Submitted by Eric Smith - Chexter, 25 year old Quarter Horse gelding. AQHA high point winner at 1st and 2nd level. Donated to my barn for $1. Started showing at 16 and evented until he was 24 (his age in photo).
We are celebrating the special horses in our lives that are ages 20 & up all month long through October. We recently asked our social media followers to share photos of their favorite senior horses, and were overwhelmed by the response we got! Check out some of these wonderful older horses here, and check back all month for stories and galleries highlighting Golden Oldies.
Flashpoint, 23 years old. My daughter’s trainers heart horse. He was her eventing partner for years and has since taught countless kids to ride. Huge personality and ❤️ – Jaime E.26 yr old friesian Meindert. If you look up the perfect horse his picture would be there! Just a Saint of a horse showing many riders how magical a friesian is❤️ – Tiffany H.In Oct 1996 my husband and I entered a raffle at the UVM Morgan horse farm. We knew very little about horses other than we both love them. And although UVM Evenchance (Chance) and I never competed about training level, to this day dressage is my passion. And now 26 and one half years old, he is going strong. He has changed my world in ways I never would have imagined and opened my life to a world of the best friends and unthinkable opportunities. Dressage has been his foundation and no he never made his mark on the sport, he has touched many lives. I am thankful to the art of dressage as a foundation to Optimal Horsemanship and attention to detail to keep my senior in the best shape possible. – Marcia B.Nash, he’s a 29yr old dutch gelding, retired FEI dressage horse and official king of the farm 😊 – Nicole Z.Prada. 27 year old Hanoverian mare. I bought her when I was 19, sold her to fund another horse as a young professional at 26 , found out I was 3 months pregnant a week after I sold her . I got her back in December of 2021. The picture is of my now 10 year old daughter that I was pregnant with when I sold Prada riding her this summer. – Meghan C.Coco, a 27 yr. old Swedish mare, still in full work 5 days a week including lessons and clinics. Often called “The Queen”, she has to know everything that is going on at the farm. – Fran C.This is Wheatley, show name Gifted by Nature. He is a 34 year old Canadian Sporthorse who I’ve owned for 30 years! We competed through Grand Prix together and were individual Silver Medalists at the 1997 NAYRC. My once in a lifetime horse💗 Today he is living his best life with 3 ponies that were rescued from a Mississippi kill pen. – Orrie D.Ernie (27, Morgan/QH cross and former therapeutic riding horse), Isaac (28, TB, my former eventer & dressage mount) – best of friends, enjoying their retirement days together. ❤️ – Lori L.McVille, 30 year old OTTB. Still competing at first level and jumping up to about 2’6″. We’ve been together for almost 25 years – evented to training level, jumpers to 3’9″. Five years ago he sustained an injury in the pasture that took 9 months and an MRI to finally diagnose, then a screw in his ankle and months of rehab. Most horses would have been done at that point, but he told me he wasn’t ready to retire. Since then we have focused more on dressage. He did his first second level test at 28 years old! – Nancy A.My very best friend – Snuffel is a 23y old Knabstrupper, he’s been with me for almost 19 years. Almost blind and just got diagnosed with Cushing, but I take really really good care of him 😍 – Griet T.Faraday, 22 year old Oldenburg gelding who I’ve gone up the levels with, and who has helped three riders earn their bronze medals. His new job is helping me rehab from cancer treatment – and he’s still going as strong as ever. Love this boy. – Kathy R.John Henry. “Hank”. Appy Belgian cross 25 yo. I’ve had him for 15 years. – Sarah H.Truly A Lucky Lad is a Quarter Horse that lives up to his name. He is pictured showing 1st level at his final recognized show. He sauntered into retirement at 21 years old after this class. Bittersweet for sure! – Jennifer P.Inner Circle aka Lutz. He was 28 years old; an Oldenburg. He was my partner for almost 25 years. He passed away a month ago and my heart still hurts. We competed in the dressage and hunter/jumper world as he was an all around once in a lifetime horse. After officially retiring 4 years ago he enjoyed several years of packing my 3 year old daughter around and he stayed around long enough to meet my second daughter. They say a horse should have a chance to have one girl love them during their lifetime and Lutz had 3 girls that loved him. – Jacqui A.My Little Darling-30 and going strong. Has moved on from my daughter, who got her first Bronze score on her on her first try at this show, to likely her last little girl before we retire her. The loveliest pony and we are ever grateful to have her.💗 – Carolyn Y.Ginger my 21 year old pony. I got her as a weanling when I was 9 for $200. She has a home for life with me 😊 – Morgan B. I did games and pony club with her as a child, and then semi retired her for several years while I was in school. April of 2021 we started playing with dressage for the first time ever just for fun, and we’re now successfully showing training and first level. Full of heart and life 💕 – Morgan B.This is Alakazam/Fat Albert or Al. He’s a 23yr old trakehner out of The Great Abdullah. He’s an absolute schoolmaster and he’ll do just about anything to please. He’s FULL of life and has the best bug eyes. He’s definitely a favorite draw in the show circuit IEA. I don’t know where I’d be without him. He’s enhanced mine and so many others riding careers🤍🤍 – Emily K. USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mounted23 year old Gus, a Hanoverian