The welfare needs of retired horses are often underestimated, requiring careful management to ensure good quality of life in the retirement years.
Horse retirement is not a passive process requiring only reduced management - it is a transition period with significant welfare challenges. The sudden reduction in exercise and routine change can cause gastrointestinal upset, weight gain, and behavioral problems in horses accustomed to regular work. Retired horses need appropriate nutrition adjusted for reduced energy output, regular veterinary and dental care as age-related conditions become more prevalent, and maintained social connection with other horses. Horses that spend 20 years as actively worked competition animals and are then turned out alone with minimal management frequently experience genuine welfare deterioration. Planning for retirement as an active welfare investment phase, rather than a withdrawal of resources, is the appropriate approach.