Since I've had such warm and great responses to my first post, my Husband would like me to ask another question!! He got into horses we get got married about 3 years ago, (imagine that! ) His first horse comes from a rental place and is a great family horse but doesn't know much but forward, left and right, stop, go, and go faster! My husband would really like to try to teach him some new stuff, maybe even for fun tricks or small jumps like the ones we come across on trails or what not, but he's afraid he might be too old to learn new stuff?? He's about 16 we think. Which really isn't that old right?? What do you guys think? Can older horses learn new tricks???

definatly i've tought mine to jump 1/2 foot at 25 not much but its all he can do. also to bow and other things

Yup, of course he can learn new things

Of cource they can, Dax is 12 this year and Ive been teaching him Dressage for 3 years and we have alot more to do, So he'll be learning it into his 20s haha. Not to mention I want to free jump him this spring. Its not how old they are its how old they feel

Chrissy

Oh, he'll be fine to learn new stuff. Pee Wee was a rental horse and knew about the same stuff as your husband's horse. Pee Wee was only 5, but we are still learning lots and lots. He will continue to learn lots of new things too. And I have friends who have baught older rental horses and they havebeen able to teach them other things just fine. It may be easier to teach a 16 year old horse than say, a 2 year old because they are mellower and have been around the block a time or two. Good luck though!

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It may be easier to teach a 16 year old horse than say, a 2 year old because they are mellower and have been around the block a time or two. Good luck though!

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Going with theme... An older horse usually has a longer attention span, so longer training sessions can be used.

Like everyone else, for sure!! We have a morgan gelding, who's 16 this year, and last year I started to take him in lessons - I think he quite enjoys them, actually! He's a pretty smart boy, and I think he actually enjoys learning new things (especially any canter work!). So, by all means, teach him anything and everything!

You teach a horse every time you handle them. Some of the stuff you teach is good, some of it is bad, note all the posts about how after a few weeks or months the horse is now acting up. I worked for several summers at large rental stables as a trail guide. It was amazing to me how these nose to tail horses would change to leaders after a few days as the guides horse. You just have to decide what you want them to do and then be consistant in your asking and insisting on the response you want.

Just adding support to what the others have already said. I have a 20yo we bought last fall. He was a pacer on the harness track until he was 5, then went to the Amish, then on to a career at a carriage rides business for 15 years. Eventually I met him there (worked there in college) and took him on a few trail rides, although he wasn't trained to ride. Took him to college when he was 12 for one school year but then we lost touch completely until last fall when I convinced his owner to retire him at 19. Now he is relearning what little he learned in one school year with me at college, and taking my very green husband on trail rides. He has not learned to canter but will walk, trot, and pace and although he finds it difficult to to a lot of gymnastic-type stuff, we do a little each time to build his strength and balance. He had most of the winter off and is very unfit now, and very much on his forehand. Absolutely they can learn forever, just like us (and dogs)!

Thank you everyone! My Hubby read your respondes and is much more motivated to try new things with his "Blacky." Hopefully, they will both be able to teach eachother new tricks!