Horse&Rider Magazine’s Accounts Assistant Carol Alcock
Think of your granddad, a wisened ol’ fella with a twinkle in his eye. Then imagine his frustration when his young spirit has to wait for stiff joints and the aches and pains of old age and you have my 24 year old horse, Brin.
Brin and I have been together thirteen years and enjoy the benefits of our long-term relationship with earned understanding and comfortable ease.
Long gone are the days of bolting, rearing and bucking, giving way to a successful career at lower level unaffiliated dressage.
Like your granddad, Brin has had to start taking pills with his meals to aid his mobility. We have not had to change diet as all his teeth are intact, but he definitely feels the cold more, so I am particular about getting his rugs just right to keep him cosy and comfortable.
As with all older people, I think it’s important to keep up the exercise, warming up the muscles slowly, allowing his stiff joints time to loosen up. We spend much of our time on hacks and pleasure rides, keeping in the back of our minds the importance of schooling to maintain his suppleness, which helps keep his old body in time with his young heart.
Tags: feeding, joints, mobility, older horses, veterans
