Senior horses face challenges including dental decline, Cushings disease, and arthritis. Tailored nutrition and mobility management extend comfortable active lives.
Senior horse welfare requires proactive management of multiple age-related conditions that compound each other if unaddressed. Dental deterioration reduces ability to chew adequate forage — the cornerstone of equine digestive health. Regular dental floating and transition to soft, soaked feeds maintain caloric intake and gut health. PPID responds well to pergolide treatment and significantly improves quality of life when managed. Arthritis pain management through appropriate NSAIDs, rest management, and physiotherapy maintains mobility and comfort. A welfare-positive approach to senior horses recognizes quality over quantity of life — maintaining comfort and capability rather than maximizing lifespan at the cost of chronic suffering.