31 year old BARREL HORSE???? ** new pics**

[b-mark]

Where do I start? Sophie is 31 now, going on 32. This year, truly, she looks better than ever. She conquered the last winter much better, she's happy and healthy being the only spoiled horse right now.

All I knew of her, was that she was a trail horse. Makes sense. Her head set, the total inability to respond to leg aids..

HOWEVER, quite by accident, I discovered something last week... while legs for navigational purposes are completely beyond or beneith Miss Sophie... a request to canter, is not! Now, I've cantered her before... but mostly on long fields/roads, etc... never quite like the experiment I decided on last week.

My daughter's b/f was riding her (non-rider), so I closed off the small field. Since nobody had rode her for about 4-5 days, I got on her first, just to see what frame of mind she was in. Well.....

She was ready to go, alright! ONE round (in something a LITTLE bigger than a round pen) of walking, and Granny Sophie was dancing to 'go'. I normally don't ride her in this small field... so this was somewhat new to me, too. Just for the fun of it, I asked her to canter. And she did. From a walk. Eventually from a stand still.

There are weeds (omg, really REALLY tall weeds) in that little field... and I ended up cantering her AROUND them... and what do ya know?

She LOVED it!!!!!
Omg, I haven't ridden a horse that hard for 20 years, I swear. And, I had the bruises to prove it! I got off and let my daughter's b/f ride... and got on her TWO more times! She was ON FIRE!

So, to wrap this up... I am really wondering, if Miss Sophie may not have had some barrel racing days.... in her younger days

[Thunderz Gurlz]

Haha, My lil Thunder is close to that age, and he acts like that . Every now and then I take him to barrel shows.

[kshnooks]

wow, 31? Thats impressive!

[llarryllama373]

Wow!! That shows some truly fantastic care and love... Maybe you could get her fit and enter her in a fun barrel race one day!! Sounds like shed love it. Im amazed!! LOL

[sundancer maiden]

My first horse, sweet little mare, took championships in Poles and Kegs at O-MOK-SEE (competing against horses from all over the country) when she was 21. I would have ridden her longer but we found out she had an inlarged heart, 3 times the normal size. If I had known she would be incredibly healthy for another 15 years (she died at 36) I would have continued riding her for a few more years! But I was scared to hurt my baby!!
My, now, oldest horse, Goldie, is 30. I would love to be able to give her easy rides for exersize, but she will not stop prancing and ends up in pain. She's got artheritis in both hocks.
If your mare wants to play, and is physically able too, go for it!! She'll probably live longer and will definitely be happier!!

[Carri]

How cool! She sounds like a great girl!

[A J]

If she's having fun and not in pain and holding her weight, I'd see nothing wrong in playing around a little bit. I would be very cautious not to push her much as barrel racing at speed can be very hard on their joints, but she may make a great jog/lope horse for that!

[Wendy F]

There is a teenager at our ridng club that rides a 28yr old and wins!!! He is simply gorgeous also! As long as they are in shape, it sure doesn't hurt them.

[version1955]

Gerald's son Jerry (really imaginative on the names, huh? ) won games on his horse Ginger when she was 38 against $10K horses! Let 'er rip!

[b-mark]

LOL... yep, she definitely had fun... and yes, she has arthritis, too... but all in all, the more she moves, the better she gets....

I tried something else with her tonight.... and go ahead and yell at me about no shoes or helmet... I had no intention of riding.. but went out to talk to Miss Sophie.. and she kept following me around, etc.. so I put a halter and lead rope on her.. and jumped on... heheehhe... what a thrill!

Have a look! This is the first time ever, without a bridle/bit.. and she did wonderfully!

[Luvridn]

She looks great, and happy to have a job!

[Logan-24-]

Holy cow! She's 31?! She looks amazing

[DappleGrayMyWay]

That third picture is really, really great. She's so completely happy, and so are you! Look at you two going after the gold! (well, the buttercups/dandelions are sort of gold, right?)

I say, let her have her fun. And take you along with it!

[b-mark]

Thank you all... yes, I agree, Sophie looks better than ever now. And, she seems to be happy and full of energy. I'm praying that she will be around for many more years.

[Hideaway]

She does look amazing! What a cool surprise!

[breburtch]

It's possible she did some barrel racing in the past. I had a 23 year old that was the same she was a spitfire I later found out she'd did quarter horse racing when she was younger as well as a bit of barrels just for fun.

I also know a 35 year old gelding thats got a lot of get up and go and still jumps..and I don't mean like little 1 foot cross rails or 1 or 2 higher fences I mean 3-3 1/2 foot courses and does a little cross country and some competitive trails

[b-mark]

It's awesome to hear of so many older horses still having the time of their life!

Ya know, I was pretty disappointed and kicked myself for not having a vet check before I bought her and all (she turned out to be at least 10 years older than what I was told).. but this horse has given back so much already in the two years that we've had her.. and watching her blossom (again, I hope) is just wonderful.

[cansncattle]

somebody I know has a 28 year old ex cutting turned gymkanna mare. The granddaughter inherited her as her first horse. They run low 19's on a standard pattern. Girl is 8 years old. They also team pen! you would NEVER guess that horse was 28!!

[b-mark]

I knew it would happe sooner or later.. with her getting frisky and me getting cocky.. LOL.. I slid right off of Miss Sophie tonight.. nothing spectacular or dangerous... just me wanting to STOP her without any aids...and...well..her wanting to keep going, since there weren't any aids....

Too funny and NOT scary at all...
Did I mention? I love this mare...