Horses can live well into their 30s with appropriate care - managing the welfare of senior horses requires understanding age-related changes in nutrition, dental health and musculoskeletal function.
Senior horse welfare requires anticipatory management that identifies and addresses age-related problems early. Regular dental examination, PPID screening, body condition monitoring and pain assessment from age 15 onwards enables early intervention. Nutritional management must adapt as dental function declines - soaked feeds and hay replacers maintain nutrition when long-stem hay cannot be processed. Pain management for arthritis significantly improves quality of life and can extend comfortable retirement. Social management ensuring appropriate companionship is essential for psychological welfare. Euthanasia decisions, while difficult, are the most important welfare intervention when comfort cannot be maintained - timely euthanasia prevents suffering.