Submitted by PAtti Tobel - Aanother 24 year old gelding!! This was immediately after learning I'd earned my 2nd level rider achievement with him!
We are celebrating the special horses in our lives that are ages 20 & up. 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 through the end of November for stories and galleries highlighting Golden Oldies.
Otto, a Selle Francais, at 3rd level in 2021 at age 25 🦄 – Rachel D.My beautiful Arabian mare is 33 years old 💗 I got her when I was 7 years old! She taught me dressage. – Jessica S.Joey! 27 and is still performing his best!💗💕 – Abby S.The Cycrets Out+. 20 going on 2! Got me through my final year of 4-H, and then took me to sport horse nationals twice 💕 living his best semi-retired life now. – Sarah H.Enlighten — 20+years old and still going strong! Samuel Courtney owner/rider PC Jessica Farren – Heather C.My guy, Aragorn Strikes++//, took me through Prix St Georges to get my silver medal. This after two stem cell surgeries. He is retired now and almost 32 years old. – Stefanie C.My 20 year old Standardbred showing at WEC Ocala in April this year. This was the start of our mission to achieve the Adequan All Breed awards in First Level and we did it 🙌🏻 – Helene G.This is my boy Mr Rocca. TB. I’ve had him since he was 6 and we earned our bronze medal together. He’s 22 this year and still full of life and the biggest goofball on the farm. I adore this guy! – Dina S.Poseidon is 22 and helped me get my Bronze Medal this year. What partners we became over the years. I hope he sticks around for another 22 years. ❤️ – Silke W.C Breeze +++/ at 28 earning his first dressage scores this summer! We started dressage in June on a dare from a friend and he’s enjoyed the new things to do with his time. So much for retirement? – Amy P. Read C Breeze +++/’s story exclusively on YourDressage!My two senior boys…20 & 28 yrs – Peggy N.Kevin Almgren and Florian, 22 year old Westfalen mare – Alanna A.My lovely 28 year old horse competed at 4th level this year and also won a regional championship in a class that we had not shown together in for probably ten years. He was my first serious show horse and has raised numerous kids throughout the years as well. He is a blessing and we love him. – Brianna Y.My big, sweet Lori (show name Comin’ Through) is a 22 year old, 16.3ish hand, TB/Percheron cross. I’ve had her since she was 10 months old. We’ve evented, dressaged, done a few hunter shows, trail ridden, camped and even fox hunted once. Next week, we are taking the ferry to Mackinac Island to trail ride. Last night, she took a hunter rider who wants to try eventing through her first cross country schooling. Lori has been the lead horse for countless young horses over ditches, up and down banks, through water, etc. She has taken many beginners around their first stadium and cross country courses and helped riders who have lost confidence after a fall get back on track. She’s the best pony ever and loved by many, but especially me. 💕 – Sherry G.29 year old Morgan mare. My first foal.❤️ Chicagos Nickelodeon – Nancy J.– Jordan G.My dear PRE, Cartujo, doing our I-1 Century Ride at age 26 this year. He’s been with me over 20 years. ♥️♥️ – Judy S.– Renee S.My 24yo bestie, GV Phar Better Than Most, and I having fun at a schooling show last month doing 3-3… Sometimes it’s nice to leave the baby at home and relax and have fun on the oldie! 😍 – Serah R.Latino helped me earn my silver medal at 22 and my gold medal at 24. He’s now 25, enjoying semi-retirement and taking his owner for her century ride! He’s absolutely a horse of a lifetime 😊 – Tae E.Don Cavallo II “ Donny” 21 training at PSG . Looks like a 12 year old and can act like a 3 year old! I am so lucky to be able to ride this guy! – Edmonton Area Alberta Dressage AssociationMy 27yo Lusitano stallion Orfeo having fun with Rossfechten (dressage with swords because why not). We’ve shown PSG, and while he may be retired from showing that level, we still have fun with the elements for demos and teaching other riders – Emily W.My 26 year old Canadian Sport Horse mare “Ming” – Melanie O.25 years young 😊 We’ve been together 17 years and became World Champions at Pinto this year! – Kathryn F.Botijo M, 22 year old PRE stallion. Earned my gold medal riding him 10 years ago, this year my assistant finished her bronze with him. – Alexis M. USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mounted.Storytime – 28 year old Welsh Cob/TB. Photo taken at 23 in the Intermediare 1 helping me earn scores for my Gold Medal. She is still going strong with her owner Debra Tomajko, showing PSG until this year. Not too far off from her Century Club ride! (Photo by Stacy Lynne Photography) – Carolyn L.