Retirement welfare for horses and ponies is an increasingly important issue as equine life expectancy grows and numbers of retired working animals increase.
Retired horses that receive inadequate care suffer from dental disease, parasite burden, metabolic conditions, and social isolation. The financial cost of maintaining retired horses incentivises some owners to neglect welfare or surrender horses to charities. Good retirement welfare requires ongoing commitment that should be considered before acquiring any horse. Sanctuaries provide vital safety nets but face persistent pressure from numbers of horses needing care.