Horses can live 25-30 years but working careers often end at 15-20. Planning for a horse's retirement years ensures welfare is maintained through the transition and beyond.
Retirement planning is a welfare responsibility that horse owners sometimes underestimate. A horse that has been in active work for years cannot simply be turned out in a field and forgotten. Without appropriate transition, retired horses face isolation, obesity, dental neglect, and behavioral depression. Planning should begin before the horse retires, establishing appropriate living arrangements, companion animals, modified exercise programs, and veterinary monitoring schedules tailored to the individual horse's health.