When retraining senior horses, riders must consider not only the fitness level of the animal, but also his increased susceptibility to disease, injury and exhaustion. Older horses can learn new techniques and disciplines, but care must be exercised during the training process.
Warming Up the Older Horse
One of the most important aspects of training older horses is the warm-up process. Senior horses need more time to get their muscles warmed up and ready for concentrated work, which will prevent grievous injuries..
Riders who are retraining senior horses should walk for longer than usual when they first mount up. Spend lots of time doing circles and serpentines, making sure to warm up those neck and leg muscles. More time should also be taken at the trot and canter before starting other exercises.
Stretching Senior Horses
Part of the warm-up process can include stretching when training older horses. This can be done either from the ground or from the horse's back, though the former is recommended if the horse has never been stretched before.
Stretching senior horses is a way to ensure the muscles are loose and flexible before starting serious work. The rider, for example, can pick up each of the front legs and stretch them up toward the horse's chin. It is also a good idea to flex the horse's neck from side to side, holding for 10 to 15 seconds each way.
Patience with Older Horses
Older horses might take longer to grasp concepts and exercises than their younger brethren. This is normal, and it is important for riders to avoid getting frustrating during these training sessions. The good news is that retraining senior horses often means working with an animal who has a longer attention span than a youngster.
Riders should gently guide the older horse in exercises and movements, giving the horse time to process and interpret cues. Use half-halts and other subtle aids to prepare the older horse for transitions and try not to get irritated if he misses the cue the first time.
Changes in Equipment
Older horses, just like older people, often lose muscle mass as well as fat as they age. It might be more difficult to keep weight on senior horses, and this can change how they move and how they carry tack.
For example, it is common to notice sharper withers on older horses, which simply results from lack of "meat" on the bones. If proper equipment is not used for these horses, the saddle can rub a sore spot on the withers, resulting in pain for the animal.
A gel pad or "lifter" pad can make riding more comfortable. These pads lift the saddle off the horse's back and help level out the top line. Both gel and Styrofoam blends are acceptable for this purpose.
It is a good idea to ride the older horse in a soft bit—a snaffle, for example—in order to reduce pressure on the horse's mouth. Other pieces of equipment riders might want to consider include:
- Riding blankets for cold winter days
- Bit protectors to protect the mouth from pinching
- Splint boots and bell boots
- Fleece girth covers for older horses with sensitive skin
Weather Considerations
Retraining the senior horse is sometimes difficult in extreme temperatures. They handle neither the heat nor the cold as well as younger animals and might be more prone to heat exhaustion and stiff muscles and joints.
This doesn't mean that it is impossible to train the older horse during the summer and winter. However, keep an eye on the weather prediction and try to keep riding to milder days.
Cooling Down the Older Horse
Like warm-ups, cool-downs take longer when training the older horse. Senior horses will need more time to bring respiration and heart rate down to normal. Long cool-downs offer an opportunity to connect with the horse and build a strong relationship, so this is not a bad thing.
Riders, for example, might cool down older horses on the trail, taking long, leisurely strolls through the woods. It gets the horse out of the arena and ensures he will be cool upon return to the barn.
As mentioned above, retraining the senior horse is not impossible and it certainly isn't futile. Depending on the age of the horse, he might excel more in a new discipline than in the previous one. However, riders must consider the horse's age before making training decisions.
 |