Warmblood I rescued captured my ♥️ and taught me to fly! This gentleman does everything he’s asked from dressage to going over fences or doing trail obstacles or a peaceful stroll through nature. My ride or die partner! – Mari Beth B.Oreo aka “cookie” 24 and still going strong. My heart horse who has brought me back more than once. I owe him everything! I have trusted him for 13 plus years and when he went blind in one eye-Covid year and the year we qualified AEC he still trusted me enough to go out and try ❤️I can never repay him enough for all He has given me but I feel lucky to still have him and we are hoping to have his last big show at Pony Cup this July 😄 – Michelle R.My boy Keiren. He’s 21 this year, and is retired. At 15 he had surgery on both stifles. He recovered and progressed to compete successfully at Intermediare 1! – Vivian D.27 year old Getsmart. He had an eventing career prior to taking up dressage. Hopefully next year he will become a member in the Century Club – we have big plans for him! – Deanna H.My beautiful 20yr old Warmblood Willoux, now retired due to navicular, living out her days being spoiled after a successful jumper career. She still gets ridden everyone once in awhile but mostly out in pasture enjoying her life with her herd. We love her so much. – Rebecca C.Willowick Neon Lites, 25yo this year. I’ve owned him most of his life at this point. I let him go with his leaser (of 7 years!) last fall (11/16/2022)to retire in what should’ve been paradise in Florida.. two months to the day later (1/16/2022) I had him on a trailer back home with a body score of 1 and a small chance to survive the ride home. He is now thriving back where he belongs and where he will never leave again 💙 stay true to your animals! And never back down about making people send you photos if they have your horse on lease! It could save their life 💙 25 years old was never too late for this beautiful Morgan to bounce back and live a full life! – Deanna L.Stanley, a 20 Haflinger who doesn’t love dressage but does it anyway because his mom wants to. ❤️ – Sally C.Our sweet boy Breeze. A 23 year old Paint and former camp horse who is learning dressage and has his first schooling show in October. He has helped my daughter get her confidence back after some nasty spills on another horse. – Amy M.20 years old, 14.1 hands, and showing I-2 getting ready for the GP! – MAddie B. Tendre, 30 year old Mecklenburg stallion owned by Brenda Bocina Curnin— he taught us all so much! Picture is from his 30th birthday celebration. – Paige Z.Kilfenora Brighanna Day, 24 year old Connemara Pony. I showed her through 1st level, before semi retiring her a few years ago. She is my go to girl for beginners, grand kids, and anyone that needs a confidence builder! I had many offers for her, but she will never leave me. She will always be my ❤ pony! – Karen S.Our wonderful Arabian, showing Training level at age 30, at a Dressage Schooling Show. – Anne T.This is Sly. He is 31 years old. We have been together 22 years. Short story: He helped me to heal and saved my life from Anorexia. He went on to help others heal from their trauma(s) and health issues as well. He truly is a one of a kind being. Photo credit to Jessica sanders. – Lauren D.Cookie, a 21 year old Morgan mare, that I have owned since she was 5, showed at usdf region 4 regionals this year. She still gives it her all! – Lauren H.Orion is supposed to be 16, but dentist suggested based on his teeth he is 23+ years old – in this photo we were finishing a second level test! – Linzy C.My first licensed dressage show on an old pro, age 24 Friesian/Arabian, trained to Grand Prix. – Laura G.My 22 year old Morgan gelding has shown absolutely no indication of slowing down 🙌 here we are showing this summer at 4th level! We even won 4th level high point 🤩 – Jessica L.– Jessica L.Sidney – lovable and goofy trakehner x TB gelding that turned 22 a couple weeks ago. He’s a former eventer turned low level dressage horse as his step down career before retirement. He’s the best first horse I could ever have asked for and so much fun to be around in the barn. His personality will brighten up any rainy day ❤️ 📸: Heart Horse Photography – Caitlin S.This is Luther, recently passed Belgian mule who was approx 27 when he passed. Very quirky boy who would give anything for his person! He was at a therapeutic facility for a while helping people until he retired with my family to get back all the love and attention he so gracefully gave. – Abi H.Puzzle, Shire / TB just recently passed at 24. Competed to PSG before retirement 6 years ago. 🖤 – Linda B.This is Toby, my 21 year old OTTB (JC name Royal Beau). We stick to the schooling shows, but he has shown first level this year. It has been a great comeback after colic surgery in the spring of 2021. PC: Caitlin Mack – Jenn E.Lakota “Vail Impressed”, my registered Quarterhorse. She is pictured here ushering me through my very first recognized dressage show at lamplight equestrian center, at the age of 23. She also holds my highest percentage (also achieved at this show) of 67% on our T-3 test. We continued to show through her 25th year. She passed on surrounded by our family in 2020 at the age of 29. – Loran B.Ringlet – 23 yr old Welsh pony. We competed at USDF Finals last year and placed 6th in the First Level AA!! We’ve moved up to 3rd level this year, learning the flying changes at age 23! – Michelle A.Esmaltaldo IV competing here at Dressage at Devon at 21yrs old! 15h PRE that has taken me to Grand Prix. Still spicy and showing everyone what a true hot 🔥 horse looks like at 22yrs old this year! ❤️ – Melissa C.This is Providence, better known as Spree. My fabulous partner for over 2 decades now, and the very.best.horse.ever 🐴 – Susan L.
