This topic of “retirement,” in which the horse is relieved of his riding duties and has only before him endless grazing, sun-basking, horse care and playing with his peers— nary a care to trouble him under his forelock — can blossom into a whole new phase of your horse’s life, and for the owner. This is something I have been dealing with my horse Fred (2 x World Champion Olympic Power).
Who would quibble with this golden life, after years of work and, for horses that compete or provided service, travel, coping with strange barns, strangers, and sights and sounds that change endlessly? Well, it can take some planning and some flexibility and going through some stages to get to a quiet retirement.
Semi-retirement, a dialing down of the intensity and frequency of riding or a change of purpose, for many is perfect fit for the owner, the new rider, and most importantly, the horse. “Peter,” known as Peterbuild (a play on words for his architect owner) during his intensive show days in Canada, was sold in his mid-teens to a new owner for a moderate price and an iron-clad written contract outlining his new riding life that excluded frequent showing at the upper levels but allowed low-level hunters, dressage, baby eventing, Pony Club, and any trail riding as long as Peter was pleased about walking about in the woods. It was rumored he didn’t really take to the trail riding, but a happy balance was found as a quiet riding horse in the ring and nearby cross-country field for his older new owner and a weekly lesson and extra ride for an enthusiastic youngster in the neighborhood. His original owner receives photos in the mail and can find him on his young lesson rider’s Facebook page. This is a success story.
Yet, not all horses go for this. Stories are out there of newly-retired show horses continuing to be shipped to the shows after their retirement from the show ring, as they would become hysterical seeing the trailer leave without them. It is simply easier to keep up light work, regardless of their diminished abilities, and give them a place on the trailer. These accommodations Who make for a more peaceful stable, and everyone hopes that the horse(s) will, eventually, stop caring so much about being in the thick of things. This method, too, is a success story — just an odd picture of ‘retirement — with just a few more stages needed before these horses are ready to take to life in a grassy field.
Full retirement usually comes about as a result of an owner’s final consultation with the veterinary and/or farrier. A decision is made that an unsoundness or health condition that often has been arduously treated and maintained for months or years is now claiming more and more ground, and for the horse’s well-being, the riding needs to be ended. It’s a bittersweet decision, usually one that confirms what you’ve known for a while.
Retiring your horse completely, or making the decision to move him to another, simpler life is a significant step for the caring owner. We look forward to exploring this more in upcoming blogs.
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