Like Fine Wine: Four Horses Prove That Age Is Just A Number

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282 – September/October, 2024

By Barbara Aitken Jenkins

They say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. Anyone who’s had an old dog knows that if a dog is willing, he’ll learn. If he’s not willing, he is still a good boy, and deserves a bone.

But what about horses? After years of training, showing, and honing a set number of skills, can a horse have a second chance at another career? Short answer: yes, they can.

Spoiler alert: The following four horses are aged horses who excelled in their younger years in specific disciplines and who have gone on to have alternative, successful careers in their golden years. All four horses are still currently showing. The youngest of them is 18.

John Simon, aka “John”
Former career: Western Pleasure
Present career: All-Arounder/Babysitter

The name John Simon is well-known to anyone in horse showing. Owned, shown, and campaigned as a stallion by Erin Bradshaw Weiss, John Simon’s career has been a topic of conversation for anyone who enjoys watching nice horses.

Click here to read the complete article
282 – September/October, 2024