There are few things I get more excited about than seeing older equine athletes either still competing at the top of their sport or taking a step down and becoming a schoolmaster for younger or less experienced riders.

For instance, at this year’s North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, held in July at the Kentucky Horse Park, I couldn’t stop smiling when I saw two former four-star eventersÑRemington XXV and Twizzel (who represented the United States at the 2012 London Olympics), both 19Ñeach giving a young rider the rides of their lives around the cross-country portion of the event.

And I was just as excited when one of our freelancer writers, Marsha Hayes, mentioned that there were several older horses taking part in this year’s Tevis CupÑa 100-mile endurance ride through the mountains of California.