Why do people think a retired horse looks after itself??

newforest

newforest

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Mar 15, 2008
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Just a random musing but if you look into a retirement livery it can in some cases be more than your day to day livery.
I guess I did used to wonder about that because in theory the horse isn't "doing anything in the field" but behind the scenes there is a lot of work going on.
A livery isn't just putting them in a field.

I don't want to state the obvious but having a horse is a lot of work and a commitment. They are a lot of work and commitment whether you ride them or not. They don't suddenly cost less because you retire them, your costs maybe the same or even increase as a result.

The cob is semi retired, and shares a field with a retired pony. We are in individual paddocks which initially I hold my hands up and confess I didn't really see the point of this. I didn't like this idea as they are not benefiting from the company of another. However horses adapt better than me it seems and when we took down the centre fence to move paddocks they said a quick hello and just swapped sides for a nosey next door!! They can groom over the fence and they snooze side by side asking the fence.

Its become apparent that they have totally incompatible needs. But the other big reason why being in individual paddocks works better is actually for me. The human that comes with the pony doesn't want to do any of the work. Since the split they are discovering how much work is involved in looking after a pony living in a field, and I get time to spend with mine again!!

I know years ago the old school way was to chuck an old horse out in the field to live out it's days. It's possibly why 20 was considered old, either because we didn't have the nutrition or vet care to support them or people didn't want to spend the money on what was described as a "field ornament"


Over to you.
 
Re the "old school" way I remember many old horses still being brought in at night in the winter if that was the life they were used to, daily checks were done and feed and hay given as needed, feet were seen to etc. This was around 45 years ago, decide for yourself if that was long enough ago to be old school! Also fields, at least where I was, tended to be a lot bigger with better grass and horses in small compatible herds. If a horse wasn't going to be cared for the hunt came.

I think the reason people tend to turn an oldie out with insufficient care is less to do with not knowing what to do and more to do with can't be bothered since he has no use to them anymore. However they don't have the honesty to admit that or the nerve to have him pts. No, they'll drag him in for the odd photo of old retired dobbin who means the world to them and they're keeping even though he's just a pet, then throw him back in the field and forget about him while they post pics all over social media. Then one day something goes wrong - maybe due to lack of care, maybe not - and it's all tears and how will I cope, ie more me me me on social media, but at least the poor lad is no longer cold, hungry, and hurting. Yes I do get very bitter and cynical about this!

Try not to get caught up in it @newforest ,you need time to spend with yours and you'd feel dreadful if you cut the time you spent with her to care for another and then something happened to her. Also from experience if you did start doing things for theis horse then if something happened it would be your fault, because in my experience people like that will blame anyone except themselves.

Oh heck do I sound bitter on this! I've just seen it too many times. Sorry.
 
carthorse said:
Re the "old school" way I remember many old horses still being brought in at night in the winter if that was the life they were used to, daily checks were done and feed and hay given as needed, feet were seen to etc. This was around 45 years ago, decide for yourself if that was long enough ago to be old school! Also fields, at least where I was, tended to be a lot bigger with better grass and horses in small compatible herds. If a horse wasn't going to be cared for the hunt came.

I think the reason people tend to turn an oldie out with insufficient care is less to do with not knowing what to do and more to do with can't be bothered since he has no use to them anymore. However they don't have the honesty to admit that or the nerve to have him pts. No, they'll drag him in for the odd photo of old retired dobbin who means the world to them and they're keeping even though he's just a pet, then throw him back in the field and forget about him while they post pics all over social media. Then one day something goes wrong - maybe due to lack of care, maybe not - and it's all tears and how will I cope, ie more me me me on social media, but at least the poor lad is no longer cold, hungry, and hurting. Yes I do get very bitter and cynical about this!
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This with knobs on ^^^^^^^^^^
 
Older horses or retired horses have nearly always cost me more to keep. Folk would have kittens lol if they knew how much my mash and bedding bill is for Storm! But I love her and she's a valuable member of our tiny gang and she's happy, has lots of life in her and is important to us. She is priority - not other things so I don't ever resent spending on her. Her teeth cost more because they are picked and flushed every three months, her supplements cost quite a bit but do work and her mashes and special haylege cost a bit more but that's a commitment I'm happy with and so long as she's happy we're good on that.
Zi isn't cheap either, though he's much younger, but he does need a low dose of Danilon and supplements.
Fuzzy isn't a spring chicken but she's not cheap either lol, (and not just the injuries!) she needs her Devil Claw and her teeth checking and recently diagnosed with Cushings so needs her pergolide tablets. And it goes without saying the all need worming, feet and teeth and vaccinations. But that's fine, I knew what I was getting into taking an oldie.
Its sad and wrong when folk don't do right by them as they age. People have weird views about it, like because they have freedom 24/7 and don't do any "work" that its okay to not bother supplementing their feed or making sure they have the right vitamins in their diet etc. They still need what they need and some people just ignore this fact.
 
