Too old???

I was looking for some calm trail horses for my beginner little brother to ride. I have been riding for like 5 ears and my brother has been wanting to ride for awhile. I have been asking friends that have had many horses before and they said the older the better. I found a calm but still lively 19 year old that was used on trails all over, lessons, gaming , and 4h. The owner is selling him because they want a younger horse for more intensive competing. This horse is going to be used by a seven year old as a trail horse. My brother said he doesn't want to compete right now but I think later on he might want to compete. He said he isn't going to compete though. So right now just trails. I called and the horse is sound and jut have to have front shoes. I wanted to know whether this horse would be suitable or whether I should look for something younger. He isn't on joint supplements. He still competes, goes on trail rides, and does shows with 4h.

My BO still uses his 32yo gelding on his dude string for trail rides, so yes, a 19yo would be fine for trail riding.
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So long as the horse is sound (and I would insist on a full PPE considering his age), then I see no reason why you shouldn't take a good look at him. Older horses, generally, make better kid horses because they have been around the block a time or 12, they know the play, and they just have more sense than younger horses because of their experience.

Anymore, 19 isn't really that old. With all the medical advances, horses are commonly being ridden and competing up into their later 20's and sometimes their 30's.

Age wise, 19 is not a problem for a healthy horse. Our penning mare is coming 19 and still the quickest of our mares.
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My coming 20 year old will be starting training for endurance in the next few weeks. 19 is not old, it's really middle aged.

My biggest concern would be that he needs shoes?? Why? Navicular? Have your vet do a full and complete PPE.

My 35 year old still competes and I trail hundreds of miles a year on him. I wouldn't recommend stadium jumping but for local level showing and trails 19 really isn't old.

My main riding horses are 19 and 20. Still going strong and if you let them sit, boy they get perky and can still bounce off the walls!

I also have a coming 3 yr old and after all the angst and worry of training a young horse, I personally have decided that young horses are overrated. Why stress and worry and spend tons of money hiring trainers when you can go out and buy a horse you can actually have fun with (and is safe) right away? I LOVE my youngster, but sometimes I wish I could just ride him and relax with no worries the way I do with my older guys. Even if a young horse is behaving, they really don't seem to have auto-pilot like an older horse. You always have to be on your toes.

If I ever came into fortune, I would take in older horses and give them a loving home. Too many of them are under-appreciated and that always makes me sad to see people selling horses that gave them the best years of their life.

I guess that was slightly off-topic. But yes, if a healthy 20 yr old can pack my large butt around for 5 hours at a time on mountain trails, they should be able to carry a younger brother no problem. But healthy and sound is key.

23yr+ pony still wins money barrel racing. If the horse is healthy then age can be as secondary as color.
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My mare is in her mid-to-late 30's and still going strong! We head out of hilly, rocky trails a few times a week (in good weather) and always has energy to keep going. The oldies are the best; they have so much to teach us.

My 18 year old gelding competed in an endurance ride against horses much younger than him one summer and not only came out without any sweat, best condition, but won the race itself.

Age is just a number. Taking proper care of a horse and keeping them in shape is what matters, not the age IMO. That gelding I was talking about just turned 20 and I wouldn't hesitate to take him out and run the same ride.