Show horses are unique animals; most don’t like retirement and thrive better with a job. Just like people, many decline when they no longer have a purpose. Consider these possibilities if you hope to find another way for your horse to live out their golden years besides just being a yard ornament.
Many horse owners turn their show mares into broodmares, some into EWD horses, companion pals, babysitters, therapy horses, and NCEA, IHSA, IEA, and YEDA horses. These are great options for horses that are still healthy but may be past their prime in the show arena. They are stimulated, kept in shape, and are healthier than horses standing in a pasture all day.
Broodmares, Babysitters, and Companion Pals
GoHorseShow talked to breeders Amy Gumz and Debbi Trubee about famous show mares that became amazing moms and babysitters in their older years. Some of Gumz’s retirees making babies are Pretty Assets (pictured right), Radical Zippette, KM Perfect Ten, and Bestseatnthesouth. One of the most legendary show horses and dams of all time, Vital Signs Are Good set records in the show arena as well as being a complete game changer in the breeding arena, producing such talented offspring and famous sires such as VS Code Red, VS Flatline, and VS The Fireman.
Amateur Cheyenne Augsburger told us that her first show mare, An Awesome Fantasy, became a broodmare after retirement. “She had two foals. Both mares, both of which we still have, and they are having their babies,” Cheyenne says. “Many of our retired show horses become babysitters for the babies after they are weaned. I also bought a miniature donkey, Sherman, to be a companion for One Hot Kat once he was retired. He’s passed, but Sherman is still living his best life.”
Trubee adds, “I did have a mare, Zippos Bewitched, who was a famous show horse and then a famous broodmare that we retired to being a baby mama. She loved her group of babies she got to raise every year.”
Equestrian With Disabilities
“Show horses are pretty special individuals,” says longtime breeder Cindy Stephens-McCraw. “It seems like their retirement can sometimes be difficult because they are used to being such house mice and in stalls that they don’t often farewell to being retired out to pasture. They like their house life. I’ve known several ex-show horses that went to riding programs helping disabled and handicapped children. I think that’s a great retirement for a retired show horse because they still get to stay in a stall and be pampered and brushed what they’re used to but help people grow and also help with mentally challenged situations.”
Multiple World and Congress Champion Trainer Katy Jo Zuidema talks about one special horse that became a new star in the EWD ring. “The best one is an appaloosa named Strip Poker Chip. He won a bunch of stuff. Hanna Ring was reserve at the ApHC Youth World with him, and Tim Zuidema tied to win the color slot for him. He was also the horse who got Nettie Olsen back in the show pen after 20 some years.”
Years later, Katy and Hanna were at the NSBA World Show. The EWD riders were practicing in our barn, and Zuidema was out there giving a lesson. That’s when she saw him. “ He was taking care of his rider, being the best boy. I went to my stalls and got Hanna. We both went over and gave him a big hug. We both cried for sure. Baxter has the best home, and no horse deserves it more.”
Therapy Horse
“When I was lucky enough to retire, Certify This Chex (Lugnut), he had many jobs,” Amateur Carey Nowacek says. “Initially, he did a few walk-trot lessons a week and showed a handful of times in the Small Fry.”
After that, he mainly lived the retired life but dabbled in hanging in the pasture with weanlings/yearlings. We like to think he was teaching them great things, but he was most likely teaching them how to beg for more treats. His biggest job after retirement was probably being my therapist. I loved to spend time grooming and just hanging out with him. It was therapeutic for me.”
NCEA, IHSA, IEA, YEDA, Lesson Horses
Absolute Good Time, known as Mikey, became a well-known NCEA Horsemanship horse. “My sister, Alexia, and I showed him at Auburn,” Olivia Medows told us. “He was our favorite horsemanship horse to show. Victoria Zember on the Auburn Equestrian team leased him to us for a few years. He is the best boy and had a successful show career before spending time with us at Auburn. He attended the SEC Championships and National Championships. You knew if you drew him, you would score high.”
Trainer Melissa Shetler has a 28-year-old reiner that is still a team horse for her YEDA team. “I had a friend, Buffy Fitting Kornman, that said she had a great horse that was older but still needed a job. I told her I would be happy to try him. I want to say that was in 2017. We’ve shown Jerl ever since. He always a favorite.”
Ariel Higgins’s position at Middle Tennessee State University as the Director of Equestrian Programs and Head Coach of the MTSU Equestrian Team includes procuring horses for their program to utilize in our classes and riding programs.
“We primarily utilize donations for our incoming horses, but we are also able to care lease horses from owners looking for other jobs for their horses,” Higgins says. “In many instances, these are horses that have had lengthy careers as show horses before needing a bit of a ‘step down’ job, where they have lighter riding and showing loads than they once did as a show horse, while still receiving top care from our university staff.”
One of Ariel’s favorite horses she’s ever used in lessons was her very own Challaging Details, otherwise known as Madison. As a youth and amateur competitor, Madison made all her dreams come true, including an AQHA World Championship, an All-American Quarter Horse Congress Championship, and many other accolades over her ten-year career with him.
“When I was hired for my position in August of 2017, Madison was 19 years old and had more than earned a forever home with me. I began using him in lessons at school, and it was so fun to see all he could help students learn in the three and a half years he served as a lesson horse. We used him in several Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) shows, where he was a highly sought-after draw. He taught several riders how to counter canter, change leads, remain soft but effective, and many other lessons along the way.”
Higgins says a recent addition to their herd has been Be All Righteous, “Jace,” donated by the Simmons family. Jace was in training with Ariel’s mom, Cathy Herrin, and when she decided to donate him, she was ecstatic to have such a fabulous horse in our program. With his previous owner, he was a Reserve World Champion in the 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle at the AQHYA World Show, and his all-around career was also proven.
“He has been with us not quite a year, but he has taught many riders to ride that caliber of horse with more confidence, and it has been fun to see him blossom with the never-ending attention of the many college students that visit him every day.”
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