Riding the Aging Horse

Horses are amazing athletes and will be able to be ridden for many, many years. Inevitably, most horses need to retire from riding around 25 years of age. Of course, this isn’t a hard rule, and there are exceptions! For some horses, the time to stop riding comes sooner or later due to many reasons, including health, genetics, and riding history. Some horses compete into their late twenties or trail ride into their thirties, while others retire in their teens.

A lot of it comes down to health problems like arthritis, degenerative diseases, trouble maintaining weight, and chronic illnesses such as Cushing’s disease. Older horses will also tire more easily, so they might not be able to handle your usual riding schedule. Determining whether your senior horse is too old for riding is a matter of paying close attention to their physical health as they age.

Older horses are great for many reasons; they’re calmer than they are in their younger years, well-versed and trained, and typically make patient mounts. One of the most important things you can do to help keep your horse in good health is to provide regular exercise and health care. Most senior horses will do well in light work, riding only a couple of times per week, which is vital to keep them healthy and maintain muscle mass. Your senior horse’s ability to stay in work will depend on many factors, but providing them with lots of turnout, movement, regular vet care, and a supportive diet will encourage longevity.

Signs Your Horse Needs to Slow Down

Some common signs that point to retirement are lameness (usually due to old injuries, joint issues, arthritis, and hoof-related issues), weight loss, worsened physical condition, and pain. Owners can successfully manage many problems with older horses with medications, exercise, stretching, and bodywork (like chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, and proper hoof and veterinary care). Even so, there will come a time to stop riding, and it’s important to recognize when old age affects your horse’s quality of life.

Old Injuries and Joint Problems

As your horse ages, they accumulate small injuries over time. Whether from a riding accident, a kick in the field, or a fall, damage builds up, decreasing mobility and comfort. Senior horses start to feel the effects of changes to their bones and soft tissues like tendons and ligaments that disrupt the regular function of their joints and legs. These changes cause stiffness and soreness and eventually lead to retirement. Some horses are born with conformational faults (such as toeing in or out) which can make them more susceptible to changes over time.

Hoof Issues

Horses change a lot over the decades. Changes to their diet, metabolism, and small bones within the hoof capsule (coffin bone, also referred to as P3), can accrue small changes that affect soundness. Chronic diseases such as Cushing’s, laminitis, and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) can also make your senior horse more prone to hoof tenderness and abscesses.

Conformation also affects hooves and how they wear over the years. Sometimes, horses with conformational flaws will wear their feet down unevenly, causing changes in weight distribution. These changes can lead to diseases like ringbone or navicular syndrome, as well as uneven stress on soft tissues in the lower limb.

Arthritis

One of the most common causes of lameness in older horses, arthritis, is due to bony changes in the joint. Horses can be arthritic in many joints, but it frequently occurs in their limbs as they age. Hocks, knees, fetlocks, and stifles are usually affected, and while manageable, it will slow your older horse over time.

Once your horse shows signs of soreness or discomfort, certain medications, supplements, and treatments (like joint injections) can prolong your horse’s soundness, but owners should consider retiring their horse. Arthritis usually occurs slowly, gradually stiffening joints and making your horse uncomfortable. 

Weight Loss and Chronic disease

Moderate to severe weight loss is another sign that your horse should retire or, at the very least, have a reduced workload. Most horses will lose teeth in their mid to late twenties, making chewing difficult. Since horses thrive on a forage-based diet consisting mostly of hay and grass, it’s hard to get enough calories without dramatic intervention once they’ve lost teeth. Horse teeth have a “reserve crown” beneath the gum line, which helps compensate for the wearing down of tooth enamel after years and years of grinding food. As horses reach their twenties, the reserve is worn down, and the horse’s gumline can start to have bare spots, which makes wearing a bit quite uncomfortable and can affect their eating. Soaking hay or hay cubes, feeding supplements like soaked beet pulp, and providing consistent dental care will help support their needs.

An older horse’s digestive system might be unable to break down food as easily as a young horse, and without proper dental care, they can lose weight rapidly. It’s important to have your veterinarian check your senior horse once per year at a minimum, or ideally twice per year. The frequency of dental checkups will vary by horse, but senior horses can decline rapidly, so monitoring them closely is important.

Internal parasites which line the intestinal tract can also create trouble keeping weight on your horse during his golden years. Regular fecal tests and deworming will ensure your older horse lives as well as he can.

How to Support Your Older Horse

Now that we’ve covered common issues we see in senior horses, we can go over the best ways to keep them in riding shape. Keeping your horse in good condition will improve his quality of life and overall health. Before you have a senior horse, you have a middle aged horse. Prevention is crucial, so it’s very important to support middle-aged horses to have a lower chronic soreness and disease frequency as they age.

Keeping your horse healthy includes exercise, proper care and supplementation, and a healthy diet. If your horse is overweight, this can place unnecessary stress on joints and soft tissues, leading to premature breakdown and arthritis. Here are some specific things you can do to help your senior horse stay healthy as long as possible:

Maintain Their Fitness

As long as your horse is not suffering from a serious health condition, you can keep riding lightly through their senior years. Most owners agree that their senior horse enjoys nice short rides, stimulating them mentally and preventing boredom. Keep the rides short and uncomplicated, including lots of walking and straight lines. They might not be able to keep up with all other horses on the trail, so try to find riding buddies who are willing to go on nice, relaxed trail rides with you.

Walking improves blood flow and flexibility and will help retain muscle mass, so things like trail riding are an excellent way to keep your horse fit and healthy without boring them in the arena.

Another helpful activity for senior horses is to start training their mobility by using stretches referred to as “carrot stretches.” You can ask your horse to bend his neck and reach toward his hip, reach down to the ground, and stretch his legs by offering treats. This training will encourage better flexibility, which is a great preventative measure for soft tissue injuries during their senior years.

Provide Regular Veterinary and Farrier Care

By working closely with your horse’s health care providers, you can spot and treat issues as they come up. Senior horses can lose condition rapidly, so it’s important to address health issues promptly. It’s a known fact that many people have a hard time keeping weight on their senior, so ensuring your veterinarian is monitoring your horse’s physical condition is important for their quality of life.

Veterinarians can make recommendations for an appropriate senior diet and advise you regarding joint supplements, exercise recommendations, and body condition. Your vet may also refer you to other equine professionals who can help with your horse, for example, a saddle fitter to help you pick the right saddle for your horse’s changing body.

Conclusion

As your horse enters their golden years, it’s important to monitor them closely for any health issues. You can ensure that your senior horse stays healthy and in good condition by providing regular veterinary care and farrier care. You should also continue to provide light exercise, such as short rides or walking, to help keep them mentally stimulated and physically active. By taking these preventative measures, you can expect to ride your horse into its mid to late twenties, maybe even later.