It’s only natural to worry as your horse ages—after all, you want him to stay healthy, happy, and comfortable well into his senior years. So you stay alert, watching closely for any signs of trouble. While vigilance is important, it’s just as crucial to understand what’s truly cause for concern—and what’s simply part of growing older. Not every change is a red flag, and with smart, proactive aging horse care, many problems can be prevented or managed.
On the flip side, focusing too much on normal signs of aging can lead to unnecessary stress, expense, and worry. Remember: Aging isn’t a disease.
To help you care for your horse confidently, we’ve broken down the five aspects of health that aging affects most. You’ll learn what changes are expected, what steps you can take to ease their impact, and how to recognize when it’s time to call in your veterinarian.
1. Weight Loss
Many horses will drop a few pounds as they grow older. Weight loss can be due to:
- Increased caloric needs, especially in winter when metabolism ramps up to keep the body warm.
- Tooth wear that makes chewing difficult.
- A general loss of muscle mass as the horse becomes less active.
However, contrary to popular belief, older horses do not have less efficient digestion, and they do not lose weight simply because they can no longer process food or nutrients. This aging horse care myth comes from an erroneous interpretation of a 25-year-old study that the original researchers themselves have since publicly clarified. Of course, weight loss can be related to serious illness, but unless a horse shows other signs of health problems, there’s no need to assume the worst.
What You Can Do
Senior feeds are an easy and effective way to manage older horses’ weight. These products tend to be very palatable, easy to chew, and high in fat—which makes them calorie-dense and safer than carbohydrate-rich feeds. Look for a formulation that fits your horse’s particular requirements: Some senior feeds are high in molasses, which can be an issue for horses with metabolic syndrome or that are otherwise at risk for laminitis. As for feeding amounts, follow the label instructions or consult with your veterinarian. Even thin horses are vulnerable to the health hazards posed by overfeeding.
If senior feed alone isn’t keeping weight on your older horse, you can provide extra calories safely by adding vegetable oil or a fat-based weight-gain supplement to his feed regimen. Also, make forage available to older horses at all times, if possible, and in a form they can chew easily. Finally, don’t forget regular dental checkups to ensure your horse gets all the benefits from the nutrition you provide.
Because changes in condition can be difficult to detect on a day-to-day basis, it can be helpful to track your older horse’s weight through photos and notes. Take regular pictures with your cell phone to compare over time or show to your veterinarian if you are unsure. You can also use a weight tape, which isn’t necessarily accurate to the pound but can help highlight variations over time.
When to Worry
Dramatic weight loss that occurs over a short period without changes in activity level or feed schedule is abnormal for horses of any age. Weight loss accompanied by other signs of trouble, such as fever, diarrhea, or lethargy, is also cause for concern. Likewise, if your horse’s weight doesn’t remain fairly stable even with an appropriate and thoughtful feeding plan, an underlying issue might be sapping his energy. In all of these circumstances, investigation is warranted, and it’s time to call in your veterinarian.
2. Arthritis
Arthritis can be caused by injury, but in older horses, it is most often the result of simple wear and tear. As a joint moves, minute damage occurs to the structures within. The body responds by mounting a mild inflammatory response, which draws healing cells to the area. When a horse is young, his body can usually control that inflammatory process, and joints remain healthy. However, as he ages and his joints sustain repeated microtraumas, inflammatory processes can overwhelm his body’s natural controls. This can trigger a cascade of events that ends up breaking down the lubricating synovial fluid, damaging the cartilage that covers and cushions the ends of the bones, and causing other deterioration within the joint. All of this, in turn, triggers more inflammation, and the cycle continues, leading to chronic arthritis.
What You Can Do
Older horses with arthritis need to keep moving. Regular exercise helps keep joints flexible and lubricated and conditions the muscles and tendons that stabilize them. This doesn’t mean you need to ride your elderly horse as if he were a youngster, but regular turnout with an active companion, along with a consistent but gentle riding schedule, can help check the progression of arthritis significantly. It’s natural for an old horse to seem a bit creaky at the start of a ride but then loosen up with slow and sensible exercise.
As part of an aging horse care program, you might also want to give your older horse a joint support supplement. A huge variety of products are available, but most contain one or more of the following active ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), hyaluronic acid, and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables extract. Your veterinarian can provide you with guidance on which products are likely to be most beneficial for your horse.
Finally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help control routine arthritis pain. When administered before a ride, an NSAID can keep inflammatory cytokines in check as they are released. And, although phenylbutazone (“bute”) given in high doses has well-known side effects, this medication can usually be administered safely for long periods to a healthy older horse. Illness and dehydration increase the risks associated with bute, so keep that in mind if your horse’s health status changes. Another option is a medication containing selective cox-2 inhibitors, which provide anti-inflammatory effects with fewer systemic side effects.
When to Worry
Joint pain that interferes with or inhibits a horse’s normal activities is cause for concern. If arthritis is keeping your horse from easily navigating his environment or rising readily after he lies down, it’s time to consult with your veterinarian about other treatment options.