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carthorse said:
I think the reason people tend to turn an oldie out with insufficient care is less to do with not knowing what to do and more to do with can't be bothered since he has no use to them anymore. However they don't have the honesty to admit that or the nerve to have him pts. No, they'll drag him in for the odd photo of old retired dobbin who means the world to them and they're keeping even though he's just a pet, then throw him back in the field and forget about him while they post pics all over social media. Then one day something goes wrong - maybe due to lack of care, maybe not - and it's all tears and how will I cope, ie more me me me on social media, but at least the poor lad is no longer cold, hungry, and hurting. Yes I do get very bitter and cynical about this!
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I fully with you on this. Seen it numerous times.

My old boy definitely cost me more as he aged. But considering all he gave to me in his younger years. I owed it to him to look after him in his old age. There was no way I could let him go anywhere or palm him off to someone else.
 
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I know on here we are all in different with our management set ups. So some with land, some livery and some rent the whole field.
I don't know if there are less opportunities to find a land owner to rent a field from. As I have been on a livery yard longer than I haven't now.
A retired horse on a livery is going to cost you more than simply finding them a field.
 
But if they aren't capable of living comfortably in a field then you either find the money to keep them on a yard where they can stable overnight or you pts. If the money is there to keep a ridden horse properly then it's there for an oldie - or it should be.
 
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When Jack was aging and retired (and I was still on livery) I did look at retirement livery options at other yards, mainly because I had this mental image of him living out his days in a big field of lush grass with a herd of friends, rather than limited winter turnout and having to be stabled overnight - not great for his arthritis or breathing issues.

I did find some places that sounded nice, where they allegedly rugged, did feet, and all the routine dentist, farrier etc stuff. It was more expensive than his current livery though and the yards were too far away for me to visit frequently so I decided against it.

Raf is retired. I hope I'm not just neglecting him. You've made me think now. He still has the same routine, feed (only less of it), dentist, EP etc. But I don't really do much with him. I do a bit of in hand obstacle work and occasionally wash his tail and try to wash the poo stains off him but that's about it.
 
Every horse is different. I was a firm believer in getting my boy out and about. We did do funrides, no competitions, so it was just happy hacking but we varied the hacks. When I retired him he still wanted to go out. I had a 20 acre field for him to graze but he still wanted to come out the field and go for inhand walks. He was definately grumpy on weeks he didn't go out. So whilst retirement livery sounds great some horses would not be happy.
 
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Bodshi said:
When Jack was aging and retired (and I was still on livery) I did look at retirement livery options at other yards, mainly because I had this mental image of him living out his days in a big field of lush grass with a herd of friends, rather than limited winter turnout and having to be stabled overnight - not great for his arthritis or breathing issues.

I did find some places that sounded nice, where they allegedly rugged, did feet, and all the routine dentist, farrier etc stuff. It was more expensive than his current livery though and the yards were too far away for me to visit frequently so I decided against it.

Raf is retired. I hope I'm not just neglecting him. You've made me think now. He still has the same routine, feed (only less of it), dentist, EP etc. But I don't really do much with him. I do a bit of in hand obstacle work and occasionally wash his tail and try to wash the poo stains off him but that's about it.
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Lol that's not neglect!
I'm sure he's happy, he's eye candy - that's his purpose in life now lol. I don't do anything with Storm but she's as happy as Larry and I know this when I hear the contented gentle snorts of an evening.
 
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Its true they are all different.
What works for one doesn't for another in old age / retirement.
I have a feeling when the time comes for Fuzzy to hang up her saddle (not that she does much now lol) she will be fine pottering about with Zi in the back fields coming and going as she pleases without a care in the world. We have an in and out setup for those two anyway so not a lot would change. That doesn't work for Storm as she's got special needs - she has an injury that put paid to her ridden days. We work around it and she has special smaller paddocks rotated in the front fields that are only for her use. And during the day and good weather. Rest of the time she's loose on the yard with the others for company over the gate. She's never really been out overnight in her life so being stabled in the huge byre isn't a hardship for her. She has her mashes and special short chopped haylege and is content. I think she would be mightily puzzled if I offered her overnight turnout now after 21 years of living with me 🤭
If I couldn't provide that set up for her or for whatever reason didn't want to then I'd have to do the decent thing and call time on it. I feel sometimes people just aren't brave enough to do the right thing. Edited to add: it is also different for different people this horse keeping - I mean, what people want out of their time with horses. I love being around them and keeping them and doing the chores like mucking out etc. I would be lost without it all. I've built a whole life around them since I was in my early thirties so that's my horsey journey. Not everyone has the same one.
 
