Horse Senior Welfare and Management

How to support the welfare of senior horses through targeted nutrition, veterinary care, and social management as they age.

Key Facts

Horses are considered senior at 15-20 years and can live into their late 30s with good care
Dental deterioration in senior horses reduces feed processing efficiency and causes weight loss
Cushing disease affects up to 30% of horses over 15 and requires lifelong medication
Social hierarchies mean senior horses may lose access to feed when housed with younger animals
End-of-life quality of life assessment is a critical welfare consideration for aging horses

Welfare Considerations

Senior horse welfare requires increased veterinary attention and management adaptation as age-related conditions accumulate. Dental deterioration affecting feed processing is the most common nutritional welfare issue in seniors, addressed through soaked feed, hay alternatives, and regular dental care. Cushing disease causes multiple welfare-compromising symptoms including abnormal coat, muscle wasting, and increased infection risk, all manageable with appropriate medication. Social management to ensure feed access for lower-ranking seniors prevents nutritional deprivation within group housing.

What You Can Do

Schedule biannual veterinary checks for horses over 15 including dental and metabolic assessment
Adapt feed for senior horses with dental problems using soaked pellets and hay replacers
Monitor senior horses for Cushing signs including abnormal coat and weight changes
Ensure senior horses have priority access to feed separately from more dominant younger horses