Five head of the six head we currently own are on pasture several mile from home. So, on Sunday afternoon, when my wife and I decided to take a cart ride, the only choice was our 28 year old standardbred mare. Not only did we use her that day, but I used her the following day for a visit to the neighbor's place. She never hesitated once and drove super, as she always has. I and I am sure there are others that would like to hear stories of "old timers" still in use. "Sis" doesn't get used often, but she can still get the job done whether she is in harness or under saddle. If you have an old venerable one that you still use, please share a story with us "Porchers".

Last year my neighbor who owns a plantation down the street from me has a team of 38 year old percheron draft mules, 16+ hands and big boned. They pulled about 30 hunts from sun up to sun down and they are hitched to pretty heavy rig. They look great, and as always get the job done with no hesitation. The funny thing is there is a pair of teenage mules that sat in the pasture and watched each day!

My mare is from my 4H mare and a belgian stud we farmed with. She was foaled the Nov. after we were married. As we are on our 25th year, she is 24 and still is my "go to " horse when cows are out or need to show someone how to do something or let a newbie get some saddle time. She currently is packing my grandson and me on trips around the farm as her mother packed my oldest daughter (his mom) and me around the farm. My oldest daughter's horse is a 35 year old QH and is in good shape. A little sway backed, but does well for a weekly or twice weekly riding yet.

My neighbor down the road has a pair of 30 yr old mules that he continues to use on trail rides to pull his wagon. He has a younger team and he keeps saying how he needs to use them, but the older team is just so good it's hard not to want to use them. We chuckle every time he pulls up the "veterans".

Thanks to all for your replies to the original post. There's not an animal on our place that isn't a teenager and some of my friends have indicated that I need to be finding replacements, but I believe I'll stick with what I have 'til it's evident they can longer handle the work load. I have enjoyed the shared stories and hope to see more.

I have a 25 yr old mule named Jessie. Years ago he spent a summer with the Amish outside of Columbia MO,pulling a milk wagon 9 miles twice a day. He is out of a fox trotter mare and has the typical slim build,Probably doesn't weigh more than 750 on a good day..
Whenever I am feeling not like riding,I hitch him to a cart in the summer.In winter,I put skis on the wheels of the cart or hitch him to the sleigh. He is always rock solid with no bugger in him.
Sometimes it is nice to just take one out with no muss or fuss.

I looked at a through away mule last night and i am not good at telling the age sure would like a little front porch help with this.The mule is 16 hand draft and just a sweet heart,a horse trader has got her and told me the reason her front feet are sore is that the amish trimmed her heels to short but i am not sure.If i can't find her a good home i will try and make room at my place,sure do wish i would not have stopped by this traders place last night.Rob

I had a quarter horse that we used until he was 32. He really seemed to enjoy the opportunity to work the cattle. We didn't use him often but when we did he was great.

Had a big old 17 hand quarter horse named King who I grew up with. He rode and drove, but his big "kick" was pulling the sleigh. If you tried to hook any other horse up to it, he'd go nutzo with jealousy. So he got most of the hookups, until he was over 40.

He died in the traces one somber day, and I have to believe he died happy.