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My lot (all five are 30+ years old). It is very hard work.I feel like a restaurant taking different orders. No one eats the same thing.

One has cancer drugs, one has boswellia sachets, three have carrots and two don't, you name it, there is every combination here.

One good thing - they all live out. They can have rugs when the weather is coarse but they live out unless it is a day/night of hell then of course they come inside. They can't eat hat (no teeth, no interest). They can eat soaked fibre block or hay replacer.

One slight blip and they deteriorate instantly. Just had one, so know this.

Most folk wouldn't bother. I do but it is my choice and bank account and time. I feel sick at the thought of them not being here so it really is a case of whatever it takes, until they give up. The last major drama (dying over the wrong side of the fence, with leg stuck, been there for hours), I tried everything to get her up. The light in her eyes had gone. She got up (the bucket of breakfast did it), she's still with us. It was a big drama with painkillers, colic-watch and antibiotics.
 
Bodshi said:
When Jack was aging and retired (and I was still on livery) I did look at retirement livery options at other yards, mainly because I had this mental image of him living out his days in a big field of lush grass with a herd of friends, rather than limited winter turnout and having to be stabled overnight - not great for his arthritis or breathing issues.

I did find some places that sounded nice, where they allegedly rugged, did feet, and all the routine dentist, farrier etc stuff. It was more expensive than his current livery though and the yards were too far away for me to visit frequently so I decided against it.

Raf is retired. I hope I'm not just neglecting him. You've made me think now. He still has the same routine, feed (only less of it), dentist, EP etc. But I don't really do much with him. I do a bit of in hand obstacle work and occasionally wash his tail and try to wash the poo stains off him but that's about it.
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That is a horse who is being cared for.
 
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chunky monkey said:
Every horse is different. I was a firm believer in getting my boy out and about. We did do funrides, no competitions, so it was just happy hacking but we varied the hacks. When I retired him he still wanted to go out. I had a 20 acre field for him to graze but he still wanted to come out the field and go for inhand walks. He was definately grumpy on weeks he didn't go out. So whilst retirement livery sounds great some horses would not be happy.
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Mine would hate to be simply left in the field. She likes to get out and about, so I ride or lead. Or based on yesterday, lead and lose her for a few minutes while she goes off on a jolly.
 
Frances144 said:
My lot (all five are 30+ years old). It is very hard work.I feel like a restaurant taking different orders. No one eats the same thing.

One has cancer drugs, one has boswellia sachets, three have carrots and two don't, you name it, there is every combination here.

One good thing - they all live out. They can have rugs when the weather is coarse but they live out unless it is a day/night of hell then of course they come inside. They can't eat hat (no teeth, no interest). They can eat soaked fibre block or hay replacer.

One slight blip and they deteriorate instantly. Just had one, so know this.

Most folk wouldn't bother. I do but it is my choice and bank account and time. I feel sick at the thought of them not being here so it really is a case of whatever it takes, until they give up. The last major drama (dying over the wrong side of the fence, with leg stuck, been there for hours), I tried everything to get her up. The light in her eyes had gone. She got up (the bucket of breakfast did it), she's still with us. It was a big drama with painkillers, colic-watch and antibiotics.
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What's the soaked fibre block?
Mine can eat hay, but it needs to be soaked because she doesn't need the sugar. So i often look into alternatives for this.
 
Soaked fibre block is wonderful stuff..... (never feed dry as it gave Storm colic).

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They do many varieties. The Ad Lib is a favourite.
 
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Very expensive retired dobbin for 11+ years now. I kept him out 24/7 for a bit with shelter on a field I rented, land was sold. I now keep him out 24/7 in summer and stabled overnight in winter at a DIY yard. I would love to find somewhere he could be out 24/7 year round with shelter, other retired horses (so he was with his friends all the time) and good ground but I live in London and I want to be near him. Round here a lot of retired horses go off to places like surrey hills/ wales where there is more land and cheaper so the owner can afford another horse or whatever else life has thrown at them (kids, ill health etc). I guess some places are great and some are not so good. So long as their welfare needs are being met then it's up to the owner. All the people I know who have retired horses to places further afield are lovely and the horses are still very much part of their lives. One drives to Wales every weekend to see hers. I always assumed the ones who were not great owners once the horse retired, were not great attentive owners when the horse was in work, more interested in riding than the wellbeing.
 
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I think finding places were a horse can be or 24 /7 is becoming harder to find isn't it. I know there are landowners that rent a field out, but even around here things get built on or sold and the horses have to move.

We need more Ale photos. He's such a dude.
 
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