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To Ride or Not to Ride?

June 25, 2012
Posted by Erica Larson

Topics: Old Horses: Better With Age

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When their competitive or work careers are over, some aged horses settle into retirement quite nicely. The last thing they’d like to do is return to a ring for another round. Others, on the other hand, take to retirement marginally better than a fish might take to life on dry land.

A perfect example of the latter situation is our now 26-year-old Appaloosa Taz. During his younger years, he competed successfully in everything from western pleasure at the national level to English equitation and bareback classes at the regional and local levels. He actively competed until he reached 19 years old, at which point several factors–including an equine protozoal myeloencephalitis scare and some balance problems–helped us reach the decision to retire him.

Taz wasn’t quite ready to retire, so he’s back in a regular light work program

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Written by:

Erica Larson

Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.