– Patricia C.My 26 y/o Morgan (Canequin’s Local Hero) (Equinox Locomotion x Roman Elite) & I. I’m an AA who purchased him coming 4. Together we learned & earned our USDF Bronze & Silver Medals & our Performance Certificate at Intermediate 1 despite my multiple joint surgeries & setbacks. I’m 70 & he is 27 and we still enjoy learning together in clinics & enjoy trail riding. Late in the fall of 2023 we plan to do our Century Ride. – Nancy M.Baron’s actual age is unknown but some suspect he’s as old as 30. He’s a 17.2h Oldenburg who belongs to my trainer. His past is unknown but he’s very talented once you get to know him. – Lindsay G.My 26 year old gelding Spikeweiser competed at Festival of Champions in the Dressage Seat Eq Championships and at Region 2 Regionals. He has taught many people to ride over the past ten years. 🥰 – Patti G.Meet 22 year old Salvation who has come out of field retirement and is now helping me with my rider rehab following serious injury. We’ve progressed from lead rein to Intro A in online dressage. Veteran horses are the best! – Alison K.20 yrs CanWB FEI star ⭐️ now 21 & going strong 💖 – Jayne E.Highover French Krystle GCH, 23 year old Morgan mare competed this year at Region 8 champs in 4th level and PSG. – Angela T.Kebir De La Vallée but known as Cubby around the barn. He is a 24yo Selle Français who was imported from France to do the high level hunters, after some time off he switched to a dressage mount to teach me, his young rider, the ropes of riding an upper level horse. I met him at 21 and we have been together for almost 3 years. After an injury earlier this year we only do low level stuff. He is my heart horse and still thinks he is younger at heart. – Addie H.Though she is well into retirement now, my then 23 yo mare Callie stepped back into the show ring after a long hiatus so that she could be the babysitter for my new young mare. We may have only been sound enough for Intro tests but we rocked those tests like the pro that she is. Callie is my childhood horse who took me through the hunters and jumpers before becoming my mom’s dressage mount when I went away to college. Once I was back, we went back to the hunter ring for a few years, dabbled in western pleasure (which was not our forte) and then ended our show career in the dressage ring. I’ll add a pic of her jumping back in her hay day below. Even though she’s now fully retired at 26, she is still sassy and demands to be treated like the show horse she believes she still is. Just with no riding and more treats. – Caitlin S.23 year old KWPN gelding, Saturnes retired from GP at 22 years old and is enjoying his retirement to the fullest at 25 now 😊 – Laurel K.Diederik, 21 y/o Friesian stallion and Denise Garbe. Dee has taken several riders to their medals, recently Denise to her bronze in April. They continued on and competed successfully at the National Dressage Pony Cup and USDF-GAIG USDF Region 4 championship. – Heidi W.Senior horses can help cross items off your bucket list. From getting first level scores to galloping in the ocean, 22yo G has given me wings again. – Liz H.Sassy , 3rd level Morgan , age 23 – Linda L.Tanq💕. My first horse. Now 26 and loving life as a pampered pet – Maureen K.Double Decker 25yr old ottb.. I adopted Decker from the Thoroughbred retirement foundation when he was 5yrs old. Decker took care of me and all my children. from western leadline with my boys to Para dressage with my daughter. HE IS and will be that once in a lifetime horse for me. – Cheryl R.Westerwald at 25 showing Third Level this summer! – Linzy C.20 year old ottb. Showing fourth level. Bought him at 7 and has been my dance partner and best friend ever since! He pulled me out of the worst time in my life and has been my light ever since!!! ❤️ – Taylor S.Tango, 22y/o KWPN and owner/rider Linda Taylor. Tango helped Linda to her bronze medal in 2021. He’s now enjoying semi-retirement, waiting to go down the centerline one more time for their century ride. – Heidi W.Mine helped me earn my bronze at 23. There is nothing as special as being taught by a senior horse. They’re priceless. 💜 – Jennifer L.Fox. 24 years old. Still events through novice and jumps 3’6″. Can also do up to 3rd level dressage with piaffe/passage – Izzy G.Ever So, 24 yo paint in her second career. She didn’t start doing dressage until she was 16. I tried to ease her work load this year to only 1st & 2nd level, she got depressed. – Wendy S.21 yo Morgan still going strong. Planning 3rd level debut 2023 season! – Gail T.Now 28 year old Mr. Peppers who teamed up with me 2 years ago when we became members of The Century Club! The best Haflinger ever‼️ -Joanne S.Magic One, 20 year old Haflinger. Showing the ropes to my trainers 7 yr old niece. He was so proud of himself. Want to steal the niece and have her show him at intro. – Brenda B.Counteroffer 22 year old Morgan, we completed our bronze medal together last year! – Beth W.Monte Poppins (37 yrs old) & his bff, Hideaway’s Erin Prophet (30 yrs old) the summer of 2017. – Joan E.Urbanus T at the ripe old age of 21 helped me earn my gold medal this year. – Sally B.Coolmore Lad “Pax” 22 yrs old. We purchased for my daughter 2 years ago- what a dream he had been for her!