Celebrating Your Senior Super Stars!
Competition horses often steal the spotlight but for Team SPILLERS caring for your Super Senior horses really is at the heart of what we do. That’s why we started the SPILLERS Super Seniors’ Club to support you with your horses through their golden era and celebrate incredible senior stars such as Super Ted and Perfect Pants……
If Padula Party Pants wrote an autobiography it would be titled “Perfect Pony Club Ponies Rule”. At 30, Pants (yes that really is her name, and we love it!) has many stories to tell having enriched the lives of many families. The Loveday family purchased Pants to be a lead rein pony for 4-year-old daughter Eliza. “We’re probably her sixth home and we’re lucky to have her” says her owner, Leila. “At 26 years old I figured she would be an ideal lead rein pony for a couple of years.”
Four years later Pants shows no signs of slowing down! “She still trots everywhere. She trots to the field, back from the field, trots up the ramp. She just loves life” says Leila. Pants’ impact on Eliza’s confidence has been fantastic. “She now hacks off lead rein and participates in mini cross country, attending rallies and shows regularly.”
Pants’ idea of the best summer holiday? Fitzwilliam Pony Club camp – she LOVES mounted games and jumping best! “She loves hacking as well, she pretty much loves everything!”
Pants is not always angelic. Leila muses “She’ll throw in a good buck when she’s been clipped, and she makes it clear to be left alone at mealtimes. Teaching children to respect an animal’s space is important and falling off helps build resilience”.
As an equine vet, Leila provides Pants with 5-star health care but Leila states “She shows no major signs of ageing. She’s on half a prascend daily for mild Cushing’s and I do regular dental checks, but her teeth are generally fine.”
Consequently, Pants is fed on a low sugar and starch diet of SPILLERS Ulca Fibre and SPILLERS Speedy-Mash Fibre. “She still thinks she’s a 2-year-old and gallops round the field every day. She demands to come in when the weather is rubbish and is always happy to work. We adore our Perfect Pants”.
Katrina started riding Ted, who she describes “as looking like a police horse”, when he was 6 years old. After initially loaning Ted, Katrina bought him as she “couldn’t let him go” and 19 years later they’re still best friends!
Ted has turned his hoof to everything and wants to please. “I enjoy training, hacking and dressage so we’re a perfect combination. He’s a fantastic companion for hacking, striding past anything scary without a second glance but refuses to step on oil drops!! He taught my boys to ride, but at 17hh wasn’t ideal for lead rein classes.”
To start with Katrina used to hack Ted to their local unaffiliated shows but they have now progressed to compete at medium level dressage. “Recently I was stopped by a judge asking if he was the same Ted she judged years ago. I was glad to show off how far we’d come!” she jokes.
Ted’s not your typical dressage horse. Ted doesn't float, he majestically thuds down the centre line. Regardless, Katrina enjoys their adventures, “Judges don't know his age, I love their comments, recently one said he shows potential for the future!”
Now he’s 25 Katrina doesn’t look too far into the future, but they continue to work at medium level and have established smart walk pirouettes and good half passes. “Ted is laid back and makes me work hard in the arena. I think he enjoys nibbling grass around the venue more than strutting his stuff really” she laughs.
Until recently Ted had always been a good doer. Katrina says “Ted would eat anything! Even when he was kicked in the jaw and injured, it didn’t put him off his food – he kept eating! I have been so lucky – that’s the only vet visit he has had, other than routine vaccinations”. Lately, Ted needs more feed to maintain his weight and topline. He’s done well on SPILLERS Senior Super-Mash, and tucks in enthusiastically giving Katrina unwelcome mash covered kisses after his tea. This winter, Ted started off a bit leaner, so Katrina consulted with Carrie, a SPILLERS nutrition specialist, who has been monitoring Ted’s weight for a while. Carrie recommended adding SPILLERS Shine+ Conditioning Mix to his diet for extra calories.
“I’m so fortunate to have Ted in my life. He makes everyone he meets smile, and I’ll continue to give him the best care as long as he needs it,” says Katrina. “He’s thriving now; his dapples are back and he’s squealing when I get on. Daft old big Ted - he’s worth his 700kgs in gold!”
It’s easy to assume senior horses are shuffling around a field, but Pants and Ted prove how much fun a senior horse can have. Advances in veterinary care, research and knowledge means our horses are living and thriving for longer than ever. Thanks to the dedication and care Pants and Ted receive they continue to inspire and remind us age is just a number and they’re still enjoying their best lives!
If you’ve got a super senior and want to share their story why not join our Super Seniors Club today!