter was holding the reigns too loose, which would be telling the horse that they're in charge and can do anything, but horses look for leaders so it's up tot he rider to be the leader. I know this because I've been riding since late preschool. Horses don't mind being in shows, they enjoy it, but it's how you practice can determine the score. Or maybe that horse was in a bad mood because the saddle pad wasn't hooked up the the saddle-it will cause it to rub against the horses' back and irritate the skin- and it was uncomfortable.
"every one was in bad posture including your daughter. Her heels weren't down, her knees weren't bent and the girth was way too tight. Also, horses HATE being pulled by a long lead rope".
I'm assuming that you asked the horse if he "HATED being pulled by a long lead rope"....no doubt the horse gave you a dissertation on lead rope lengths...shall we assume that you are the "new" equitation Nazi?
I have really enjoyed your site. Keep up the good work
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