Retired horses require careful welfare planning to maintain quality of life. Understanding retirement welfare needs prevents unnecessary suffering in aging equines.
Retired horse welfare requires recognizing that horses do not cease to have needs when they cease to earn their keep. The welfare risks in retirement include inadequate nutrition (particularly for older horses with dental disease), pain from arthritis without appropriate management, and social isolation. End-of-life planning should address the threshold for euthanasia explicitly and early, before a welfare crisis forces a decision. The welfare-preserving approach is proactive monitoring, continued veterinary care, appropriate turnout and social contact, and clear criteria for when quality of life can no longer be maintained.