Wonderful! A unicorn!
I didn’t see the original thread. Can someone link it here if that’s allowed? Something I’ve noticed is that so many horses are bred for big movements now and hyperflexion, so many dressage breeds seem more prone to injury.
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I did. A wonderful SWB gelding by L A Baltic Inspiration out of a Chapman mare. Did not need hock injections until 18yrs old. He was a big boy (wide) and a big mover! A bit hot and a lot of fun.
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Well, when I watched the CDI at Global a week and a half ago, there were several 15+ yo horses competing in the Grand Prix Special.
My trainer had a horse who didn’t retire fully until he was at least 23, although he did keep stepping down some levels. And a friend competed her last GP horse until he was into his upper teens.
Good maintenance and getting on top of issues early with good veterinary maintenance makes it absolutely possible.
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The barn I am out has multiple horses over 15 still going strong.
My opinion is that yes the horses genetics and confirmation does play a big part in soundness, but so does training. I know of trainers who’s training causes lame horses all the time.
It is one thing for minor maintenance issues, but if a trainer consistently has to completely retire horses by 15, I would take a long hard look at the training or things like footing.
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Since maintenance is OK, we currently have 2 in the barn — a 15 yo PRE at PSG and a 20+ yo branded Hanoverian of unknown breeding at I 1 schooling the GP. They are maintained immaculately, especially the older guy as he is 18hh. He is definitely sound enough to compete at that level.
my trainer is meticulous in making sure the horses are strong enough to do what we are asking them to do, and is very on top of potential issues. Vet, body work and saddle fit are a huge part of our program. Asking a horse to do something that makes them hurt is no way to dressage — how can a hurting animal be relaxed? It’s fundamental.
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I’m leasing one in his early 20s (GP schoolmaster). He’s not without his old man aches here and there, but he willingly totes me around while I learn UL movements. I’m optimistically aiming to compete PSG by the end of this year with him (although that honestly depends more on me than him!).
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Yes. I know of some as well. And unfortunately, they tend to do well at the shows, but once their horses get to be 14-15, they are held together with duct tape and bute. 
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Hesitant to post anything as I dont want to jinx myself - 22 yo PRE going strong. Not fit enough for anything upper level but that is more on me than him.
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Thank you! I took a quick read. It’s definitely a concerning issue. My own horse was diagnosed with DSLD at 14 and while he is not line bred, It was and has been a devastating diagnosis, emotionally and financially. Too many dressage bred horses are developing severe conditions at early ages and I really hope something gets done about it; however, it seems the research funding isn’t quite backed yet to find a solution. When I look for another horse, I’m definitely focusing on finding horses with lines proven to be sound past 15, so I’ll be paying close attention to this thread.
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Sound 17yo mare - confirmed 2nd*, piaffes daily, has working pirouettes, no maintenance** (apart from dealing with asthma), currently barefoot but may be shod again if we get a dry summer. <- the barefoot thing is especially pleasing as she foundered a few years ago.
Heinz57 aka Canadian Sport Horse - grandsire Art Deco, damsire Weinstein. Dam’s dam side is TB. Sire’s dam side is a mix of Belgian Warmblood, TB, Westphalian, KWPN. Dam was an X-RCMP broodmare (Han x TB).
Pertinent to the other thread perhaps - what you can’t tell from baby pix - this girly’s hind pasterns do not do this in adulthood! 
I estimate this image was taken at about 4 months old.
*effing changes - if we had those we’d be pretty much a decent 4th+ because I’d get off my ass and tidy the pirouettes up. lol
**literally zero joint maintenance, but I did have her stifles internally blistered in the spring at age 8 and 9 after her first two winters of work indoors on shite footing. She was green broke and a bit wild at 7 (and on) so too firm footing wreaked havoc on loosey goosey ligaments.
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Not mine but there is an Irish Draught or Sport horse competing at FEI.
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I see this too I’d love to see a return in popularity in classically-derived methods and/or methods with emphasis on proper biomechanics, along with an alteration in competition judging. I left competing some time ago because I was so disappointed in what was being encouraged. I believe judging is far too subjective right now and allows judges to reward unhealthy training methods and movement.
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Knocking on wood… a lot…
My OTTB is turning 21 in March and we are entering our third year showing GP. Still in search of the last 60%. We have a LOT of 59’s…
He does require what many consider a lot of maintenance, but he also was bred to run and not prance 
Becky
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My 21 yr old Lusitano stallion showed thru I-1. During COVID I decided he had topped out and I wanted him to stay sound a long time. So we worked on a 4th level Freestyle, showed that some. Still playing with piaffe/passage and in solid work. He gets his hocks done 1x per year, and is a rock.
I usually dont mention names, but w/in the last 12 months, Jean Brinkman of Fla did her century ride on a lovely mare over the age of 20, at PSG! That was impressive.
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Oh how I love to hear this. Not only a senior but an OTTB talented enough for GP! I do not care one tiny bit that 60% is a reach- he’s still doing it!
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I board at a small facility with a limited number of horses in full-training. There are currently two GP horses over the age of 15 who are still competing. One is still competing at GP. The other competed to GP under our trainer and has helped her owner get her bronze and silver, and they are actively working towards their gold.
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My 19yo Thoroughbred just had his Third Level debut after a long eventing career. Certainly does need maintenance, but still happy to get out and work. I unfortunately don’t know his bloodlines.
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Well mine is still sound at 24, with maintenance. He was an A/O hunter/derby horse until 18. He had a left rear hind suspensory injury in 2011 which laid him up for a year. I got him in 2013 and my daughter showed him until 2017 when she went off to nursing school. His two shows with her he was champion in the USHJA National Hunter Derby, Reserve Champion 3’3” A/O Hunters and won the classic. He also got 8th out of 18 in a 3’6” adult medal finals. I currently only do training, first with him. My friend easily got her qualifying scores at second. I opted to not do third with him as I can barely do first, so what would be the point. His changes are already in place. He is a German Hanoverian. Sire is Escudo II and his dam is out of Wanderer. Here is his pedigree.
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