At What Age Should a Horse Stop Jumping?
I am looking at adopting a horse from an adoption program. He’s 13 and has no injuries – he was simply donated because his owner wants a quieter life for him. He’s vet healthy and was previously shown in dressage. Can a 13 y/o horse still jump? What is a good age for horses to stop jumping?
My old horse evented into his twenties. There is no specific age where a horse needs to stop jumping. He needs to be evaluated based on his specific condition, soundness, and strength.
At whatever age they start showing signs of unsoundness. . . for some horses that could be 10 or younger depending on illnesses, for other horses that could be 20+ depending on how well they’re cared for/how much they’re jumped.
A friend of mine at the barn jumps an 18 year old.
yeah he can still jump… but i would stop jumping him at 16 1/2 or so. 18 at the latest!
Really whenever the horse starts to show lameness or that it is hurting them. I know at my barn, some of the older schooling horses are 20 or so, and they are still doing small cross rails. Granted, they are small, but they are still jumping, if he enjoys doing it, and he’s sound and what not, I’m sure there is not a problem. (:
my teachers horse is 21 and competed in a 4ft jumper show this year, i say as long as the horse is healthy and stays healthy there is no reason why you should stop jumping, hell i am just teaching my 15 year old jumping! just be safe alway were support boots, make sure you get a vet check up befor you start and every year or every other year so that you know that he is not hurting him self! i would do all this stuff with any jumper i have dont feel its because he is 13 i dont let age become an issue, as long as he moves as much as possible your good, that is the best thing for joints, i still ride my 26 year old horse, because its the best thing for her joints movment is the best med!!!!!
My schoolhorse I ride (my actual horse isn’t ready to start jumping yet) is 19 years old and he’s jumped manyyy times. he doesn’t show a single sign of lameness or anything; in fact he lives to jump, I think. he throws his old heart over each jump haha
Your horse should be fine, just as long as you pay attention to him and notice when he starts getting ‘weary’ of jumping and shows signs of pain or lameness. Good luck with your new horse- I jsut adopted my first horse a month ago from a rescue place, and she’s turned out wonderful!
at 13 years, i’d say he has a good 4 years of 4ft + and a good 8 years of 3ft – . how high do you jump and are planning to jump?
Oh you still have many years of jumping for him as long as he doesn’t become unsound. I still jump a almost-18 year old mare. Just make sure you get a vet check first and thank you so much for considering adoption!!
Have you heard of Beezie Madden? She is a wonderful show jumper and recently retired her amazing horse Judgement who was 18 years old i believe. It is different with every horse, i stopped jumping my mare because she has arthritis in her front fetlocks and she is 15-18yrs old.
i think 13 will be fine, just watch out for any weaknesses and swelling and maybe get a vet to check him out.