Related Reading: On the Move: The Importance of Regular Exercise for Horses
3. Weakened immune system
Age-related changes in the equine immune system haven’t been studied extensively, but we know the function of T-cells—a type of white blood cell integral to fighting pathogens—is reduced in older horses. As a result, an elderly horse cannot respond to infections as quickly as he might have when he was younger. This makes him more susceptible to disease and slower to recover when he does become ill. Compromised immune function also means an old horse might not get full protection from vaccination and could be at higher risk of significant internal parasite infestations.
What You Can Do
Aging horse care should include a consistent and appropriate vaccination schedule. His specific immunization needs depend on his lifestyle and location, so work with your veterinarian to develop a customized plan. Parasite control is also important. Regular fecal egg count tests can help you determine how often your horse needs to be dewormed and with which anthelmintics.
Biosecurity measures will also help protect an older horse from disease. Quarantine new arrivals to your property until you are certain of their health status. Do not share buckets or other equipment among horses—especially when you travel with an older horse.
When to Worry
If an older horse develops a fever, runny nose, or other signs of illness, call your veterinarian right away. Even minor ailments can hit an old-timer harder than his younger pasturemates. You’ll want to intervene as soon as possible to ensure a quick recovery.
4. Loss of fitness
Inactivity is the main cause of lost fitness in older horses. Just like people, horses that continue to exercise as they age are stronger and more supple than their less-active peers. And once an older horse loses conditioning, it can be difficult to restore because of limitations imposed by arthritis or old injuries. Ironically, early “retirement” of active horses to life as pasture ornaments can precipitate their decline.
What You Can Do
Encourage your horse to exercise for as long into old age as he can. Continual turnout is an easy and effective aging horse care strategy to keep a horse moving. Given space and friendly companions, an elderly horse will walk enough to maintain some level of fitness. When you ride an older horse, dial back the activities based on how he responds. Some horses thrive on long gallops and jumping well into their 20s, but for others these activities become too difficult much earlier in life. Whatever the case, put off full retirement for as long as possible. An hourlong walk on a trail through the woods is better, physically and mentally, for a healthy, older horse than languishing in a stall or small paddock. If riding is no longer an option, hand-walking is better than standing still.
If you need to get an older, out-of-shape horse back into condition, allow at least twice as much time than would be required for a younger horse. And double the amount of downtime. Conditioning occurs when tissues are stressed and given time to repair, but without sufficient rest, injuries occur. An aged horse might need two days off after a workout instead of just one. Be particularly patient when bringing an old-timer back from a layoff. It will take at least three months for him to develop enough fitness for even light trail outings—assuming he has no setbacks.
If the pain of arthritis or another problem limits your older horse’s ability to exercise, address the underlying condition. Then, cautiously return him to work as soon as you have clearance from your veterinarian.
When to Worry
When “unfit” becomes “weak,” an older horse faces significant risks to his health. If your horse seems unsteady in his gaits or has trouble rising, don’t ride him. Call the veterinarian without delay.
5. Dental Troubles
For most of a horse’s life, his teeth erupt continually, meaning they emerge through the gums to replace what is worn away by chewing—sort of like the lead of a mechanical pencil. Young horses have 2 to 3 ½ inches of “reserve” tooth below the gum line. By the time a horse reaches his mid-20s, however, this reserve is depleted, leaving him vulnerable to periodontal disease and tooth loss.
What You Can Do
The best thing you can do to care for an older horse’s teeth is to schedule dental checkups with a veterinarian every six months. During these checkups, your veterinarian can identify any issues that need to be addressed before they become significant. If your horse develops problems chewing, you might need to eliminate hay from his diet, replacing it with chopped forage or a complete pelleted feed. It can also be helpful to soak his grain or pellets in warm water for a few minutes before feeding.
And don’t forget treats: Apples, carrots, and crunchy treats can pose a choke risk to horses that cannot chew well. Cut them into small pieces or opt instead for goodies that dissolve, such as peppermints—but be mindful of the sugar they contain. A good option for horses with metabolic syndrome or at increased risk for laminitis are the easy-to-chew, low-starch treats that are now available.
When to Worry
If your older horse loses weight despite good overall health and an adequate ration, he might be having trouble chewing, so schedule a veterinary visit to investigate. Likewise, call your veterinarian if partially chewed feed or hay drops from his mouth as he eats or if he suddenly refuses to eat. Finally, make it a habit to sniff your horse’s breath each day as you groom: A foul odor could indicate infection or illness that must be investigated.
Take-Home Message
Aging horse care can be rewarding. Sharing leisurely grooming sessions with him or just watching him doze in the sun will fill your heart. Don’t let those moments be crowded out by needless worry about his health. Just keep in mind what’s normal, and be ready to act if something goes wrong. Then simply enjoy time with your old friend.
Related Reading:
This article originally appeared on Equus.
Are you enjoying this content? Sign up for My New Horse’s FREE newsletter to get the latest horse owner info and fun facts delivered straight to your inbox!