🥰 – Heather N.At 25, he’s retired from the show ring now, but our very special miracle boy overcame everything imaginable to give me the memories of a lifetime in the ring when he was 22. Not only a great show partner, but a best friend. – Richard H.21 and we just did our Century Ride – Rita D.Sir Winston, a PMU rescue, at 21. – Janice B.Ravenwood Qahtahn, 22 y/o purebred Arabian gelding, showing successful at 2nd level. – Heidi W.Numberto, 21, Reserve champion u25 Brentina cup last year – McKayla H.Beautiful! My boy, Satz, is 29. American Registered Trakehner. Spicey and hot as ever. – Lisa O.Rataxes, 20 year old Danish gelding. A horse with so much heart and “try”. He always gave me his best! – Debbie M. USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mounted.Red Delicious (Luke) is my 20 year old Arabian x Saddlebred; we started dressage just this last year and we love it! 🍎❤️ – Robyn Y.My girl, Linda an OTTB, dabbled in the sand box…she is 21 years old this year – Katherine G.21yrs young! Debut 3rd level this year with our 16yr old daughter/owner and took home 3 US Sporthorse National Championship Top Tens! Cheers to Our Unicorn 🥰 – Rebecca G.Ubachon ,22 , the king of Piaffe and passage . KWPN and still as rotten and sweet as ever ❤️❤️❤️ – Jamie L.Unlimited “Dutch” – 2001 KWPN Our FEI debut last spring at 20 years old and won our PSG class (taking perfect care of me while I was 11 weeks pregnant!)! He now continues third level+ work with me and teaches walk/trot lessons on the side. A true unicorn worth his weight in gold that I’m so lucky to own and love! Photo credit to Meghan Benge Photography & Design – Kelsey T.Von Primaire at 20 helping me to my silver medal 🌟 He is happiest when he is horse showing! 💙 – Rachel B.“I’ll Be Shazam”, most-lovingly referred to at the barn as Llama, is a now 20yo Percheron X TB gelding who I purchased at age 17. We are consistently showing third and fourth level with goals to ride PSG next season. He is my rock, my best friend, and the most incredible partner I’ve ever had. He is my sanity as I get through veterinary school. He gets SO excited in the ring, and especially loves it when people clap for him and when he gets to meet many of his adoring fans after. He loves kids, and kids love him! I’m often brought to tears when his ears perk up as we canter down centreline. This horse continues to make my wildest dreams come true. We’ve both really improved each other a athletes and partners over the years. – Laura C.This is my Merlin! He’s 31 in January – Shari LC.My 24 year old gelding, still going strong – Jennifer C.River Run Roscoe is a super special 25 year old Holsteiner gelding. I earned my gold medal on him at 18. Three more people earned their gold medals on him after that! This year he “stepped down” to Intermediate I 💕 – Jennifer M.Luna, 22 – Karen B.Comet, 23 💫💕 – Paige H.My 30 year old mare Starla (National Show Horse) ready to hit the trails last month. We did dressage, western dressage, and English performance until she was 26. Now we do trails and competitive trail obstacles. She’s also the horse I can put anyone on and she takes good care of them. She gave my brother his first riding lesson this summer. – Shonnessy G.My 20yo Mustang that got me most of my bronze and working on our freestyles at the lower levels now! – Jessy O.My Junior student Hannah Muckler on 25 year old Blitzwane at Festival of Champions this year 🥰 He loves loves loves his work! – Nadine S.21 years young…Wallace. He is an amazing teacher. – Barbara A.Major, who is 28 years young! He helped riders with scores towards their medals up until he was 25! Since then he’s been teaching lessons and showing beginners the beauty of dressage. This is him in August at 28- he doesnt show anymore but he does get dressed up to greet our incoming freshmen during orientation. He’s my most reliable guy and still looks like a star in his old regalia 💕 – Bailey M.Lord London, 20 year old Hanoverian who was teaching FEI moves to students but is now stepping down to the lower levels to hopefully help me towards my bronze medal! – Jessica A.24 years old and still going strong. The sweetest most safe boy around for my 11 year old son. – Sara M.
