I found this article and, well, you know how I feel about old mares… So, I’m putting it here for you all to enjoy!
Click to read the original story
Nestled away in the rolling hills of Fallbrook is a ranch that owners Bob and Mary Manns have aptly named Manns Magic Ranch. The magic is not just in the fact that these two self-proclaimed horse lovers have five horses of their own, but more specifically the oldest one they have.
Magic, a distinguished Polish Arabian lives on the ranch. She is celebrating her 46th birthday on June 15. For Magic’s human counterparts, that would be the equivalent of turning about 140 this year.
Horses generally live to be about 20-25, while Polish Arabians as a breed have a longer life expectancy, commonly living into their late 20s or early 30s. Though there has been no confirmation of Magic being the world’s oldest horse, being that she is a purebred Polish Arabian, the Manns do know that she is the oldest living of her breed.
Despite being a member of what is commonly accepted as the longest living breed of horse, Magic has astonished the Manns with not only her age, but also her health.
From looking at Magic, one would never know of her impressive age. She is in peak health condition. She is still fit enough to give riding lessons to complete beginners as part of the business Mary runs from her stable.
“She is so easy to learn on,” Mary said, of why she still uses Magic to teach kids.
Magic has straight legs and a firm back, two common signs of an aging equine. She has also never had to have her teeth floated (to smooth or contour the teeth), which is a common treatment for horses every two to three years. She does not take any dietary supplements and sticks to the same hay-based diet that the Manns feed all their horses.
“She drinks more water than any horse I’ve ever seen,” Bob said, speculating on Magic’s longevity.
Magic has not always led a passive life on the ranch. For 25 years, Magic competed as a professional barrel racer and pole bender. She competed as recently as 2011 with the Manns at the Valley Center Vaqueros Club where she took home seven awards.
“I’ve never ridden a horse as fast and intelligent as she is,” Bob Manns said endearingly of Magic. “She and I just have a ball.”
This is saying something, as Bob has been riding for over 60 years, and grew up on a horse ranch. As recently as last year, Manns would take Magic for 10-mile rides in the back canyons and rivers behind their home. Magic was a celebrity on the trail; everyone, it seems, has heard of the “really old horse.”
“Magic is a tank,” Manns says referring to her uncanny fearlessness on the trail. Magic is always the first horse galloping ahead, and she loves to swim in the rivers as they cross them.
Though the Manns have only owned Magic for 10 years, she is a treasured part of their family. She has even contributed, giving birth to her youngest foal 14 years ago, a male named Santana who the Manns also own.
Magic’s personality is just as strong as any other horse, and she has not given in to the passive nature of older horses. One of her favorite stable pastimes is listening to people talk. As a result of many years of doing so, she has quite the extensive English vocabulary. She loves to listen to NPR as a result of this.
Just as any family might celebrate a birthday, Magic gets her favorite type of birthday cake every year to celebrate her special day. Mary bakes Magic a carrot cake decorated with carrots sticking out of the top; and they said she absolutely devours it.
The Manns have among them a natural phenomenon that can only be explained as Magic, and she’s going to keep going just as long as they will let her.
YOU GO, GIRL!
I also found this story about her in the San Diego Union Tribune… click here to read.
Click image to read this story about Magic!
Have owned a mare from 8mo but cared for her since 1 mon. She’s now 17 a sound an a great life. I love her dearly an much more. How long we have together is up to the universe. It’s a great Blessings to have a love this nice creature that our God made just for Me an others that know a love her. We trained together in WP a just pleasure ride a free style lunge an have fun.
Magic now 34 still going strong, looking good we took him to the beach for a walk, and he did great, thinking he’s going to be around for awhile, feeding him senior feed mixed with some rolled oats, and kountry buffet. I add magnesium plus supplement, msm and apple cider vinegar diluted in his water. He eats some hay not a lot. Still gets dex but switched over to tablets once a month or so. I’m hoping he’ll go to at least 40.
I have an Arabian horse named Magic, he turned 33 in May this year 2021 . He has a heaves condition which I have to administer dex shots to him when he needs it. Not sure how much longer he has, he recently developed ventral edema which seems to improve with the shots. I hope he can make it for a long time still. The vet seems to think he has some onset of heart failure. Currently he looks good, shiny coat, eating grass, eyes good. I’ve had him for 18 years now, and he’s still a beautiful white horse. When he goes, I will have lost my best friend. Am hoping the herb mixture I made for him helps.
It really is aggravating that he keeps putting out this false claim because he’s so desperate to get attention. He’s a frickin liar, and most everyone knows it.
I owned Fol Farrah she was a reg 1/2 Arabian mare, She was my best friend for 35 years , thought her drive when she was 35 years old. I lost her at the age of 36+, not a day go by that I don’t miss her
I have a horse who is going to be 34 in May . She has her sight and hearing but when she naps she sometimes falls over. She has a hard time getting up but she snickers at you and loves her attention . I have had her since she was 8. She is app and quarter horse.
So Magic is not 46? Wow, I was excited to know that my little Polish Arabian girl had a longer life ahead of her. She is healthy and vibrant at 30. Her Egyptian “brother” died at 26. So how can I find out Arabian life expectancy?
Send in photos! Give us more info!
I have an Egyptian Arabian gelding that’s 35 and looks great. He’s missing and eye and is pretty much toothless but shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
I am so sorry that I re-published something that was false. Thank you for letting me know.
Yes Mary Lu, this is the same one.
The papers he says are hers are for a grey mare named BINT SUTEZA. We know that Bint Suteza was, indeed, grey because she had a grey foal on record, sired by a bay stallion named RAINPOOL TORO. In order for that foal to be grey, one parent had to be grey. I verified that Rainpool Toro was very definitely bay. This means that Bint Suteza was very definitely grey.
Grey horses do not magically turn solid chestnut…not even fleabitten greys.
The papers he has for this horse do not belong to her. Therefore he has no way of knowing her age or if she is even an Arabian or half-Arab.
She looks a little old in the face but eyes are very alert. We had a Saddlebred gelding that lived to be 32.
I wish all the horses I have had would of lived until their twenties. Not to happen with colic.
I sure wish she goes longer and even if she is in her 20 and not 40’s may she continue to feel great.
This is the same mare that The Old World Polish Arabian Group discussed for ever and ever. I believe that they determined that the gent has no proof of the mares age. I find it hard to believe that she is 46. I recall a mule of that age and this mare looks too young to be 46. I sincerely hope that the Old World Polish folks do not start another discussion. My Arabian girl is 27 and she looks 27.