At What Age Is A Horse Considered A Senior
Introduction
When your horse reaches the age of 15, he is officially considered a senior by age alone. However, this does not mean that he should be retired from riding and put out to pasture. Although you need to take steps to keep him healthy, based on his breed and health history a 20-year old horse can still make an excellent riding partner for years to come.
A Senior Horse Is Not Always Unhealthy
A horse is considered a senior starting at 15 years of age, but this does not mean a horse automatically becomes unhealthy and unable to work.
It is important to note that age does not necessarily determine the health or ability of an individual horse. Age is a factor, but it is not the only factor in determining a horse’s health and ability to work. The following are some considerations that should be taken into account when determining if an older horse should still be able to work:
- If a horse has been healthy for several years, his condition might very well remain stable for many more years.
- Some horses have developed good habits over time which could prevent them from becoming less productive or even developing health issues. For example, a retired racehorse who has been conditioned to run at top speed all day may become overweight if not worked regularly; however this can easily be remedied with regular exercise and healthy dieting on its owner’s part.
Some horses still compete at advanced ages.
If a horse is healthy, well cared for and well trained, it may be able to compete at advanced ages.
Survival rates are much higher in older horses than they are in humans. The oldest living horse on record lived to be 62 years old!
Many senior horses compete at advanced ages because they have been trained properly and provided with the right diet.
Senior horses do require more attention and care than younger horses.
As you might expect, senior horses are more prone to injury than their younger counterparts. They also need more time to rest between workouts and recover from injuries and illnesses. While it may take longer for your horse to return to top form after an injury or illness, the best thing you can do is make sure it gets plenty of rest while it heals. If your senior horse isn’t able to get enough rest, then they will not heal properly or quickly enough.
Senior horses need more time to rest between workouts because they take longer to recover from hard training sessions.
Senior horses need more time to rest between workouts because they take longer to recover from hard training sessions. I’ve seen some owners push their senior horses too hard, and it’s not fair or good for the horse.
Senior horses also need more protein in their diets than younger ones do, so be sure to talk with your vet about what brand of feed would be best for your senior horse.
Senior horses are more prone to injuries, particularly those involving tendons, ligaments and bones.
Senior horses are more prone to injuries, particularly those involving tendons, ligaments and bones. This is because as they get older their joints become increasingly stiffer and less flexible, making them more susceptible to injury.
If you’re a horse owner who has an aging steed at home, it’s important that you become familiar with the signs of arthritis in horses so that you can be sure your senior animal is getting the best care possible.
Seniors should be tested for certain diseases.
Senior horses should be tested for EPM, Laminitis, and Cushing’s Disease.
Seniors should be tested for Cushing’s Disease every year. This disease can only be detected via blood tests, so your veterinarian will need to draw blood from the horse and send it off to a lab. The results will tell you how much cortisol is in the horse’s system: if there is too much cortisol, then he is likely suffering from Cushing’s Disease; if there isn’t enough of this steroid hormone present in his body, then he may have another condition such as Addison’s disease (which causes low levels of cortisol). If your veterinarian diagnoses a senior horse with either EPM or Laminitis, they’ll want to retest him six months later just to make sure that something hasn’t changed since their last visit
A well-cared-for senior horse can live a happy and healthy life.
As a horse ages, his or her health needs change. That’s why it’s important to follow up on regular vet check-ups and dental check-ups, hoof care, exercise routine and feed schedule—and even the basics like grooming and worming. A well-cared-for senior horse can live a happy and healthy life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, owners of senior horses should take note of these tips to ensure their older equine companions can enjoy a long and happy life. Horses are living longer than they once did, and many still have the energy to compete well into their later years. With proper care from knowledgeable owners, your older horse can continue to live a comfortable life with plenty of time for rest and relaxation.